2010-06-10

Senate "Extenders" Package Would Restore Medicare Cuts to Physicians, But Passage Still Uncertain
Senate Democrats are trying to gather support to pass a roughly $140 billion tax and benefits bill, known as the extenders package. The legislation includes a provision that would reverse the 21 percent cut in Medicare reimbursements to doctors that took effect June 1 when a previous short-term extension expired. Physicians are encouraged to contact Congress to explain how the continued instability in Medicare payment is causing problems for physician practices and patients and urge passage of a physician payment fix. Read more.

CMS Hosts National Provider Calls for the PQRI & Electronic Prescribing Incentive Programs and for the ICD-10 Implementation in a 5010 Environment
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Provider Communications Group is hosting a national provider conference call on the 2010 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) & Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program on Tuesday, June 22. In addition, CMS will host a national provider conference call on ICD-10 Implementation in a 5010 Environment on June 15, 2010.

Medicare Releases Quarterly Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System Code Changes
CMS has released its Quarterly Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Code Changes. These updates will go into effect on July 1, 2010.

ASH Comments on AHRQ Report on VTE Prophylaxis in Orthopedic Surgery
ASH has provided comments to the Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research (AHRQ) on its proposed key questions for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in orthopedic surgery. The AHRQ technology assessments are of importance to hematologists because the results may be utilized by public or private health insurance in the development of coverage decisions.

ASH Comments on New Burdens on Physicians Placed by E-Prescribing for Controlled Substances Rule
ASH, along with 32 specialty societies, provided comments to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in response to an Interim Final Rule (IFR) on e-prescribing for controlled substances. The IFR specifies the rules that physicians and other health-care providers will need to follow in order to electronically prescribe controlled substances. Read more.

ASH Urges CMS to Reconsider Its July 6 Deadline for Physician Enrollment in PECOS
ASH has partnered with other physician organizations to urge CMS to extend its deadline of July 6 for physician enrollment in the internet-based Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS). Effective July 6, 2010, physicians who order or refer covered services of laboratories, imaging suppliers, and specialists must be enrolled in the Medicare program and have their information listed in PECOS for services provided to be paid. Read more.

AHRQ Releases Technology Assessments on Off-Label Indications for Cancer Treatment and on Recombinant Factor VIIa
The "Report on the Evidence Regarding Off-Label Indications for Targeted Therapies Used in Cancer Treatment" is now available. The report addresses: alemtuzumab for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, imatinib mesylate for myelodysplastic syndrome, bortezomib for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and rituximab for Waldenström macroglobulinemia.

"Comparative Effectiveness of In-Hospital Use of Recombinant Factor VIIa for Off-Label Indications vs. Usual Care" is also now available. This review documents the clinical indications for which recombinant factor VIIa is being used and the research available to evaluate these uses. Read more about both reports.

FTC Delays Enforcement of Red Flags Rule
On May 28, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that, for the fifth time, it will delay the enforcement date of the Red Flags Rule through December 31, 2010. The Rule currently will require physicians, who are not paid at the time of the patient visit, to comply with the Red Flags Rule, which requires creditors to develop and implement written identify theft programs.

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