Available Feb. 16, providers will be able to obtain information regarding their electronic health record (EHR) incentive through a new interactive voice response (IVR) self-service option via the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS’) EHR Information Center.
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February 10th, 2012
To better allow physicians to manage the uncertainty of threatened Medicare fee reductions slated for the 2012 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) extended the 2012 Annual Participation Enrollment Program. Fortunately, a two-month Congressional suppression of the mandated pay cut followed.
Physicians narrowly escaped a 27.4 percent reduction in Medicare rates that was scheduled to begin Jan. 1 after the House of Representatives returned from hiatus long enough to pass the Senate’s amended version of the House bill. The Senate bill extends the 0 percent update for just two months, through Feb. 29. The House bill would have averted the negative update for two years and provided a 1 percent update in 2012 and 2013.
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December 30th, 2011
Misrepresenting a person as an inpatient or outpatient can be a costly mistake, even when unintentional. Differentiating the sometimes fine line between the two types of hospital status, however, can be confusing. To clarify matters, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently published an electronic document detailing the criteria Medicare uses to determine whether someone is an inpatient or outpatient.
Are You a Hospital Inpatient or Outpatient? If You Have Medicare – Ask! is marketed toward consumers, but anyone working in health care would do well to pocket this handy reference.
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January 29th, 2010
The 2010 Annual Participation Enrollment Program end date has been extended from Dec. 31 to Jan. 31, 2010. The extension is due to recent revisions the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) made to the 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS), according to the American Medical Association (AMA). (more…)
November 30th, 2009
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a handful of changes to HCPCS Level II codes in its quarterly update. (more…)
June 12th, 2009