Health Information Management

The week in Medicare updates

APCs Insider, August 8, 2014

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ICD-10-related updates made to the Medicare Claims Processing Manual
On July 25, CMS released several change requests containing language-only changes for updating ICD-10 and ASC X12 language in the Medicare Claims Processing Manual. Additionally, references to CMS contractor types have been replaced with Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) in the sections that are updated by this transmittal. There are no new coverage policies, payment policies, or codes introduced in this transmittal. 
 
Effective date: Upon implementation of ICD-10; January 1, 2012 - ASC X12
Implementation date: August 25, 2014 - ASC X12; Upon Implementation of ICD-10 
 
View Transmittal R2998CP. 
View Transmittal R2997CP. 
View Transmittal R2994CP. 
View Transmittal R2993CP.
 
OIG posts hearing record on observation
On July 31, OIG posted a hearing record titled “Admitted or Not? The Impact of Medicare Observation Status on Seniors.” 
 
View the hearing record.
 
Trustees report shows longer Medicare solvency 
On July 28, the Medicare Trustees projected that the trust fund that finances Medicare’s hospital insurance coverage will remain solvent until 2030, four years beyond what was projected in last year’s report. Due in part to cost controls implemented in the Affordable Care Act, per-capita spending is projected to continue to grow slower than the overall economy for the next several years. 
 
View the press release. 
 
HHS issues rule finalizing ICD-10 implementation date
On July 31, HHS issued a rule finalizing October 1, 2015, as the new compliance date for healthcare providers, health plans, and healthcare clearinghouses to transition to ICD-10, the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases. This deadline allows providers, insurance companies, and others in the healthcare industry time to ramp up their operations to ensure their systems and business processes are ready to go October 1, 2015. 
 
View the press release.



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