Don’t miss updates on ICD-10, hospital appeals settlement, EHR incentive program and more!

The MLN Connects™ Provider eNews contains important news, announcements, and updates for health care professionals. Thursday, October 30, 2014 View the MLN Connects™ Provider eNews                                                                  View this edition as a PDF In This Edition: MLN Connects™ National Provider Calls Transitioning to ICD-10 — Last Chance to Register Announcements HHS Secretary Announces $840 Million Initiative to Improve Patient Care and Lower Costs Hospital Appeals Settlement: Act by October 31 Get Ready for DMEPOS Competitive Bidding SNF PPS Payment Reform Research Project Antipsychotic Drug Use in Nursing Homes: Trend Update Third Quarter Hospice Item Set Question and Answer Document Available EHR Incentive Program: Hardship Exception Applications Due November 30 PQRS: Submission Engine Validation Tool is Now Available for Testing Claims, Pricers, and Codes Physicians, Providers, and Suppliers Must Use Revised CMS 855R Starting May 31 Demand Letters for Polysomnography Claims Medicare Learning Network® Educational Products “ICD-10-CM/PCS Billing and Payment Frequently Asked Questions” — Revised “ICD-10-CM/PCS The Next Generation of Coding” — Revised “ICD-10-CM/PCS Myths and Facts” — Revised “ICD-10-CM Classification Enhancements” — Revised “General Equivalence Mappings Frequently Asked Questions” — Revised Medicare Learning Network® Web-Based Training Course with Continuing Education Credits Medicare Learning Network® Products Available in Electronic Publication Format Is the eNews meeting your needs? Give us your feedback!

CMS MLN Connects™ Weekly Provider eNews

The MLN Connects™ Provider eNews contains important news, announcements, and updates for health care professionals. Thursday, October 23, 2014 View the MLN Connects™ Provider eNews                                                                  View this edition as a PDF In This Edition: MLN Connects™ National Provider Calls CMS 2014 Certified EHR Technology Flexibility Rule — Last Chance to Register Transitioning to ICD-10 — Register Now New MLN Connects™ National Provider Call Audio Recordings and Transcripts CMS Events Webinar for Comparative Billing Report on Podiatry: Debridement of Ulcers and Wounds Announcements Protect Your Patients Against Influenza and Pneumonia Updated CDC Resource Available on Ebola New Affordable Care Act Initiative to Support Care Coordination Nationwide Extension of Shared Savings Program Fraud and Abuse Waivers Interim Final Rule IRF Quality Reporting Program: NHSN Quality Data Submission Deadline Extended to November 15 LTCH Quality Reporting Program: NHSN Quality Data Submission Deadline Extended to November 15 Open Payments Search Tool Now Available Open Payments: Start Preparing for the 2014 Reporting Year Comparative Billing Report on Podiatry: Debridement of Ulcers and Wounds EHR Incentive Programs: Protect Electronic Health Information Core Objective  Claims, Pricers, and Codes FQHC PPS Issue with Claims Containing Both Preventive and Non-Preventive Services Hold on FQHC Medicare Advantage PPS Claims — Update Use of HCPCS X Modifiers for Distinct Procedural Services Mass Adjustment of Selected SNF Inpatient Claims October 2014 Outpatient Prospective Payment System Pricer File Update  Medicare Learning Network® Educational Products "Medicare Quarterly Provider Compliance Newsletter [Volume 5, Issue 1]” Educational Tool – Released Medicare Learning Network® Web-Based Training Programs Updated MLN Matters® Search Indices Is the eNews meeting your needs? Give us your feedback!

Physician Compare -- 2013 Quality Measures Preview Period

Physician Compare 2013 Quality Measures Preview Period As finalized in the 2013 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) rule (CMS-1590-FC), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will be publicly reporting a sub-set of the 2013 Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) Group Practice Reporting Option (GPRO) web interface measures for groups of 25 or more eligible professionals (EPs) and ACOs on Physician Compare. On October 6, 2014, CMS launched a 30-day preview period for group practices to view their quality measures. The preview period closes November 7, 2014. This preview period provides an opportunity for group practices to review their measures before they are publicly reported on Physician Compare. If you are a representative of a group practice that satisfactorily reported 2013 Diabetes and Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) measures via the PQRS GPRO web interface, you should have received detailed instructions regarding how to preview your measure data. If you do not believe your group practice has been contacted, please email the Physician Compare Support Team atPhysicianCompare@Westat.com. All ACOs that satisfactorily reported in 2013 can preview their quality measure data using their 2013 ACO Quality Reports. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has sent this Medicare.gov- Physician Compare Update. To contact Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) go to our contact us page.

CMS MLN Connects™ Weekly Provider eNews

The MLN Connects™ Provider eNews contains important news, announcements, and updates for health care professionals. Thursday, October 16, 2014 View the MLN Connects™ Provider eNews                                                                  View this edition as a PDF In This Edition: MLN Connects™ National Provider Calls Hospital Appeals Settlement Update 2 — Registration Opening Soon Overview of the 2013 Quality and Resource Use Reports — Last Chance to Register CMS 2014 Certified EHR Technology Flexibility Rule — Register Now Transitioning to ICD-10 — Register Now MLN Connects™ Videos New Videos on ICD-10: Medicare Testing Plans and Home Health Conversion Did You Miss the Hospital Appeals Settlement Video? Announcements Proposed Rule on Conditions of Participation for HHAs — Comments due December 8 Get Ready for DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Cutting-edge Colorectal Cancer Screening Now Covered Claims, Pricers, and Codes Hold on Certain CAH Method II Claims for Anesthesiologist and CRNA Services Hold on FQHC Medicare Advantage PPS Claims Medicare Learning Network® Educational Products “Quick Reference Information: Coverage and Billing Requirements for Medicare Ambulance Transports” Educational Tool — Released “Reading a Professional Remittance Advice (RA)” Booklet — Released “Reading the Institutional Remittance Advice (RA)” Booklet — Released “Medicare Disproportionate Share Hospital” Fact Sheet — Revised "Medicare Secondary Payer Provisions” Web-Based Training Course — Revised “CMS Website Wheel” Educational Tool — Reminder “The Basics of Medicare Enrollment for Physicians and Other Part B Suppliers” Fact Sheet — Reminder Medicare Learning Network® Product Available in Electronic Publication Format Is the eNews meeting your needs? Give us your feedback!

Administrative Simplification News: Streamlined HPID Application Process

Streamlined Health Plan Identifier (HPID) Application Process The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a software enhancement to the Health Plan and Other Entity Enumeration System (HPOES). This update streamlines the HPID application process so that the system automatically approves the application and generates an HPID upon submission.  Also, CMS has updated two resources to help health plans register for an HPID: A revised Quick Guide to obtaining an HPID for controlling health plans An updated User Manual, which provides details about the registration process  Visit the CMS website for these and other HPID resources. Subscriber Services: Manage Preferences | Unsubscribe

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has sent this update. To contact Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) go to our contact us page.

CMS MLN Connects™ Weekly Provider eNews

The MLN Connects™ Provider eNews contains important news, announcements, and updates for health care professionals. Thursday, October 9, 2014

View the MLN Connects™ Provider eNews                                                                  View this edition as a PDF In This Edition: MLN Connects™ National Provider Calls Overview of the 2013 Quality and Resource Use Reports — Registration Now Open CMS 2014 Certified EHR Technology Flexibility Rule — Registration Now Open Transitioning to ICD-10 — Register Now MLN Connects™ Videos  Monthly Spotlight: Physician Quality Reporting System  Announcements CMS Announces Two Medicare Quality Improvement Initiatives New Outreach & Education Page at CMS.gov Work with Older Adult Patients? New Medscape Video for CME Credit Electronic Funds Transfer Upgrades to the Internet-based PECOS System Open Payments: Know the Numbers and Decode the Data CMS is Accepting Suggestions for Potential PQRS Measures PQRS: Physician Compare 2013 Group Practice Quality Measure Preview Period through November 7 New FAQs for PQRS EHR Incentive Programs: Hardship Exception Applications to Avoid 2015 Payment Adjustment dueNovember 30 EHR Incentive Programs: Eligible Hospitals and Requirements for CEHRT to Participate in 2015 EHR Incentive Programs: Learn How to Report 2014 eCQMs through the QualityNet Portal Medicare Learning Network® Educational Products “Dual Eligible Beneficiaries Under the Medicare and Medicaid Programs” Fact Sheet – Revised Medicare Learning Network® Products Available in Electronic Publication Format Is the eNews meeting your needs? Give us your feedback!

ICD-10 News: ICD-10 Coding Basics MLN Connects National Provider Call

News Updates | October 3, 2014
ICD-10 Coding Basics MLN Connects™ National Provider Call Wednesday, November 5; 1:30-3pm ET To Register: Visit MLN Connects™ Upcoming Calls. Space may be limited, register early. The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has issued a rule finalizingOctober 1, 2015, as the new compliance date for health care providers, health plans, and health care clearinghouses to transition to ICD-10. During the MLN Connects™ National Provider Call, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) subject matter experts will discuss ICD-10 implementation issues, opportunities for testing, and resources. A question and answer session will follow the presentations. Agenda: Final rule and national implementation Medicare Fee-For-Service testing Medicare Severity Diagnosis Related Grouper (MS-DRG) Conversion Project Partial code freeze and annual code updates Plans for National Coverage Determinations (NCDs) and Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) Home health conversions Claims that span the implementation date Target Audience: Medical coders, physicians, physician office staff, nurses and other non-physician practitioners, provider billing staff, health records staff, vendors, educators, system maintainers, laboratories, and all Medicare providers Continuing education credit may be awarded for participation in certain MLN Connects Calls. Visit the Continuing Education Credit Information web page to learn more.
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CORRECTION: MLN Connects National Provider Call: Transitioning to ICD-10

News Updates | October 3, 2014
CORRECTION: MLN Connects™ National Provider Call: Transitioning to ICD-10 The previous message contained the incorrect webinar title. Wednesday, November 5; 1:30-3pm ET To Register: Visit MLN Connects™ Upcoming Calls. Space may be limited, register early. The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has issued a rule finalizing October 1, 2015, as the new compliance date for health care providers, health plans, and health care clearinghouses to transition to ICD-10. During the MLN Connects™ National Provider Call, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) subject matter experts will discuss ICD-10 implementation issues, opportunities for testing, and resources. A question and answer session will follow the presentations. Agenda: Final rule and national implementation Medicare Fee-For-Service testing Medicare Severity Diagnosis Related Grouper (MS-DRG) Conversion Project Partial code freeze and annual code updates Plans for National Coverage Determinations (NCDs) and Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) Home health conversions Claims that span the implementation date Target Audience: Medical coders, physicians, physician office staff, nurses and other non-physician practitioners, provider billing staff, health records staff, vendors, educators, system maintainers, laboratories, and all Medicare providers Continuing education credit may be awarded for participation in certain MLN Connects Calls. Visit the Continuing Education Credit Information web page to learn more.
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Physician Compare 2013 Measure Preview Period Starting Soon

Physician Compare 2013 Group Practice Quality Measure Preview Period  Begins Monday, October 6th As finalized in the 2013 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) rule (CMS-1612-FC), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will be publicly reporting a sub-set of the 2013 Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) Group Practice Reporting Option (GPRO) web interface measures for groups of 25 or more eligible professionals (EPs) on Physician Compare. StartingOctober 6, 2014, CMS is facilitating a 30-day preview period for these quality measures which will continue through November 7, 2014. In accordance with the PFS final rule, this preview period provides an opportunity for group practices to review their measures before they are publicly reported on Physician Compare. CMS is reaching out via email to the 139 group practices that satisfactorily reported 2013 Diabetes and Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) PQRS GPRO measures via the web interface. If you are a GPRO group practice representative and have any questions about the preview process or public reporting on Physician Compare, please contact the Physician Compare Support Team at PhysicianCompare@Westat.com.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has sent this update. To contact Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) go to our contact us pa

CMS MLN Connects™ Weekly Provider eNews: Open Payments Data & Hospital Compare Call

The MLN Connects™ Provider eNews contains important news, announcements, and updates for health care professionals. Thursday, October 2, 2014 View the MLN Connects™ Provider eNews                                                                  View this edition as a PDF In This Edition: MLN Connects™ National Provider Calls Hospital Compare Star Ratings: Overview of HCAHPS Star Ratings — Last Chance to Register Hospital Appeals Settlement Update — Last Chance to Register Overview of the 2013 Quality and Resource Use Reports — Registration Opening Soon Transitioning to ICD-10 — Register Now New MLN Connects™ National Provider Call Audio Recording and Transcript CMS Events Special Open Door Forum: Star Ratings on Dialysis Facility Compare Announcements National Breast Cancer Awareness Month CMS Makes First Wave of Drug and Device Company Payments to Teaching Hospitals and Physicians Public Get Ready for DMEPOS Competitive Bidding – Common Ownership and Common Control PQRS GPRO Registration Extended Until October 3 Volunteers Sought for ICD-10 End-to-End Testing in January: Forms due October 3 Comply with MAC Request for Fingerprints within 30 Days CMS Announces Availability of 2013 Quality and Resource Use Reports EHR Incentive Program: CMS Attestation System Open ICD-10 Compliance Date Is October 1, 2015 Claims, Pricers, and Codes ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting Available Medicare Learning Network® Educational Products “Hospital-Acquired Conditions and Present on Admission Indicator Reporting Provision” Fact Sheet — Revised "Medicare Appeals Process" Fact Sheet — Revised Medicare Learning Network® Products Available In Electronic Publication Format New Medicare Learning Network® Provider Compliance Fast Fact Is the eNews meeting your needs? Give us your feedback!