Attention Health Professionals: Information Regarding the 2015 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule

The MLN Connects® Provider eNews contains important news, announcements, and updates for health care professionals. Tuesday, March 24, 2015 Attention Health Professionals: Information Regarding the 2015 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule The negative update of 21% under current law for the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule is scheduled to take effect on April 1, 2015.   Medicare Physician Fee Schedule claims for services rendered on or before March 31, 2015, are unaffected by the payment cut and will be processed and paid under normal procedures and time frames.  The Administration urges Congress to take action to ensure these cuts do not take effect.   However, until that happens, CMS must take steps to implement the negative update.  Under current law, electronic claims are not paid sooner than 14 calendar days (29 days for paper claims) after the date of receipt.  CMS will notify you on or before April 11, 2015, with more information about the status of Congressional action to avert the negative update and next steps. Like the eNews? Have suggestions? Please let us know!

ICD-10 News: Volunteer for ICD-10 End-to-End Testing in July — Forms Due April 17

News Updates | March 19, 2015
Volunteer for ICD-10 End-to-End Testing in July — Forms DueApril 17 During the week of July 20 through 24, 2015, a third sample group of providers will have the opportunity to participate in ICD-10 end-to-end testing with Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) and the Common Electronic Data Interchange (CEDI) contractor. Approximately 850 volunteer submitters will be selected to participate in the July end-to-end testing. This nationwide sample will yield meaningful results, since CMS intends to select volunteers representing a broad cross-section of provider, claim, and submitter types, including claims clearinghouses that submit claims for large numbers of providers. Note: Testers who are participating in the January and April end-to-end testing weeks are able to test again in July without re-applying. To volunteer as a testing submitter: Volunteer forms are available on your MAC website Completed volunteer forms are due April 17 CMS will review applications and select the group of testing submitters By May 8, the MACs and CEDI will notify the volunteers selected to test and provide them with the information needed for the testing If selected, testers must be able to: Submit future-dated claims Provide valid National Provider Identifiers (NPIs), Provider Transaction Access Numbers (PTANs), and beneficiary Health Insurance Claim Numbers (HICNs) that will be used for test claims. This information will be needed by your MAC by May 29 for set-up purposes; testers will be dropped if information is not provided by the deadline Any issues identified during testing will be addressed prior to ICD-10 implementation. Educational materials will be developed for providers and submitters based on the testing results. For more information: MLN Matters® Article #MM8867, “ICD-10 Limited End-to-End Testing with Submitters for 2015” MLN Matters Special Edition Article #SE1435, “FAQs – ICD-10 End-to-End Testing” MLN Matters Special Edition Article #SE1409, “Medicare FFS ICD-10 Testing Approach” Keep Up to Date on ICD-10Visit the CMS ICD-10 website for the latest news and resources to help you prepare. Sign up for CMS ICD-10 Industry Email Updates and follow us on Twitter.

Test Your ICD-10 Readiness: Volunteer Today

The MLN Connects® Provider eNews contains important news, announcements, and updates for health care professionals. Thursday, March 19, 2015 Can't view the image? Read the eNews! View this edition as a PDF In This Edition: MLN Connects® National Provider Calls Medicare Shared Savings Program ACO: Preparing to Apply for 2016 — Register Now Open Payments (Sunshine Act) 2015: Prepare to Review Reported Data — Registration Opening Soon Medicare Shared Savings Program ACO: Application Process — Register Now CMS Events Volunteer for ICD-10 End-to-End Testing in July — Forms Due April 17 eHealth Webinar: eCQM 101 on Quality Reporting Programs Medicare Basics for New Providers Webinar — Registration Now Open Announcements Prepare for a Successful Transition to ICD-10 with Medicare Testing Resources RAs from January 2015 ICD-10 End-to-End Testing Bidding for Round 2 Recompete/National Mail-Order Recompete of the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program Closes March 25 March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month—Encourage Your Patients to Get Screened March is Save Your Vision Month Flu on the Decline but Still Active EHR Incentive Program: Eligible Professionals Attest for 2014 Participation by March 20 CMS Extends Letter of Intent Deadlines for the Oncology Care Model Obtaining Your Quality and Resource Use Report: Updated Information Available CMS to Release Ophthalmology Comparative Billing Report in April Physician-owned Hospital Initial Annual Ownership/Investment Report: Extension of Filing Deadline Claims, Pricers, and Codes Mandatory Payment Adjustment Percentage of 2% Extended for Medicare FFS Claims (Sequestration) Correcting the Display Issue for OPPS Claims Where Value Code “FD” Is Present Mass Adjustment of Claims Containing Codes G0473 and 77063 Medicare Learning Network® Educational Products March 2015 Version of The Medicare Learning Network® Catalog — Released Like the eNews? Have suggestions? Please let us know!

MLN Connects Calls: Learn from the CMS Experts

The MLN Connects® Provider eNews contains important news, announcements, and updates for health care professionals. Thursday, March 12, 2015 Can't view the image? Read the eNews! View this edition as a PDF In This Edition: MLN Connects® National Provider Calls Physician Quality Reporting Programs:  Reporting Once in 2015 — Last Chance to Register Medicare Shared Savings Program ACO: Preparing to Apply for 2016 — Registration Now Open Medicare Shared Savings Program ACO: Application Process — Registration Now Open New MLN Connects® National Provider Call Audio Recording and Transcript CMS Events ICD-10 Coordination and Maintenance Committee Meeting Webinar for Comparative Billing Report on Modifier 25: Nurse Practitioners Announcements Affordable Care Act Initiative Builds on Success of ACOs Physician-owned Hospital Initial Annual Ownership/Investment Report: Extension of Filing Deadline New ST PEPPER Available Medicare EHR Incentive Program: Hardship Exceptions for Hospitals due April 1 EHR Incentive Program: Part B Drugs and Payment Adjustments Claims, Pricers, and Codes April 2015 Average Sales Price Files Now Available FY 2015 Inpatient PPS PC Pricer Update Available FY 2014 Inpatient PPS PC Pricer Update Available Medicare Learning Network® Educational Products  “Guidance on the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) 2013 Reporting Year and 2015 Payment Adjustment for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs)” MLN Matters® Article — Released  “Global Surgery” Fact Sheet — Revised  “Guidelines for Teaching Physicians, Interns, and Residents” Fact Sheet — Revised “Mental Health Services” Booklet — Revised “Medicare Vision Services” Fact Sheet — Reminder “HIPAA Privacy and Security Basics for Providers” Fact Sheet — Reminder Medicare Learning Network® Products Available In Electronic Publication Format Like the eNews? Have suggestions? Please let us know!

Reporting Deadlines Spring Forward for EHR and PQRS

The MLN Connects® Provider eNews contains important news, announcements, and updates for health care professionals. Thursday, March 5, 2015                                                        Can't view the image? Read the eNews! View this edition as a PDF In This Edition: MLN Connects® National Provider Calls National Partnership to Improve Dementia Care in Nursing Homes and QAPI — Last Chance to Register Physician Quality Reporting Programs: Reporting Once in 2015 — Register Now New MLN Connects® National Provider Call Audio Recording and Transcript Providers and Suppliers — Browse the MLN Connects® Call Program Collection of Resources CMS Events Special Open Door Forum: Home Health Electronic Clinical Template and Home Health Paper Clinical Template Announcements Help Your Medicare Patients “Bite into a Healthy Lifestyle” During National Nutrition Month® and Beyond Physician Groups that Demonstrate High Quality Care Receive Increases to Their Medicare Payments CMS Announces Release of 2015 Impact Assessment of Quality Measures Report Register for the Health Care Payment Learning and Action Network New EHR Attestation Deadline for Medicare Eligible Professionals: March 20 Submission Extension for EPs Participating in PQRS via EHR and QCDR: March 20 Hospital VBP FY 2017 Baseline Measures Report Now Available HHAs: Get Started with HHCAHPS Participation Request for Comments on ESRD Conditions for Coverage Physicians and Teaching Hospitals: Register in Open Payments System PQRS Payment Adjustments and Providers Who Rendered Services at IDTFs CMS is Accepting Suggestions for Potential PQRS Measures Claims, Pricers, and Codes Special CBSA Codes for Home Health Claims FQHC Prospective Payment System File Update Medicare Learning Network® Educational Products “Physician Feedback, Quality and Resource Use Reports (QRURs) and Value-Based Modifier Program – Overview & Implementation” MLN Matters® Article — Released “Diagnosis Coding: Using the ICD-10-CM” Web-Based Training Course — Released “Medicare Physician Fee Schedule” Fact Sheet — Revised “Medicare Enrollment Guidelines for Ordering/Referring Providers” Fact Sheet — Reminder “Medicare Fraud & Abuse: Prevention, Detection, and Reporting” Fact Sheet — Reminder New Medicare Learning Network® Provider Compliance Fast Fact Medicare Learning Network® Product Available In Electronic Publication Format  Like the eNews? Have suggestions? Please let us know!

ICD-10 Reminder: Participate in ICD-10 Acknowledgement Testing Week: March 2-6

News Updates | March 3, 2015
Reminder: Participate in ICD-10 Acknowledgement Testing Week: March 2 through 6  To help you prepare for the transition to ICD-10, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) offers acknowledgement testing for current direct submitters (providers and clearinghouses) to test with the Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) and the Durable Medical Equipment (DME) MAC Common Electronic Data Interchange (CEDI) contractor anytime up to the October 1, 2015, implementation date. CMS previously conducted two successful acknowledgement testing weeks in March 2014 and November 2014. These acknowledgement testing weeks give submitters access to real-time help desk support and allow CMS to analyze testing data. Registration is not required for these virtual events. Mark your calendar: March 2 through 6, 2015 June 1 through 5, 2015 How to participate Information is available on your MAC website or through your clearinghouse (if you use a clearinghouse to submit claims to Medicare). Any provider who submits claims electronically can participate in acknowledgement testing. What you can expect during testing: Test claims will receive the 277CA or 999 acknowledgement as appropriate, to confirm that the claim was accepted or rejected in the system Test claims will be subject to all current front-end edits, including edits for valid National Provider Identifiers (NPIs), Provider Transaction Access Numbers (PTANs), and codes, including Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) and place of service Testing will not confirm claim payment or produce a Remittance Advice (RA) MACs and CEDI will be staffed to handle increased call volume during this week Testing tips: Make sure test files have the "T" in the ISA15 field to indicate the file is a test file Send ICD-10 coded test claims that closely resemble the claims that you currently submit Use valid submitter ID, NPI, and PTAN combinations Use current dates of service on test claims (i.e. October 1, 2014 through March 1, 2015) Do not use future dates of service or your claim will be rejected Not sure what type of testing you are eligible to participate in? MLN Matters® Special Edition Article SE1501 explains the differences between acknowledgement and end-to-end testing with Medicare. Other resources: MLN Matters Article MM8858, “ICD-10 Testing - Acknowledgement Testing with Providers” MLN Matters Special Edition Article SE1409, “Medicare FFS ICD-10 Testing Approach” Keep Up to Date on ICD-10Visit the CMS ICD-10 website for the latest news and resources to help you prepare. Sign up for CMS ICD-10 Industry Email Updates and follow us on Twitter.

ICD-10 News: Share Your ICD-10 Story

News Updates | January 14, 2015
Share Your ICD-10 Story The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is looking for providers, vendors, clearinghouses, health plans, and others to share ICD-10 success stories and milestone achievements with the health care community. CMS wants to hear how you are preparing your organization for the transition. Some areas of interest are: Training and educating staff about the transition Clinical documentation improvement Coordinating with vendors to update software Testing systems within your practice and with clearinghouses and health plans Collaborating with other health care organizations on ICD-10 By talking about how your organization is getting ready for ICD-10, you can help others across the country prepare for October 1, 2015. If you are interested in sharing your ICD-10 best practices, send us your story. Keep Up to Date on ICD-10Visit the CMS ICD-10 website for the latest news and resources to help you prepare. Sign up for CMS ICD-10 Industry Email Updates and follow us on Twitter.