2010-04-22

Please Complete a Brief Survey on Consult Code Elimination
On January 1, 2010, Medicare eliminated the use of all consultation codes, except those for telemedicine, and instructed physicians to bill for these services using the most appropriate remaining evaluation and management codes. ASH is working with the American Medical Association, the American Group Management Association, and 16 other specialty societies to modify this policy. It is critical to have data illustrating the impact of this change to policymakers. Please help this effort by taking a moment to complete a brief survey. Read more.

Congress Passes Another Short-Term Extension of the 2009 Medicare Physician Payment Rate to Restore 21 Percent Cut
On April 15, President Obama signed the Continuing Extension Act of 2010 (HR 4851) into law, reinstating Medicare physician payments to where they were on March 31, and again postponing the 21.3 percent cut that was supposed to take effect in 2010. Read more.

FDA Provides New Data About Revised USP Unit for Heparin
Effective October 1, 2009, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) revised the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) unit for unfractionated heparin with the goal of improving the consistency and quality of heparin and bringing it into line with existing international standards. Read more.

Medicare to Host Conference Calls About the Recovery Audit Contracts (RAC) Program
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will host a series of conference calls on the Recovery Audit Contracts program. Read more.

FDA Announces Drug Shortage of Mustargen® (Mechlorethamine HCl for Injection)
Lundbeck Inc., the sole worldwide manufacturer of Mustargen^® (mechlorethamine HCl for injection), has informed the FDA that there will be an extended supply shortage of this drug. A limited supply of Mustargen is expected to be available starting in mid-to-late April, and will be distributed by Lundbeck Inc. to meet current patient needs, with priority given to sites with patients currently receiving Mustargen. Read more.