2009-12-10
CMS Will Eliminate Consultation Codes –
Effective January 1, 2010
The
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced in its final Medicare
Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) for 2010 that it will be eliminating the use of
all consultation codes in the fee-for-service program. Read more.
Senate Works on Health Reform Legislation to
Reach Passable Compromise
Senate
Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) continues to negotiate with Democrats in the
Senate to reach a compromise on health reform legislation that will garner the
60 votes necessary for Senate passage. Read more.
Let ASH Help You - Submit
Your Medicare Reimbursement Questions to the Society Today
ASH is pleased to assist physicians with any
concerns regarding Medicare reimbursement issues. To ensure ASH staff has
all of the appropriate information needed to assist with a request, please
submit ASH’s new Medicare
Reimbursement Review Process Form and the
supporting documents listed to the ASH Government Relations Department. ASH staff will follow-up within two weeks of
receiving your request.
ASH Expresses Concern to
CMS about New Medicare Enrollment Policy
ASH has joined other physician organizations in urging the CMS to
reconsider its new policy under which Medicare will not pay claims for services
when the referring or ordering physician or health-care practitioner is not in
the Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System (PECOS) database. ASH
requests that CMS indefinitely suspend the plan to deny claims and focus on a
smooth transition process to the PECOS system. A physician or health-care practitioner who enrolled in Medicare
prior to 2003 when CMS began using PECOS will be required to re-enroll in the
program. It is estimated that as many as 30 percent of all Medicare physicians
and other health-care practitioners are not in the PECOS system. Read more.
Medicare Extends 2010 Annual
Participation Enrollment Program
Due to recent revisions that were made to the 2010 MPFS, CMS has
extended the 2010 Annual Participation Enrollment Program end date from
December 31, 2009, to January 31, 2010.
The effective date for any participation status change during the extension,
however, remains January 1, 2010. Contractors will accept and process any participation
elections or withdrawals made during the extended enrollment period that are
received or post-marked on or before January 31, 2010.
FDA Requests Help in
Reporting New Cancer Cases for Patients Taking Stelara
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and
Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc. are asking for physician assistance in reporting new cancer cases in
patients who have taken Stelara™ (ustekinumab), a new human monoclonal antibody
indicated for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.
Physicians who are consulted to see a patient with cancer at any time after he
or she has received Stelara therapy should report the case even if they do not think there is a causal relationship. Physicians can report the case either to the FDA or to Centocor Ortho Biotech Inc.:
- MedWatch
(FDA safety information and adverse event reporting program) at
1-800-332-1088 or online.
- Centocor Ortho Biotech
Inc. at 1-800-457-6399
Read more.
Medicare Paid Over $92 Million in Incentives for 2008 Physician Quality
Reporting Initiative
More than 85,000
physicians and other eligible professionals who successfully reported
quality-related data to Medicare under the 2008 Physician Quality Reporting
Initiative (PQRI) received incentive payments totaling more than $92 million,
well above the $36 million paid in 2007. The number of eligible professionals
who earned an incentive payment increased by one-third from 2007. There
are four hematology
measures in the PQRI program and, from 2007 to 2008, all hematology
measures showed an increased percent of valid submissions. Additional
information about the PQRI Program can be found on ASH's PQRI
page.
Medicare Releases Quarterly
CCI Update
CMS has released its Quarterly
Update to the Correct Coding Initiative (CCI). These updates will go into
effect January 1, 2010.
New
Medicare Learning Network Booklet: How to Use the Medicare Coverage Database
Search Tool
The Medicare Learning Network (MLN)
has developed a “how to” book explaining use of the Medicare Coverage Database
as well as how to use search, indexes, reports, and download features. The
Medicare Coverage Database contains all Medicare National Coverage
Determinations, National Coverage Analyses, Local Coverage Determinations, and
local policy articles. This “how to” book can be located on
the MLN Publications page.
Don’t Miss the Only Official Highlights of ASH - Occurring Near
You
For the first time, the ASH is offering Highlights of
ASH® in six locations throughout North America and on four convenient
dates. Register today and join your colleagues at this clinically focused event to
discuss some of the most rapidly evolving hematologic developments and earn a
maximum of 10.5 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM.
The program format provides practitioners, fellows, academicians, and allied
health professionals numerous opportunities to discuss real patient cases with
leaders in the field and gain knowledge that can impact patient care
strategies. The advance registration deadline is rapidly approaching - register
today!
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