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Medicare Update for Physician Services

Medicare Update for Physician Services is a free, monthly e-zine that delivers news and information to help physician practices keep pace with news from CMS and the OIG. Each issue presents news items are by category, including a brief description and links to the full government document.

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Medicare Update for Physician Services

Issue 12, December 2, 2010

• MedicareFind spotlight: Free on-demand MedicareFind demonstration

  Access a new MedicareFind demonstration recording to learn more about this comprehensive regulatory...

• Note from Peggy: Medicare physician fee schedule final rule for 2011

  In the November 29 Federal Register, CMS published the 2011 Medicare physician fee schedule (MPFS...

• Regulations: CMS publishes Medicaid RAC proposal, MPFS rule, and more

  On November 5, CMS posted a proposed rule regarding the RAC expansion into Medicaid. The rule...

• Transmittals and MLN Matters articles: CMS clarifies PET billing, posts new vaccine codes, and more

  On November 23, CMS posted a previously sensitive transmittal to implement a new modifier and...

• Quarterly updates: CMS implements lab update, posts NCCI update, and more

  On November 24, CMS issued a transmittal to provide instructions for the CY 2011 clinical...

• Other developments: Congress extends payment fix, CMS posts 2011 RVUs, and more

  Congress has extended the physician payment "doc" fix through the end of the year. Under...

• Events: November 16 Physician Open Door Forum transcript/audio available

  The transcript and audio recording of the November 16 Physicians, Nurses, and Allied Health...

Issue 11, November 4, 2010

• Regulations: CMS posts MPFS final rule

  On November 2, CMS issued a display copy of the CY 2011 MPFS final rule.

• Note from Peggy: OIG Work Plan - The impact on physicians

  The Office of Inspector General (OIG) published its annual Work Plan on October 1, 2010.  The...

• Transmittals and MLN Matters articles: CMS implements edit for pathology services, and more

  On October 29, CMS implemented an edit to prevent payments for the technical component of...

• Quarterly updates: CMS issues new interest rate, posts flu vaccine transmittal, and more

  On October 22, CMS issued a transmittal to provide updated payment allowances for seasonal...

• Other developments: OIG audits neulasta, and more

  On October 7, the OIG issued a review of use of Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) error rate data to...

• Events: October 5 Physician Open Door Forum transcript/audio available

  The next Physicians, Nurses & Allied Health Professionals Open Door Forum is scheduled for...

• MedicareFind Forum Spotlight: EOMBs

  Are paper EOMBs required under Medicare?

Issue 10, October 7, 2010

• Peggy's Note: Length of medical record retention defined

  Peggy's Note: Length of Medical Record Retention Defined

• Regulations

  Regulations

• Transmittals and MLN Matters articles

  Transmittals and MLN Matters articles

• Quarterly updates

  Quarterly updates

• Other developments

  Other developments

• Events

  Events

Issue 9, September 2, 2010

• Regulations

  Regulations

• Peggy’s Note: CMS issues reminder on January 2011 target for testing transaction standards

  On August 24, 2010 CMS issued a reminder about the fast approaching compliance dates for a new...

• Transmittals and MLN Matters articles

  Transmittals and MLN Matters articles

• Quarterly updates

  Quarterly updates

• Other developments

  Other developments

Issue 8, August 5, 2010

• Regulations

  Regulations

• Peggy’s Note: New manual created for incentive programs

  The Internet Only Manuals remain one of the best resources of information that CMS offers. On June...

• Transmittals and MLN Matters articles

  Transmittals and MLN Matters articles

• Quarterly updates

  Quarterly updates

• Other developments

  Other developments

• Events

  Events

Issue 7, July 1, 2010

• Peggy's note: Proposed rule for the 2011 Physician Fee Schedule is on public display

  Peggy’s note: Proposed rule for the 2011 Physician Fee Schedule is on public display The...

• Regulations

  Regulations

• Transmittals and MLN Matters articles

  Transmittals and MLN Matters articles

• Quarterly updates

  Quarterly updates

• Other developments

  Other developments

Issue 6, June 3, 2010

• Peggy’s Note: Recent physician issues

  Several interesting transmittals which have an impact on physicians were released this month. The...

• Regulations

  Regulations

• Transmittals and MLN Matters articles

  Transmittal and MLN Matters articles

• Quarterly updates

  Quarterly updates

• Other developments

  Other developments

Issue 5, May 6, 2010

• Peggy’s note: Physician signature requirements

  Peggy's note: Physician signature requirements

• Regulations

  Regulations

• Physician Open Door Forum transcript/audio available

  Physician Open Door Forum transcript/audio available

• Transmittals and MLN Matters articles

  Transmittals and MLN Matters articles

• Quarterly updates

  Quarterly updates

• Other developments

  Other developments

Issue 4, April 1, 2010

• Peggy's Note: New Preventive Benefit for HIV Screening

  New Preventive Benefit for HIV Screening

• Regulations

  Regulations

• Transmittals and MLN Matters articles

  Transmittls and MLN Matters articles

• Quarterly updates

  Quarterly updates

• Other developments

  Other developments

• Frequently asked question

  FAQ

Issue 3, March 4, 2010

• Note from Peggy: MUPS and MedicareFind

  This month, you’ll notice some differences in Medicare Update for Physician Services. First...

• Regulations

  On March 2, HHS released a display copy of its proposal to establish two certification programs for...

• Regulations

  HHS releases proposed rule on EHR certification programs On March 2, HHS released a display copy...

• Transmittals and MLN Matters articles

  Medicare coverage denied for outpatient intravenous insulin therapy   On February 5, CMS...

• Transmittals and MLN Matters articles

  Medicare coverage denied for outpatient intravenous insulin therapy On February 5, CMS issued two...

• Quarterly updates

  CMS instructs on quarterly NCCI update On February 5, CMS issued a recurring update notification...

• Quarterly updates

  CMS instructs on quarterly NCCI update On February 5, CMS issued a recurring update notification...

• Other developments

  CMS instructs contractors to hold MPFS claims According to the CMS web site:   We believe...

• Other developments

  On March 2, 2010, President Obama signed into law the “Temporary Extension Act of...

• Frequently asked questions

  CMS has posted two new frequently asked questions (FAQ):   When reporting via the Physician...

• Frequently asked questions

  CMS has posted two new frequently asked questions (FAQ): When reporting via the Physician...

Issue 2, February 4, 2010

• Note from Peggy: Out with the old purchased services and in with the new anti-markup tests

  Say good-bye to purchased diagnostic tests and purchased test interpretations. And say hello to its...

• Regulations

  Proposed rule for EHR incentive program released CMS published a proposed rule for the...

• Transmittals and MLN Matters articles

  Payments for diagnostic tests subject to anti-markup payment limitation rules CMS released a...

• Quarterly updates

  Updates to medically unlikely edits (MUEs) MUEs measure the maximum units of service allowed per...

Issue 1, January 7, 2010

• Note from Peggy: Consultations are now a four-letter word - Gone!

  Consultation codes are gone, unless you’re talking about consultations performed via...

• Regulations

  Regulations

• Transmittals and MLN Matters articles

  Transmittals and MLN Matters articles

• Other developments

  CMS issues instructions regarding claims under MPFS

• Quarterly updates

  Quarterly updates