MGMA suggest Three Things You can do to prevent the 29.5 Physician cut!

We recently received an email from MGMA letting us know of some things that we could do to help prevent the devastating physician cute scheduled to come January 1st, 2012. Check out their tips here: Three things you can do to help avert the 29.5 percent Medicare payment cut MGMA needs your help to stop the 29.5 percent payment cut scheduled for Jan. 1. Here are three things you can do to keep the pressure on Congress to address this important issue. Take a brief survey on the impact the payment cut may have on your practice. Your response will enhance MGMA's advocacy efforts to get Congress to repeal this flawed payment system. Sign a petition and ask the physicians, patients and staff in your practice to do the same. MGMA and several physician specialties have launched a campaign,EveryPatientCounts.org, that calls on Congress to permanently fix the SGR. Tell your lawmaker. Urge the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction and Congress to repeal the SGR. Through these outlets you can express your support for a permanent solution to the SGR crisis. We need a coordinated and amplified voice from MGMA members! Visit our website to learn more at mgma.com/policy.

American Academy of Pain Management Annual Clinical Meeting

On September 23^rd, 2011, our own Linda Van Horn, MBA and Debbie Nelson, CPC, CPMA presented lectures at the American Academy of Pain Management’s Annual Clinical Meeting. The meeting was held in Las Vegas, NV at the gorgeous Caesars Palace.  They presented a varied of topics to attendees including What HealthCare means to Pain Practitioners, how to incorporate Non-Physician Providers in your practice, Federal Scrutiny of Pain HEAT’s Up and How to prepare for ICD-10.  They both had a wonderful time and thank everyone who was able to attend their sessions. 

Check out our website to see where you can see us next!

Physicians/NPP’s Must be Accredited to Bill Image TC Accreditation is Mandatory On/After January 1, 2012

Physicians/NPP’s Must be Accredited to Bill Image TC

Accreditation is Mandatory On/After January 1, 2012

 

CMS reminds physicians, non-physician practitioners (NPP’s) and other Medicare Part B suppliers who bill the technical component (TC) of certain advanced diagnostic imaging procedures must be accredited beginning January 1, 2012 in order to bill Medicare for the technical component of services performed on/after that date.  It is required by the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA).

 

Accreditation is not necessary if the physician or NPP only performs X-ray, ultrasound or fluoroscopy, as these are not advanced diagnostic imaging procedures under the law.

 

Advanced diagnostic services include MRI, CT and nuclear medicine imaging, including positron emission tomography (PET). It is important to note that the accreditation requirement applies only to suppliers of the images themselves (TC) and not the physician’s interpretation (professional component) of the image.

 

Affected physicians, NPP’s and other suppliers should apply for accreditation now if they are not already accredited.  Visit the Advanced Diagnostic Imaging Accreditation Enrollment Procedures site at www.cms.gov/medicareprovidersupenroll at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) website and review each of the three accreditation organizations:

• American College of Radiology

• Intersocietal Accreditation Commission

• The Joint Commission

Call or email each of these three accreditation organizations to determine which one best fits your needs.  Follow all of the application requirements so that your application is not delayed.  The accreditation process may take up to 5 months.  The sooner you start, the better.

CMS releases final 2012 e-prescribing penalty exemptions

CMS releases final 2012 e-prescribing penalty exemptions
 

This afternoon (Aug. 31) the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a final rule detailing additional exemptions from the 2012 e-prescribing penalty for providers unable to comply with the current requirements. CMS finalized all exemption categories that were included in a proposed rule released in June of this year. Eligible professionals must submit hardship exemption requests by Nov. 1.The finalized 2012 e-prescribing penalty exemption categories include:

• The practice is located in a rural area without high speed internet access.
• The practice is located in an area without sufficient available pharmacies for electronic prescribing.
• Registration to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid EHR Incentive Program and adoption of Certified EHR Technology.
• Inability to electronically prescribe due to local, State or Federal law or regulation.
• Limited prescribing activity.
• Insufficient opportunities to report the e-prescribing measure due to limitations of the measure's denominator.

CMS released the following fact sheet with links to the rule and additional information. MGMA will provide further details as they become available from CMS. View existing and future MGMA e-prescribing resources at mgma.com/e-prescribe

CMS: Most Providers Must Re-Enroll

CMS: Most Providers Must Re-Enroll

CMS has issued a reminder that all providers and suppliers enrolled with Medicare before March 25, 2011 must revalidate enrollment information, but only after receiving notification from their MAC.

Please note that this special re-enrollment is NOT required of providers or suppliers that were enrolled on or after March 25, 2011.

Because this special re-enrollment does not apply to everyone, CMS MACs are contacting affected Medicare providers and suppliers as it comes time for their re-enrollment.  Do not submit re-enrollment until you have heard from your MAC!

When you receive notification from your MAC to revalidate:

• Update your enrollment through Internet-based Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS) or complete the 855

• Sign the certification statement on the application

• If applicable, pay your fee thru pay.gov and

• Mail your supporting documents and certification statement to your MAC

Section 6401 (a) of the Affordable Care Act established a requirement for all enrolled providers and suppliers to revalidate their enrollment information under new enrollment screening criteria. This revalidation effort applies ONLY to those providers and suppliers that were enrolled prior to March 25, 2011.  Newly enrolled providers and suppliers that submitted their enrollment applications to CMS on or after March 25, 2011, are not impacted.  

For a smoother process, CMS will stagger the re-enrollments under 42 CFR 424.515(d) which provides CMS the authority to conduct these off-cycle re validations.

Between now and March 23, 2013, MACs will send out notices on a regular basis to begin the revalidation process for each provider and supplier.  Providers and suppliers must wait to submit the revalidation only after being asked by their MAC to do so.