Displaying Ambulance Articles 1 to 25 of 38

Topic	Date	Description
Call Center Closing Times (Part B)	Monday, November 17, 2008	To better serve the provider community, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is allowing Provider Contact Centers across the nation to conduct customer service training during normal business hours. The Medicare Program is very complex with continuous changes and this initiative will help prepare Provider Customer Service Representatives (CSR's) to give quality answers to substantive Medicare related questions or inquiries. Pinnacle Business Solutions, Inc. the Medicare Part B Carrier for Arkansas, Louisiana and Rhode Island will be participating in this program. We have developed a comprehensive training plan that includes closing our Provider Contact Center for up to eight hours each month. Using Provider Contact Center call distribution data to determine the least possible impact for our customers, we have selected the following closure dates and times for November 2008 and December 2008.
Call Center Closing Times (Part A)	Monday, November 17, 2008	To better serve the provider community, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is allowing Provider Contact Centers across the nation to conduct customer service training during normal business hours. The Medicare Program is very complex with continuous changes and this initiative will help prepare Provider Customer Service Representatives (CSR's) to give quality answers to substantive Medicare related questions or inquiries. Pinnacle Business Solutions, Inc. the Medicare Part A Intermediary for the State of Rhode Island, will be participating in this program. We have developed a comprehensive training plan that includes closing our Provider Contact Center for up to eight hours each month. Using Provider Contact Center call distribution data to determine the least possible impact for our customers, we have selected the following dates in November 2008 and December 2008.
Preparing for a Transition from an FI/Carrier to a Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC)	Wednesday, November 12, 2008	This article is intended to assist all providers that will be affected by Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) implementations. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is providing this information to make you aware of what to expect as your FI or carrier transitions its work to a MAC. Knowing what to expect and preparing as outlined in this article will minimize disruption in your Medicare business.
Update to Medicare Deductible, Coinsurance and Premium Rates for 2009	Wednesday, November 12, 2008	This article is based on Change Request (CR) 6258, which provides the Medicare rates for deductible, coinsurance and premium payment amounts for calendar year (CY) 2009.
Reporting National Provider Identifiers (NPI) on claims for Out-of-Jurisdiction Purchased Mammography Preventive Screening and Diagnostic Services	Wednesday, November 05, 2008	CR 6237, from which this article is taken provides billing instructions for using the NPI on paper, or electronically-submitted, Medicare claims for purchased mammography screening and diagnostic services when the service is performed outside of the carrier’s or A/B MAC’s claims processing jurisdiction. In this situation, billing providers should report their own NPI as the performing provider and also provide the name, address, and zip code of the performing physician/supplier. You should be aware that carriers and AB MACs will return your out-of-jurisdiction, purchased mammography screening or diagnostic service claims as unprocessable if you submit them without the billing provider’s NPI; and the name, address, and ZIP code of the performing physician/supplier.
Influenza Pandemic Emergency - The Medicare Program Prepares	Friday, October 31, 2008	Note: This article was revised on October 28, 2008, to include a link to recently-issued CR 6174. All other information remains the same. This article is informational only and is alerting providers that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has begun preparing emergency policies and procedures that may be implemented in the event of a pandemic or national emergency.
New 2008 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) Payment Rates Effective for Dates of Service July 1, 2008, through December 31, 2008	Wednesday, October 29, 2008	This article is based on Change Request (CR) 6212, which announces the new 2008 MPFS payment rates effective for dates of service July 1, 2008, through December 31, 2008. Please note that Medicare contractors have already implemented the actions annotated in this article. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) directed Medicare contractors to revert back to the 0.5 percent payment rates that were previously in place until June 30, 2008, and to use those rates through December 31, 2008. In addition, carriers/Part B MACs are using the same rates as used for January 1 through June 30, 2008, to make payments, where appropriate, to Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs) for services rendered from July 1 through December 31, 2008. This reflects a continuation of the payment policy for brachytherapy services at carrier/Part B MAC-priced amounts and the prospective rates for other ASC services. CMS also provided revised fees for selected mental health codes that had an increase in their fee schedule amounts. The effective date for the increase for the mental health codes was for dates of service on and after July 1, 2008. See the Background and Additional Information Sections of this article for further details regarding these changes.
Medicare Payment for Air Ambulance Services Under Section 146(b)(1) of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA)	Tuesday, October 21, 2008	This article is based on Change Request (CR) 6214, which alerts providers to the fact that any area that was designated as a rural area as of December 31, 2006, for purposes of making payments under the ambulance fee schedule for air ambulance services, will be treated as a rural area for purposes of making payments under the ambulance fee schedule for air ambulance services furnished during the period July 1, 2008, through December 31, 2009. Be aware that upon the implementation date of January 5, 2009, in addition to the successful installation of the revised calendar year (CY) 2008 ZIP Code File, your Medicare contractor will mass-adjust all air ambulance claims with dates of service on or after July 1, 2008, through December 31, 2008, which were previously paid under an urban ZIP code that was considered rural on December 31, 2006. In addition, the revised ZIP Code File will be used to process such claims that were not already processed.
National Provider Identifier (NPI) for Secondary Providers	Tuesday, October 21, 2008	Note: This article was revised on October 16, 2008, to reflect changes to CR 6093, which CMS revised on October 15, 2008, to include the FISS in the business requirements. The implementation date was changed to October 29, 2008. The CR release date, transmittal number, and the Web address for accessing CR6093 were also revised. All other information remains the same. This article is based on CR 6093 and outlines the need to use NPIs to identify secondary providers in Medicare claims beginning May 23, 2008.
The ICD-10 Clinical Modification/Procedure Coding System (CM/PCS) - The Next Generation of Coding	Tuesday, October 14, 2008	Note: This article was revised on October 9, 2008, to update the website addresses and other information in the "Additional Information" section of this article. All other information remains the same. This Special Edition article (SE0832) outlines general information for providers detailing the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition (ICD-10) classification system. Compared to the current ICD-9 classification system, ICD-10 offers more detailed information and the ability to expand specificity and clinical information in order to capture advancements in clinical medicine. Providers may want to become familiar with the new coding system. The system is not yet implemented in Medicare’s fee-for-service (FFS) claims processes so no action is needed at this time.
Non-acceptance of Legacy Provider Numbers on Incoming Medicare Claims	Monday, October 13, 2008	With the implementation of the National Provider Identifier (NPI) on May 23, 2008, Medicare ceased accepting legacy provider numbers, qualified by 1C and 1G within the secondary provider REF segments, on incoming Medicare American National Standards Institute (ANSI) X12N 837 4010A1 claims. Effective October 6, 2008, providers should note that, with one qualified exception, as highlighted below, Medicare will reject all incoming Medicare X12N 837 4010A1 claims that contain legacy identifiers. The following qualifiers within the secondary provider REF loops are acceptable: For 837 institutional claims, the Employer Identification Number (EIN)/Federal Tax ID, qualified by "EI" or "TJ," will be accepted; and For 837 professional claims, the provider’s EIN/Tax ID, qualified by "EI" or "TJ," or social security number, as qualified by "SY," will be accepted.
Ambulance Inflation Factor (AIF) for CY 2009	Monday, October 06, 2008	CR 6113, from which this article is taken, provides the Ambulance Inflation Factor (AIF) for Calendar Year (CY) 2009. The AIF for CY 2009 is 5.0 percent.
Limitation on Recoupment (935) for Provider, Physicians and Suppliers Overpayments	Tuesday, September 23, 2008	Note: This article was revised on September 18, 2008, to make minor clarifying changes on page 2 and to delete some unnecessary language on pages 5 and 9. All other information remains the same. CR 6183, from which this article is taken, announces changes to the physician, provider, and supplier overpayment recoupment process, as required by Section 935 of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) which amended Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to add to Section 1893 a new paragraph (f) addressing this process.
Limitation on Recoupment (935) for Provider, Physicians and Suppliers Overpayments	Tuesday, September 16, 2008	CR 6183, from which this article is taken, announces changes to the physician, provider, and supplier overpayment recoupment process, as required by Section 935 of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) which amended Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to add to Section 1893 a new paragraph (f) addressing this process.
Implementation of New Provider Authentication Requirements for Medicare Contractor Provider Telephone and Written Inquiries	Friday, August 15, 2008	CR 6139, from which this article is taken, addresses the necessary provider authentication requirements to complete IVR transactions and calls with a Customer Service Representative (CSR). Effective March 1, 2009, when you call either the IVR system, or a CSR, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will require you to provide three data elements for authentication: 1) Your National Provider Identifier (NPI); 2) Your Provider Transaction Access Number (PTAN), and 3) The last 5-digits of your tax identification number (TIN). Make sure that your staffs are aware of this requirement for provider authentication.
Individuals Authorized Access to CMS Computer Services – Provider/Supplier Community (IACS-PC): THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF ARTICLES	Tuesday, August 05, 2008	Note: This article was revised on July 30, 2008, to reflect current processes and provide the Web address for the new IACS website which contains user reference guides. Please note that CMS will notify providers as internet applications become available, and provide clear instructions that specify which providers should register in IACS-PC. Do not register until you are notified by CMS or one of its contractors to do so and only if you meet the criteria in the notice. These articles will help providers to register for access to CMS online computer services when directed to do so by CMS. This article contains: 11 questions and answers to get you started and Overview of the registration process for IACS-PC defined provider/supplier organization users.
Individuals Authorized Access to CMS Computer Services – Provider/Supplier Community (IACS-PC): THE SECOND IN A SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THE IACS	Tuesday, August 05, 2008	Note: This article was revised on July 30, 2008, to reflect current processes and provide the Web address for the new IACS website which contains user reference guides. Please note that CMS will notify providers as internet applications become available, and provide clear instructions that specify which providers should register in IACS-PC. Do not register until you are notified by CMS or one of its contractors to do so and only if you meet the criteria in the notice. This article contains: 3 questions and answers about the registration process for provider organizations. (See NOTE below.) Links to the Quick Reference Guides for completing the registration process for provider organizations. (See NOTE below.) Note: For purposes of the IACS-PC, "Provider Organizations" include individual practitioners who will delegate IACS-PC work to staff as well as their staff using IACS-PC.
Individuals Authorized Access to CMS Computer Services – Provider/Supplier Community (IACS-PC): THE THIRD IN A SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THE IACS-PC	Tuesday, August 05, 2008	Note: This article was revised on July 30, 2008, to reflect current processes and provide the Web address for the new IACS website which contains user reference guides. Please note that CMS will notify providers as internet applications become available, and provide clear instructions that specify which providers should register in IACS-PC. Do not register until you are notified by CMS or one of its contractors to do so and only if you meet the criteria in the notice. This article describes the 3 steps providers must take to access a CMS Enterprise Provider Application including how to request a provider application role in IACS-PC (See step 2). CMS will notify providers as internet applications become available, and provide clear instructions that specify which providers should register in Individuals Authorized Access to CMS Computer Services – Provider/Supplier Community (IACS-PC). Do not register until you are notified by CMS or one of its contractors to do so and only if you meet the criteria in the notice.
Medicare Contractor Annual Update of the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM)	Monday, August 04, 2008	This article is based on Change Request (CR) 6107 and reminds the Medicare contractors and providers that the annual ICD-9-CM update will be effective for dates of service on and after October 1, 2008 (for institutional providers, effective for discharges on or after October 1, 2008). You can see the new, revised, and discontinued ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) website at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ICD9ProviderDiagnosticCodes/07_summarytables.asp#TopOfPage, or at the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) website at http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/icd9.htm in June of each year.
2008 Rhode Island Ambulance Fee Schedule – Revised	Monday, July 28, 2008	The Revised 2008 Rhode Island Ambulance Fee Schedule effective for dates of service 07/01/2008 - 12/31/2008 has been posted online.
Important Information on the New Medicare Law – The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008	Tuesday, July 22, 2008	This article contains a compilation of messages that were issued on July 16, 2008. The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA) was enacted on July 15, 2008. This legislation alters a number of Medicare policies, which have been the subject of a number of change requests (CRs) and MLN Matters articles published in recent months. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is in the process of revising these previously issued CRs and MLN Matters articles as a result of this legislation. However, CMS feels it is important that physicians, providers and suppliers be aware of five critical issues immediately. These five issues are: New 2008 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) payment rates effective for dates of service July 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008; Extension of the exceptions process for the therapy caps; A delay in the Medicare durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS) competitive bidding program; Reinstatement of the moratorium that allows independent laboratories to bill for the technical component (TC) of physician pathology services furnished to hospital patients; and Extension of the payment rule for Brachytherapy and Therapeutic Radiopharmaceuticals. Be sure your billing staff is aware of these changes.
Private Contracting/Opting out of Medicare	Tuesday, July 01, 2008	This article is based on CR6081 and notifies providers of the update by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to Medicare Benefit Policy Manual, Chapter 15, sections 40.5, 40.6, 40.9, 40.11, 40.13, 40.20, 40.26, and 40.35.
Notification of New Quarterly Updates to the Ambulance Fee Schedule Public Use File (PUF)	Tuesday, June 17, 2008	This article is based on Change Request (CR) 6091, which informs Medicare providers that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) wants providers to know that since Medicare Claims Processing Contracting reform is on-going, some of the Contractor/Carrier numbers included in the 2008 annual Ambulance Fee Schedule Public Use File (PUF) posted to the CMS website may be outdated. To ensure that the Contractor/Carrier numbers contained in the file are as accurate as possible, a quarterly update to the PUF file, containing new Contractor/Carrier numbers, will be posted to the CMS website until all contracting reform is completed. The updated information will be highlighted with italicized red text and may be reviewed on the CMS web site at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/AmbulanceFeeSchedule/02_afspuf.asp#TopOfPage.
Instructions for Institutional Providers and Suppliers Billing Self-Referred Mammography Claims Regarding the Attending/Referring Physician National Provider Identifier (NPI)	Tuesday, June 10, 2008	This article is based on Change Request (CR) 6023 which provides National Provider Identifier (NPI) instructions for institutional providers and suppliers billing for self-referred mammography services. Do not use the surrogate unique physician identification number (UPIN) of "SLF000" on claims effective May 23, 2008. Providers of mammography services are instructed to report their own facility NPI in the attending physician NPI field in cases where the service is self-referred by the patient (beneficiary) and no attending/referring physician NPI is available. See the Background and Additional Information Sections of this article for further details regarding these changes.
July 2008 Quarterly Average Sales Price (ASP) Medicare Part B Drug Pricing Files and Revisions to Prior Quarterly Pricing Files	Tuesday, June 10, 2008	CR 6049, from which this article is taken, instructs Medicare contractors to download and implement the July 2008 Average Sales Price (ASP) drug pricing file for Medicare Part B drugs; and if released by CMS, also the revised April 2008, January 2008, January 2007, April 2007, July 2007, and October 2007 files.
Previous Next