NGS Instructs Providers on How to Bill for Stelara
Friday, March 12th, 2010National Government Services (NGS) posted guidance on its website March 5, instructing Medicare Part A and B providers on how to code claims for Stelara.
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Archive for the ‘HCPCS Level II’ Category
Medicare Ends Fox Insurance Drug Plan Contract
Friday, March 12th, 2010The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) terminated its contract with Fox Insurance Company, March 9, after an onsite review of the drug plan and its services confirmed suspected noncompliance. More than 123,000 Fox enrollees have until May 1 to choose a new Medicare prescription drug plan. In the interim, beneficiaries can obtain their prescription drugs through the Limited Income Newly Eligible Transition (LI NET) program, run by Medicare and administered by Humana.
Gaucher Disease Treatment Therapy Approved
Friday, March 12th, 2010
Velaglucerase alfa for injection (VPRIV™) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment Gaucher disease—a rare genetic disorder that affects both children and adults, according to an FDA press release.
PET Gains Popularity Among Non-radiologists
Thursday, March 4th, 2010
As with computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), there is a growing trend among non-radiologists to own or lease positron emission tomography (PET) equipment.
Technitium Tc-99m Drought May End
Monday, March 1st, 2010
An agreement between St. Louis-based Covidien and Poland’s Institute of Atomic Energy will help end a shortage of technitium Tc-99m used in nuclear medicine tests that began last year when two aging nuclear reactors were shut down. The drought forced providers and facilities to schedule late night tests (when a supply comes in) or defer tests because the valuable isotope is unavailable.
CPC® Clarifies Part B RAC Issues and Their Value
Monday, March 1st, 2010
Stephanie Ellis, RN, CPC, clarifies the different types of recovery audit contractor (RAC) audits and reviews a sampling of current RAC issues approved by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in a recent online article.
To hone up on the RAC issues physician practices, mental health providers, and other Part B providers are concerned with, read “Review Common RAC Issues and Correct Potentional Coding Errors,” posted Feb. 24 on JustCoding.com.
Modifier Payment Policy Changes on the Horizon
Monday, March 1st, 2010
Effective May 17, Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey (BCBSNJ) will implement policy and procedural changes in regard to how services submitted with certain modifiers are reimbursed. The insurer notified participating physicians of the changes in a letter dated February 2010.
CMS Revises ESRD Quality Reporting Requirements
Monday, March 1st, 2010Renal dialysis facilities will soon have new quality data reporting requirements for dialysis adequacy, infection and vascular access on all end stage renal disease (ESRD) claims. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) says the new requirements are necessary to implement an accurate quality incentive payment for dialysis providers in the near future.
MLN Matters article MM6782 informs renal dialysis facilities (RDFs) that Change Request (CR) 6782 requires new quality data reporting on all ESRD and ESRD hemodialysis claims with service dates on or after July 1.
AAPC Hosts 18th National Coding Conference in Nashville
Monday, March 1st, 2010
Coders and their providers can bone up on coding, regulation, compliance, and billing while earning continuing education units (CEUs) and continuing medical education (CMEs) at AAPC’s 2010 National Conference in Nashville, Tenn. on June 6–9. This annual event draws thousands of attendees including doctors, medical coders, and office/practice managers to connect on the business side of health care. This is the first conference to be approved for 15.75 CME (AMA PRA Category 1™) credits.
Suppliers Face O2 Equipment Maintenance Fee Change
Monday, March 1st, 2010Durable Medical Equipment (DME) suppliers should be aware of Medicare payment changes for maintenance and servicing of oxygen equipment due to go into effect July 1.