Displaying Articles 1 to 10 of 688 in All Categories

Upcoming Part B Medical Documentation Guidelines Webinar Pinnacle Medicare Services invites you to attend a Medicare Part B Medical Documentation Guidelines Webinar. The primary focus of this webinar will assist providers with the general documentation guidelines for Evaluation and Management (E&M) services. The importance of medical documentation and understanding the complexity of medical decision making will also be discussed during this webinar. The Provider Outreach and Education Department will also provide other important Medicare updates. WHO SHOULD ATTEND? We encourage all billing, medical, and compliance personnel from your office to attend. Published Online: Tuesday, January 06, 2009

CMS Announces Award of Jurisdiction 14 Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) Contract Reference: AR - TAM 010509 On November 19, 2008, CMS announced it has awarded the contract for Jurisdiction 14 (J14) to National Heritage Insurance Corporation (NHIC). NHIC will be responsible for the workload in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. NHIC's contract also includes the Regional Home Health and Hospice Intermediary (RHHI) workload in Jurisdiction A comprised of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. As the J14 A/B MAC, NHIC will immediately begin implementation activities to take over the claims payment work now performed by fiscal intermediaries and carriers in the five state jurisdiction. Published Online: Tuesday, January 06, 2009

New Contractor Numbers for the Jurisdiction 9 (J9) Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) Part A and Part B Workloads for the State of Florida and Territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands Reference: Trans. 423, CR #6285, Pub. 100-20, MLN: MM6285 This article is based on Change Request (CR) 6285 which announces that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will issue new workload numbers to replace the existing contractor numbers for the Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) Jurisdiction 9 (J9) Part A and Part B workloads in the State of Florida and the territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. These changes are being made because certain CMS claims systems rely on these numbers for processing purposes. Some provider systems may also rely on these numbers. Published Online: Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Providers Urged to Participate in Annual Medicare Contractor Satisfaction Survey (MCPSS) Reference: SE0843 This article alerts providers that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will distribute its annual MCPSS to a new sample of Medicare providers. CMS is sending the 2009 survey, designed to be completed in about 20 minutes, to approximately 30,000 randomly selected providers, including physicians and other health care practitioners, suppliers and institutional facilities that serve Medicare beneficiaries across the country. CMS will begin to notify providers selected to participate in the survey in December 2008. Providers are urged to submit their responses via a secure website, mail, fax, or over the telephone. Published Online: Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Annual Clotting Factor Furnishing Fee Update Reference: Trans. 1653, CR #6277, Pub. 100-04, MLN: MM6277 CR 6277, from which this article is taken, announces that for calendar year 2009, the blood clotting furnishing factor of $0.164 per international unit (I.U.) is added to the payment limit for a blood clotting factor that is not included on the Average Sales Price (ASP) or Not Otherwise Classified (NOC) files. Published Online: Tuesday, January 06, 2009

Calendar Year (CY) 2009 Annual Update for Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule and Laboratory Services Subject to Reasonable Charge Payment Reference: Trans. 1651, CR #6070, Pub. 100-04, MLN: MM6070 This article is based on Change Request (CR) 6070 which provides instructions for the Calendar Year (CY) 2009 clinical laboratory fee schedule, mapping for new codes for clinical laboratory tests, and updates for laboratory costs subject to the reasonable charge payment. Published Online: Tuesday, January 06, 2009

January 2009 Quarterly Average Sales Price (ASP) Medicare Part B Drug Pricing Files and Revisions to Prior Quarterly Pricing Files Reference: Trans. 1650, CR #6288, Pub. 100-04, MLN: MM6288 CR 6288, from which this article is taken, instructs Medicare contractors to download and implement the January 2009 Average Sales Price (ASP) drug pricing file for Medicare Part B drugs; and if released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), also the revised October 2008, July 2008, April 2008, and January 2008 files. They will use the January 2009 ASP and NOC drug pricing files to determine the payment limit for claims for separately payable Medicare Part B drugs processed or reprocessed on or after January 5, 2009 with dates of service January 1, 2009, through March 31, 2009. Published Online: Tuesday, January 06, 2009

January Flu Shot Reminder Reference: CMS List-Serv Message 123008 It’s Not Too Late to Get the Flu Shot. We are in the midst of flu season and a flu vaccine is still the best way to prevent infection and the complications associated with the flu. Re-vaccination is necessary each year because flu viruses change each year. So please encourage your Medicare patients who haven’t already done so to get their annual flu shot--and don’t forget to immunize yourself and your staff. Protect yourself, your patients, and your family and friends. Published Online: Monday, January 05, 2009

Update to the Medicare Preventive Services (January 2009) Quick Reference Information Resource Reference: CMS List-Serv Message 010509 The Medicare Preventive Services (January 2009) Quick Reference Information resource is now available in downloadable format. This two-sided resource gives Medicare fee-for-service physicians, providers, suppliers, and other health care professionals a quick reference to Medicare's preventive services. To view, download, and print this resource, please go to the CMS Medicare Learning Network (MLN) at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/MPS_QuickReferenceChart_1.pdf. Published Online: Monday, January 05, 2009

Update to Medicare's Expanded Benefits Brochure (January 2009) Reference: CMS List-Serv Message 010509 The Expanded Benefits Brochure (January 2009) is now available in downloadable format. This tri-fold brochure provides health care professionals with an overview of Medicare's coverage of three preventive services: the initial preventive physical examination (IPPE), also known as the Welcome to "Medicare Physical" Exam or the "Welcome to Medicare" visit, ultrasound screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms, and cardiovascular screening blood tests. To view, download, and print the brochure please go to the CMS Medicare Learning Network (MLN) at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/Expanded_Benefits.pdf. Published Online: Monday, January 05, 2009

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