Monday, November 16th, 2009
Medicare rural health centers (RHCs) and federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) can expect to see payment updates in 2010 thanks to an increase in the Medicare Economic Index (MEI), according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Read more »
Monday, November 2nd, 2009
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced, Oct. 30, final changes to 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) policies and payment rates. Taking into account all changes in the final rule, CMS projects a payment increase between 5 and 8 percent for health care professionals paid under the MPFS. That’s the good news …
Wednesday, July 1st, 2009
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released, July 1, Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) changes for the Calendar Year (CY) 2010. There are a number of proposed reporting options and reporting periods available. Some options require data submission by Dec. 31, 2010. Data reported through registries, however, is not due to CMS until 2011.
Monday, June 1st, 2009
A provision in the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) of 2008 will soon change the policy of who is considered a critical access hospital (CAH) outpatient when outpatient clinical diagnostic laboratory services are provided.
Tuesday, April 28th, 2009
At the Obama administration’s request, the interim final rule on the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program went into effect April 18.
The rule—issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on Jan. 16—implements provisions in section 154 of the 2008 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) related to the program.
Specifically, this rule officially delays implementation of Round 1 of the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program until 2009 and Round 2 until 2011; requires CMS to conduct a second Round 1 competition this year; and mandates certain changes for both the Round 1 rebid and subsequent rounds of the program, including a process for feedback to suppliers regarding missing financial documentation and requiring contractors to disclose to CMS information regarding subcontracting relationships.
The Round 1 rebid includes the same items and services and will be conducted in the same areas as the 2007 Round 1 competition, with exceptions. Specifically, the Round 1 rebid excludes negative pressure wound therapy items and services, Puerto Rico, and Group 3 complex rehabilitative wheelchairs.
Suppliers previously awarded a competitive bidding contract will need to resubmit bids for consideration. However, suppliers need only submit financial documents from the past year, rather than the past three years.
The Round 1 rebid will occur in the following cities:
The Round 1 rebid will include the following categories of items and services:
CMS is expected to issue guidance on the timeline and bidding requirements related to the Round 1 rebid in the upcoming weeks. This rule does not have an immediate effect on the DMEPOS benefit for Medicare beneficiaries.
Monday, March 30th, 2009
Have you had a chance to read the 2008 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) yet? How about the 2009 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) final rule? Come on, it’s only 513 pages! Well, if you’re short on time, you may want to read Transmittal 459, Change Request (CR) 6394. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the transmittal March 20 to provide an overview of the 2009 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) and E-prescribing Incentive Program.
Friday, March 13th, 2009
Suppliers of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS) who bill Medicare Part B have until Sept. 30 to obtain accreditation. For those who haven’t submitted an application yet, it may be too late.
Friday, February 27th, 2009
New HCPCS Level II codes for the repair, maintenance, and servicing of oxygen equipment go into effect April 1. The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA) changed how Medicare pays for oxygen equipment and supplies.
Monday, February 23rd, 2009
The effective date for the final rule “Medicare Program; Competitive Acquisition of Certain Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetic, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) by Certain Provisions of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA)” has been delayed another 60 days.
Monday, December 15th, 2008
The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) of 2008 amends the Social Security Act §1834(l)(13) and provides an increase in payment for ambulance ground transports.
Effective for claims with dates of service on or after July 1, 2008, and before Jan. 1, 2010, ambulance fee schedule amounts for covered ground ambulance transports which originate in a rural area increase by 3 percent, and covered ground ambulance transports which originate in a non-rural area increase by 2 percent.
For further details, read Transmittal 414, CR 6206 on CMS’s Web site.
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