Register for the October 1st eHealth Provider Webinar: One Year Until ICD-10 Deadline

News Updates | September 26, 2013

Join the Next eHealth Provider Webinar to Learn How to Prepare for the ICD-10 Transition October 1, 2013 marks one-year out from the October 1, 2014, ICD-10 compliance deadline. Learn the steps your practice should take to prepare for ICD-10 during the next CMS eHealth webinar on Tuesday, October 1st from 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. ET. Topics covered on this webinar include: Overview of ICD-10 and its benefits Steps to take now to prepare for ICD-10 Areas of focus for implementation Additional resources for more information A portion of the webinar will also be dedicated to Q&A. Registration Information Space is limited. Register now to secure your spot for this eHealth Provider Webinar. Once registration is complete, you will receive a follow-up email with step-by-step instructions on how to log-in to the webinar. CMS eHealth Provider Webinar Series CMS has been holding eHealth Provider Webinars to educate the health care community about the eHealth programs and resources available. Listserv messages will be sent prior to each webinar with registration information. Stay tuned for information about our next webinar topic.

ICD-10 News: ICD-10 Back to School–Resources and Tools

News Updates | September 20, 2013

Back to School–Resources and Tools to Help Prepare for ICD-10 CMS and industry partners have developed many resources to help you get ready for ICD-10. These tools provide information and step-by-step guidance for providers and staff to prepare for a smooth transition. We encourage you to share these resources with all members of your team who are taking part in the transition to ICD-10. New Online ICD-10 Implementation Guide  CMS has just released the new Online ICD-10 Guide. This web-based tool includes an overview of ICD-10 as well as information on how to transition to ICD-10 for small/medium practices, large practices, small hospitals, and payers. Below are links to other helpful tools available on the CMS ICD-10 Website: The ICD-10 Transition: An Introduction ICD-10 FAQs ICD-10 Basics for Medical Practices  ICD-10 Basics for Small and Rural Practices Talking to Your Vendors About ICD-10: Tips for Medical Practices ICD-10 Resources List National ICD-10 Provider Education Teleconferences CMS works with Medscape to produce videos and articles that offer tips and advice on ICD-10, along with an opportunity for physicians to earn continuing medical education credits and nurses to earn continuing education credits. CMS has recently released two new Medscape videos: ICD-10: A Roadmap for Small Clinical Practices ICD-10: Small Practice Guide to a Smooth Transition You can also reference resources from provider associations and other industry organizations. Many of these groups also host ICD-10 webinars and trainings that you can attend to get up to speed on ICD-10. Visit the ICD-10 Provider Resources page to find a list of some organizations that offer ICD-10 resources, and check with any organizations to which you belong for members-only resources. To make sure you have all the tools you need, we recommend purchasing the new ICD-10 code book. You and your team can begin looking up the ICD-10 codes for the ICD-9 codes frequently used in your practice. This week is the third annual National Health IT Week (September 16-20). Visit the CMS eHealth website to access new eHealth tools and resources that help providers participate in eHealth programs. Keep Up to Date on ICD-10 Visit the CMS ICD-10 website for the latest news and resources to help you prepare for the October 1, 2014, deadline.

MLN Connects Provider eNews for Thursday September 19, 2013

Thursday, September 19, 2013 MLN Connects™ National Provider Calls  Program Year 2012 Quality and Resource Use Reports — Mapping a Route to Success for the 2015 Value-Based Payment Modifier — Last Chance to Register  MLN Connects Series on the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs — Audio and Transcripts Available  MLN Educational Products Update  “Additional Reporting Requirements Concerning Physician Ownership and Investment in Hospitals” MLN Matters® Article — Released  “Temporary Instructions for Implementation of Final Rule 1599-F for Part A to Part B Billing of Denied Hospital Inpatient Claims” MLN Matters® Article — Released  “Influenza Vaccine Payment Allowances - Annual Update for 2013-2014 Season” MLN Matters® Article — Released  “Same Day Billing for Mental Health Services and Primary Care Services” Fact Sheet — Released  “The Basics of Medicare Enrollment for Institutional Providers” Fact Sheet — Reminder  “The Basics of Medicare Enrollment for Physicians Who Infrequently Receive Medicare Reimbursement” Fact Sheet — Reminder  Announcements, Events, and Reminders  Help Your Medicare Patients Learn Their Blood Cholesterol Risk Level  Program Year 2012 QRURs for Group Practices Are Here  EHR Hospital Reporting for 2013 Ends on September 30: Begin Preparing for Attestation  Claims, Pricer, and Code Updates  Part B Medicare Ophthalmology Code Denial  FY 2012 Inpatient PPS PC Pricer Updated  MLN Connects™ National Provider Calls  Program Year 2012 Quality and Resource Use Reports — Mapping a Route to Success for the 2015 Value-Based Payment Modifier — Last Chance to Register  Tuesday, September 24; 3-4:30pm ET To Register: Visit MLN Connects Upcoming Calls. Space may be limited, register early. Target Audience: Groups with 25 or more eligible professionals. On September 16, CMS made 2012 Quality Resource Use Reports (QRURs) available to group practices with 25 or more eligible professionals (EPs). These reports show how a group would fare under the policies CMS has finalized for the Physician Value-Based Payment Modifier. This MLN Connects™ National Provider Call provides an overview of the QRUR and how to interpret and use the data in the report. Authorized representatives of groups can access the QRURs at https://portal.cms.gov using an Individuals Authorized Access to the CMS Computer Services (IACS) account with one of the following group-specific Physician Value-Physician Quality Reporting System (PV-PQRS) Registration System roles: Primary PV-PQRS Group Security Official Backup PV-PQRS Group Security Official PV-PQRS Group Representative If a group has already registered and selected its 2013 PQRS group reporting mechanism in the PV-PQRS Registration System, then that same person who registered the group can access the group's QRUR using their IACS User ID and password. If a group does not yet have an authorized representative with an IACS account, then one person representing the group must sign up for an IACS account with the primary Group Security Official role. If a group has a representative with an existing IACS account, but not one of the three group-specific Registration System roles listed above, then ensure that the account is still active and then add a group-specific Registration System role to that person's existing IACs account. We strongly encourage representatives of groups to sign up for a new IACS account or modify an existing account at https://applications.cms.hhs.gov as soon as possible in order to be able to access the QRURs prior to the call. Quick Reference Guides that provide step-by-step instructions for requesting each PV-PQRS Registration System role for a new or existing IACS account are available in the “Downloads section” of the Self Nomination/Registration web page.  The call will be more meaningful if you have your QRUR in front of you to follow along. A Quick Reference Guide that provides instructions on how to obtain your 2012 QRUR is available in the “Downloads” section of the QRUR Templates and Methodologies web page. Agenda: Opening Remarks  How to Understand and Use the 2012 QRUR  Question & Answer Session  Closing  Continuing education credit may be awarded for participation in certain MLN Connects Calls. Review the call detail page for specific continuing education credit for this call. MLN Connects Series on the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs — Audio and Transcripts Available  A series of calls was held this summer on the EHR incentive programs. Learn more about these programs at a time convenient to you by listening to the audio recordings or reading the transcripts. Call materials for MLN Connects™ Calls on EHR are located on the Calls and Events web page. May30 — Stage 1 of the Medicare & Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs for Eligible Professionals, audio and transcript June 27 — Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs and Certified EHR Technology, audio and transcript July 23 — Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs for Eligible Professionals: In-depth Overview of Clinical Quality Measures for Reporting Beginning in 2014, audio and transcript July 24 — Stage 1 and Stage 2 of Meaningful Use for the EHR Incentive Programs, audio, transcript, and post-call clarification August 15 — Payment Adjustments and Hardship Exceptions for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program, audio, transcript, and post-call clarification MLN Educational Products Update  “Additional Reporting Requirements Concerning Physician Ownership and Investment in Hospitals” MLN Matters® Article — Released  MLN Matters® Special Edition Article #SE1332, “Additional Reporting Requirements Concerning Physician Ownership and Investment in Hospitals,” was released and is now available in downloadable format.  This article is designed to provide education on reporting requirements imposed on physician-owned hospitals, as required under Section 6001 of the Affordable Care Act. It includes information about exceptions to the physician self-referral law for ownership and investment. “Temporary Instructions for Implementation of Final Rule 1599-F for Part A to Part B Billing of Denied Hospital Inpatient Claims” MLN Matters® Article — Released MLN Matters® Special Edition Article #SE1333, “Temporary Instructions for Implementation of Final Rule 1599-F for Part A to Part B Billing of Denied Hospital Inpatient Claims,” was released and is now available in downloadable format.  This article is designed to provide education on temporary instructions used to implement billing for Medicare Part B services provided during a hospital inpatient stay not covered by Medicare, as required under CMS-1599-F. It includes information about appeals, billing, and a list of revenue codes not covered under inpatient Part B medical necessity denials. “Influenza Vaccine Payment Allowances - Annual Update for 2013-2014 Season” MLN Matters® Article — Released MLN Matters® Special Edition Article #MM8433, “Influenza Vaccine Payment Allowances - Annual Update for 2013-2014 Season,” was released and is now available in downloadable format. This article is designed to provide education on updated payment allowances for seasonal influenza virus vaccines when payment is based on 95 percent of the Average Wholesale Price, as outlined in Change Request 8433. It includes updated information about post-payment limits for influenza vaccines. “Same Day Billing for Mental Health Services and Primary Care Services” Fact Sheet — Released   The “Same Day Billing for Mental Health Services and Primary Care Services” Fact Sheet (ICN 908978) was released and is now available in text-only format. This fact sheet is designed to provide education on same day billing for mental health services and primary care services. It includes same day billing guidelines and information about the National Correct Coding Initiative. “The Basics of Medicare Enrollment for Institutional Providers” Fact Sheet — Reminder “The Basics of Medicare Enrollment for Institutional Providers” Fact Sheet (ICN 903783) is available in downloadable format. This fact sheet is designed to provide education on basic Medicare enrollment information and how to ensure institutional providers are qualified and eligible to enroll in the Medicare Program. It includes information on how to enroll in the Medicare Program, how to report changes, and a list of resources. “The Basics of Medicare Enrollment for Physicians Who Infrequently Receive Medicare Reimbursement” Fact Sheet — Reminder “The Basics of Medicare Enrollment for Physicians Who Infrequently Receive Medicare Reimbursement” Fact Sheet (ICN 006881) is available in downloadable and hard copy format. This fact sheet is designed to provide education on general Medicare enrollment information for those physicians who are required to enroll in Medicare for the sole purpose of certifying or ordering services for Medicare beneficiaries. It includes information on frequently asked questions and resources. To access a product available for order in hard copy format, go to MLN Products  and scroll down to the bottom of the web page to the “Related Links” section and click on the “MLN Product Ordering Page.”   Announcements, Events, and Reminders  Help Your Medicare Patients Learn Their Blood Cholesterol Risk Level  September is National Cholesterol Education Month and September 29 is World Heart Day. These initiatives serve to educate and increase awareness of cardiovascular diseases, risk factors like high blood cholesterol, screenings, and strategies for risk-reduction and prevention that can reduce premature death caused by these chronic diseases, along with other initiatives such as: HHS’s Million Hearts®, an initiative to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes by 2017, and National Lung, Heart, Blood Institute’s National Cholesterol Education Program with educational efforts directed towards health professionals and the public. CMS reminds health care professionals that Medicare provides coverage for cardiovascular disease screening blood tests. Medicare Part B covers cardiovascular disease screening blood tests once every 5 years (i.e., at least 59 months after the most recent screening tests) for beneficiaries without apparent signs or symptoms of cardiovascular disease. The cardiovascular disease screening blood tests covered by Medicare include: Total Cholesterol Test Cholesterol Test for High Density Lipoproteins (HDL) Triglycerides Test Help your Medicare patients learn their cholesterol numbers. All eligible beneficiaries should be encouraged to take advantage of this preventive screening service. There is no co-pay/co-insurance or Part B deductible to receive this screening. For More Information: The MLN Cardiovascular Disease Services Brochure MLN Preventative Services Products for Health Professionals Program Year 2012 QRURs for Group Practices Are Here  On September 16, Program Year 2012 Quality and Resource Use Reports (QRURs) were made available for group practices with 25 or more eligible professionals (EPs). Authorized representatives of groups can access the QRURs at:  https://portal.cms.gov using an Individuals Authorized Access to the CMS Computer Services (IACS) account with one of the following group-specific Physician Value-Physician Quality Reporting System (PV-PQRS) Registration System roles: Primary PV-PQRS Group Security Official Backup PV-PQRS Group Security Official PV-PQRS Group Representative We strongly encourage representatives of groups to sign up for a new IACS account or modify an existing account at https://applications.cms.hhs.gov as soon as possible in order to be able to access the QRURs. A Quick Reference Guide that provides instructions on how to obtain your 2012 QRUR is available in the “Downloads” section of the QRUR Templates and Methodologies web page.  EHR Hospital Reporting for 2013 Ends on September 30: Begin Preparing for Attestation  September 30, 2013 is an important deadline for eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals (CAHs) participating in the EHR Incentive Programs. It marks the end of the fiscal year (FY) and the last day of the 2013 meaningful use program year. Attestation DeadlineHospitals participating in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program have until November 30, 2013 to attest to demonstrating meaningful use of the data collected during the FY 2013 reporting period. Hospitals participating in the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program need to refer to their state deadlines for attestation. Hospitals must attest to demonstrating meaningful use every year to receive an incentive and avoid a payment adjustment. Payment AdjustmentsPayment adjustments will be applied beginning FY 2015 (October 1, 2014) to Medicare eligible hospitals that have not successfully demonstrated meaningful use. The adjustment is determined by the hospital’s reporting period in a prior year. Read the eligible hospital payment adjustment tipsheet to learn more. Fiscal Year 2014October 1, 2013 marks the start of FY 2014 and many important milestones for eligible hospitals, including: The start of Stage 2 for eligible hospitals that have completed at least two years of Stage 1. A reduced EHR incentive payment for hospitals that begin participation in 2014 and later. A 3-month reporting period in 2014, regardless of the stage of meaningful use to allow more time to upgrade to 2014 certified EHR technology. The reporting period must be fixed to the quarter for Medicare eligible hospitals and CAHs. The reporting period can be any 90 days for Medicaid eligible hospitals and CAHs. Resources Meaningful Use Attestation Calculator Attestation Worksheet for Eligible Hospitals and CAHs Attestation Guide for Eligible Hospitals Stage 2 Payment Adjustment Tipsheet for Eligible Hospitals Plan AheadReview all of the important dates for the EHR Incentive Programs on the Health Information Technology Timeline. Claims, Pricer, and Code Updates  Part B Medicare Ophthalmology Code Denial  The latest package of National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) edits, Version 19.2, effective July 1, 2013, was updated appropriately to include the ophthalmology Evaluation and Management (E&M) procedure codes 92012 and 92014 based on the policy outlined in the Internet Only Manual (IOM) 100-04, Chapter 12, Section 40.3.B. However, CMS has been made aware that the Multi-Carrier System inadvertently omitted procedure codes 92012 and 92014 from the E&M range of 99201-99499 and is not allowing the use of separately billed modifiers 25, 24, and 57. This is causing claims to deny inappropriately when the modifiers are appended to these procedure codes. CMS is correcting this issue and A/B Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) will reprocess all inappropriately denied claims by November 15, 2013. Providers do not need to take any action in having their claims corrected. FY 2012 Inpatient PPS PC Pricer Updated The FY 2012 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (PPS) PC Pricer has had an issue with pricing transfer claims. The corrected version is now available on the Inpatient PPS Pricer web page in the “Downloads” section.

ICD-10 News: Register Today for the National Health IT Week Webinar on ICD-10

News Updates | September 16, 2013

Join the ICD-10 Webinar on September 18th The third annual National Health IT Week is September 16-20. CMS will mark the week by hosting several webinars and launching new eHealth tools and resourcesthat help providers participate in eHealth programs. National Health IT Week eHealth Provider Webinar Series For Health IT Week, CMS experts will be presenting at a webinar on ICD-10 sponsored by the Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI) onWednesday, September 18th, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET. Join us to learn more about ICD-10, how it differs from ICD-9, and the steps health care practices should take to transition to ICD-10. A CMS expert will also discuss the tools and resources CMS offers to help practices with the ICD-10 transition. A portion of the webinar will be dedicated to Q&A.  How to Register Register through WEDI to participate in the ICD-10 Overview Webinar.  Once registration is complete, you will receive a follow-up email with instructions on how to log-in to the webinar. Space is limited so register today!

ICD-10 News: ICD-10 Back to School Series

News Updates | September 12, 2013

ICD-10 Back to School Series With summer almost over and the October 1, 2014, ICD-10 deadline little more than a year away, CMS is launching a series of Email Update messages aimed at helping your practice jump-start your preparations. This series will be full of useful tips and resources that can help you catch up on or continue your ICD-10 prep. The series will cover: Resources available at no cost from CMS and medical/trade associations to help you identify specific steps your practice should take to get ready for ICD-10 Simple tips for small practices that can have a big effect on ICD-10 preparedness Guidance on creating a plan to help see your practice through to the ICD-10 deadline Recommendations for how to discuss ICD-10 with trading partners, including vendors and payers Approaches to ICD-10 coding and documentation for specific conditions Options for training How to start ICD-10 testing, even if you do not have all your systems and software in place As you move forward with ICD-10, be sure to watch for the Back to School messages with information and guidance from CMS to help you get ready for theOctober 1, 2014, deadline

MLN Connects Provider eNews for Thursday September 12, 2013

Thursday, September 12, 2013 MLN Connects™ National Provider Calls  Program Year 2012 Quality and Resource Use Reports — Mapping a Route to Success for the 2015 Value-Based Payment Modifier — Register Now  Did You Miss This MLN Connects Call?  MLN Educational Products Update  “Medicare Enrollment Guidelines for Ordering/Referring Providers” Fact Sheet — Reminder  “Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Services” Fact Sheet — Reminder  Four MLN Publications Now Available in Electronic Publication Format  Announcements, Events, and Reminders  Influenza Season is Almost Here  ICD-9-CM Coordination and Maintenance Committee Meeting  Sign Up for New CMS PQRS Listserv for Program Updates and Helpful Resources  Streamlined Access to PECOS, EHR, and NPPES — Coming Soon  Physician Groups of 100 or More: 4 Weeks Left to Register for PV- PQRS to Avoid a -1.0% Payment Adjustment  Skilled Nursing Facilities to Receive PEPPER  Spotlight on the Electronic Prescribing Measure for Stage 1 Meaningful Use  Claims, Pricer, and Code Updates  CMS-1500 Claim Form Updates: Medicare to Accept Revised Form Starting January 2014      MLN Connects™ National Provider Calls  Program Year 2012 Quality and Resource Use Reports — Mapping a Route to Success for the 2015 Value-Based Payment Modifier — Register Now  Tuesday, September 24; 3-4:30pm ET To Register: Visit MLN Connects Upcoming Calls. Space may be limited, register early. Target Audience: Groups with 25 or more eligible professionals. On September 16, 2013, CMS will make available the 2012 Quality Resource Use Reports (QRURs) to group practices with 25 or more eligible professionals (EPs). These reports show how a group would fare under the policies CMS has finalized for the Physician Value-Based Payment Modifier. This MLN Connects™ National Provider Call will provide an overview of the QRUR and how to interpret and use the data in the report. Authorized representatives of groups can access the QRURs at https://portal.cms.gov using an Individuals Authorized Access to the CMS Computer Services (IACS) account with one of the following group-specific Physician Value-Physician Quality Reporting System (PV-PQRS) Registration System roles: Primary PV-PQRS Group Security Official Backup PV-PQRS Group Security Official PV-PQRS Group Representative If a group has already registered and selected its 2013 PQRS group reporting mechanism in the PV-PQRS Registration System, then that same person who registered the group can access the group's QRUR using their IACS User ID and password. If a group does not yet have an authorized representative with an IACS account, then one person representing the group must sign up for an IACS account with the primary Group Security Official role. If a group has a representative with an existing IACS account, but not one of the three group-specific Registration System roles listed above, then ensure that the account is still active and then add a group-specific Registration System role to that person's existing IACs account. We strongly encourage representatives of groups to sign up for a new IACS account or modify an existing account at https://applications.cms.hhs.gov as soon as possible in order to be able to access the QRURs prior to the call. Quick Reference Guides that provide step-by-step instructions for requesting each PV-PQRS Registration System role for a new or existing IACS account are available in the “Downloads section” of the Self Nomination/Registration web page. The call will be more meaningful if you have your QRUR in front of you to follow along. A Quick Reference Guide that provides instructions on how to obtain your 2012 QRUR will be available soon in the “Downloads” section of the QRUR Templates and Methodologies web page. Agenda: Opening Remarks  How to Understand and Use the 2012 QRUR  Question & Answer Session  Closing  Continuing education credit may be awarded for participation in certain MLN Connects Calls. Visit the Continuing Education Credit Information web page to learn more. Did You Miss This MLN Connects Call?  Call materials for MLN Connects™ Calls are located on the Calls and Events web page. New materials are now available for the following call: August 22 — ICD-10 Basics , audio and transcript  MLN Educational Products Update  “Medicare Enrollment Guidelines for Ordering/Referring Providers” Fact Sheet — Reminder  The “Medicare Enrollment Guidelines for Ordering/Referring Providers” Fact Sheet is available in downloadable and hard copy format. This fact sheet is designed to provide education on the Medicare enrollment requirements for eligible ordering/referring providers. It includes information on the three basic requirements for ordering and referring and who may order and refer for Medicare Part A Home Health Agency, Part B, and DMEPOS beneficiary services. “Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Services” Fact Sheet — Reminder  The “Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) Services” Fact Sheet is available in downloadable and hard copy format. This fact sheet is designed to provide education on SBIRT services. It includes an early intervention approach that targets those with nondependent substance use to provide effective strategies for intervention prior to the need for more extensive or specialized treatment. To access a hard copy format, go to MLN Products and scroll down to the bottom of the web page to the “Related Links” section and click on the “MLN Product Ordering Page.” Four MLN Publications Now Available in Electronic Publication Format  The “Medicare Physician Fee Schedule” Fact Sheet (ICN 006814) is now available as an electronic publication (e-pub) and through a QR code. This fact sheet is designed to provide education on the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS). It includes the following information: physician services, Medicare PFS payment rates, and Medicare PFS payment rates formula. The “Acute Care Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System” Fact Sheet (ICN 006815) is now available as an e-pub and through a QR code. This fact sheet is designed to provide education on the Acute Care Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS). It includes the following information: background, basis for IPPS payment, payment rates, how payment rates are set, and payment updates. The “Ambulance Fee Schedule” Fact Sheet (ICN 006835) is now available as an e-pub and through a QR code. This fact sheet is designed to provide education on the Ambulance Fee Schedule. It includes the following information: background, ambulance providers and suppliers, payments, and how payment rates are set. The “Medicare Ambulance Transports” Booklet (ICN 903194) is now available as an e-pub and through a QR code. This booklet is designed to provide education on Medicare ambulance transports. It includes the following information: the ambulance transport benefit, ambulance transports, ground and air ambulance providers and suppliers, ground and air ambulance vehicles and personnel requirements, covered destinations, ambulance transport coverage requirements, and payments for ambulance transports. The e-pub format is available under the “Related Links” section of the publication’s detail page. The QR code is also located on the detail page. Instructions for downloading the e-publication and how to scan a QR code are available at “How To Download a Medicare Learning Network® (MLN) Electronic Publication” on the CMS website.      Announcements, Events, and Reminders  Influenza Season is Almost Here As the 2013-2014 influenza season quickly approaches, now is an opportune time to send reminders and schedule appointments for patients’ flu vaccinations. Seniors and people with chronic health conditions—like asthma, diabetes, and heart disease—are at a higher risk for serious complications from the flu. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, last season overall deaths attributed to flu and pneumonia were the highest in nearly a decade, and people 65 years and older accounted for half of all flu-related hospitalizations. Recommending and offering flu vaccine to Medicare beneficiaries ahead of the flu season is very crucial, as patients are more likely to get vaccinated when flu vaccination is recommended and offered by a health care professional. Generally, Medicare Part B covers one influenza vaccination and its administration per influenza season for Medicare beneficiaries without co-pay or deductible.  Note: The influenza vaccine and its administration are covered under Medicare Part B. Influenza vaccine is not a Part D-covered drug. For more information on coverage and billing of the influenza virus vaccine and its administration, please visit the CMS Medicare Learning Network® Preventive Services Educational Products and CMS Immunizations web pages (Check back for CMS 2013-2014 influenza season updates — coming soon). And, while some providers may offer the flu vaccine, others can help their patients locate a vaccine provider within their local community. HealthMap Vaccine Finderis a free, online service where users can search for locations offering flu and other adult vaccines.  ICD-9-CM Coordination and Maintenance Committee Meeting September 18-19; 9-5pm ET The next ICD-9-CM Coordination and Maintenance Committee meeting will be held on September 18 through 19 in the CMS auditorium in Baltimore. Registration to attend the meeting on-site has closed. However, this meeting is being webcast. If participating via the webcast, please join prior to 9am. Conference lines will also be available for those participants who are unable to view the webcast or attend in person. Toll free dial in access for external participants is as follows: Phone: 877-267-1577; Meeting ID: 997-355-278. The final procedure agenda will be posted by Monday, September 16 on the CMS website. Proposals for the diagnosis codes will begin following the conclusion of the procedure presentations and will be led by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The meeting will begin promptly at 9am each day. Sign Up for New CMS PQRS Listserv for Program Updates and Helpful Resources  CMS has a new listserv to keep you informed about the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) program. The PQRS listserv includes helpful information like timely updates, how to submit quality measures to CMS, and details about the program’s impact on payment. By subscribing to the listserv, you will be informed of upcoming deadlines and get answers to questions gathered from eligible professionals about PQRS. Program updates like the ones below will be circulated on the listserv to keep you informed of new developments. Participating in the 2013 PQRS program? Below are important dates to guide successful participation in PQRS this year: October 15, 2013 Last day for groups to register to participate in GPRO for the 2013 PQRS program year via Web Interface or registry reporting Last day for individuals and groups participating in the Group Practice Reporting Option (GPRO) to elect to participate in the administrative claims-based reporting mechanism to avoid a payment adjustment in 2015 December 31, 2013 Reporting period for the 2013 PQRS program year ends for both group practices and individuals February 28, 2014 o   Last day to submit 2013 PQRS data through some reporting methods (deadline for submission of PQRS data varies by reporting method, but all methods require data to be submitted by end of first quarter in 2014) Last day to submit CQMs for the PQRS-Medicare EHR Incentive Pilot Reporting Pilot Program  More information about these milestones will be included in upcoming PQRS listserv messages. We encourage you to let others know about the CMS PQRS listserv, and to share its messages. Click here to join the listserv and learn more. Want more information about PQRS? Make sure to visit the PQRS website for the latest news and updates on PQRS. Streamlined Access to PECOS, EHR, and NPPES — Coming Soon Changes are being made to simplify the way providers and suppliers access the Provider Enrollment Chain and Ownership System (PECOS), the Electronic Health Records (EHR) Incentive Program, and the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES). These updates will improve the user experience when registering as an individual practitioner, authorized or delegated official of an organization, or someone working within PECOS on behalf of a provider or supplier (also known as a surrogate). The new process will: Allow registered users to manage and reset their user ID and password online without calling a CMS Help Desk. Provide a simple and secure way for providers and suppliers to authorize individuals or groups of individuals to act on their behalf in PECOS and EHR. Allow designated authorized officials already on file with Medicare to be quickly approved to access PECOS without the need to submit documentation to CMS for verification prior to submitting the application. Allow organizations with potentially large numbers of credentialing or support staff to manage staff access to the various functions. Increase security to reduce the risk of provider identity theft and unauthorized access to systems. Important Note: If you already have a user ID and password from NPPES, or currently access PECOS, NPPES, and/or EHR, your accounts will not be affected by this change. You can continue to use your established user ID and password to access the systems. Physician Groups of 100 or More: 4 Weeks Left to Register for PV- PQRS to Avoid a -1.0% Payment Adjustment  The Physician Value-Physician Quality Reporting System (PV-PQRS) Registration System is open  for representatives of group practices to select their group’s PQRS reporting mechanism for CY 2013, and for groups with 100 or more eligible professionals (EPs), to elect quality tiering to calculate the Value Modifier for CY 2015. Additionally, individual EPs will be able to select the CMS-calculated administrative claims reporting mechanism in CY 2013 in order to avoid the PQRS negative payment adjustment in CY 2015.  The PV-PQRS Registration System will close on October 15, 2013. The PV-PQRS Registration System can be accessed at https://portal.cms.gov using a valid IACS User ID and password. For additional information regarding registration and obtaining or modifying an IACS account please see the Quick Reference Guide on the Self Nomination/Registration web page. Skilled Nursing Facilities to Receive PEPPER CMS will make available free provider-specific comparative data reports for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) nationwide. The Program for Evaluating Payment Patterns Electronic Report (PEPPER) provides SNF-specific data statistics for Medicare services that may be at risk for improper Medicare payments. SNFs can use the data to support internal auditing and monitoring activities. PEPPER is a free report comparing a SNF’s Medicare billing practices with other SNFs in the state, Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) or Fiscal Intermediary (FI) jurisdiction, and nation. CMS has contracted with TMF® Health Quality Institute to develop and distribute the reports. SNFs administered through short-term acute care hospitals received their SNF PEPPER electronically starting in late August, 2013. The SNF PEPPER file will be uploaded to the File Exchange inbox of hospital QualityNet Administrators and user accounts with the PEPPER recipient role. Free-standing SNFs and SNFs administered through long-term acute care hospitals and inpatient rehabilitation facilities received their PEPPER in hard copy format via USPS first-class mail, shipped on August 30, 2013. The envelope containing the PEPPER will be addressed generically to the Chief Executive Officer/Administrator. SNFs should be on the look-out for this envelope and ensure it is appropriately routed internally. For more information on the SNF PEPPER, including training and resources for SNFs and the SNF PEPPER User’s Guide, please visitPEPPERresources.org. Questions may be submitted through the Help Desk. CMS encourages SNFs to provide feedback on PEPPER through a feedback formso that the reports can be continually improved. Spotlight on the Electronic Prescribing Measure for Stage 1 Meaningful Use Eligible professionals have sent more than 190 million electronic prescriptions for Stage 1 of meaningful use for the EHR Incentive Programs since the programs began in 2011. Learn more about the requirements for the Electronic Prescribing (eRx) core measure, and join these providers who are advancing our health care system through the meaningful use of certified EHR technology. Criteria for eRx Under Stage 1 of the EHR Incentive Programs, eligible professionals must send more than 40 percent of all prescriptions electronically through a certified EHR system to qualify for meaningful use. To make it easier for providers to meet the eRx requirement, CMS has outlined the details of the measure and included additional guidance below. Objective: Generate and transmit permissible prescriptions electronically Measure: More than 40 percent of all permissible prescriptions written by the eligible professional are transmitted electronically using certified EHR technology Exclusion: Any eligible professional who writes fewer than 100 prescriptions during the EHR reporting period  any eligible professional who does not have a pharmacy within their organization and there are no pharmacies that accept electronic prescriptions within 10 miles of the eligible professional’s practice location at the start of his/her EHR reporting period Stage 2In Stage 2 of Meaningful Use, the threshold for electronic prescriptions will increase to 50 percent. Stage 2 begins in 2014 for eligible professionals who have completed at least two years of Stage 1. Additional Guidance on this Measure Eligible professionals can transmit prescriptions electronically to either a pharmacy or an intermediary network. The prescription must be filled without the need for the provider to communicate the prescription in an alternative manner. FAQ ID#2857 Controlled substances that qualify as permissible prescriptions can be submitted electronically. The Department of Justice outlined guidelines and restrictions for permissible prescriptions. FAQ ID#2763 The eRx denominator consists of the number of prescriptions written for drugs requiring a prescription to be dispensed, other than controlled substances, during the EHR reporting period. The eRx numerator consists of the number of prescriptions in the denominator generated and transmitted electronically using certified EHR technology. FAQ ID#2939 Stage 1 Meaningful Use ObjectivesFor more information on Stage 1 meaningful use, view the Stage 1 Meaningful Use Specification Sheets for eligible professionals and eligible hospitals. Want more information about the EHR Incentive Programs? Make sure to visit the CMS EHR Incentive Programs website for the latest news and updates on the EHR Incentive Programs. Claims, Pricer, and Code Updates  CMS-1500 Claim Form Updates: Medicare to Accept Revised Form Starting January 2014 The CMS-1500 Claim Form has been recently revised with changes including those to more adequately support the use of the ICD-10 diagnosis code set. The revised CMS-1500 form (version 02/12) will replace version 08/05. The revised form will give providers the ability to indicate whether they are using ICD-9 or ICD-10 diagnosis codes, which is important as the October 1, 2014, transition approaches. ICD-9 codes must be used for services provided beforeOctober 1, 2014, while ICD-10 codes should be used for services provided on or after October 1, 2014. The revised form also allows for additional diagnosis codes, expanding from 4 possible codes to 12.  Only providers who qualify for exemptions from electronic submission may submit the CMS-1500 Claim Form to Medicare. For those providers who use service vendors, CMS encourages them to check with their service vendors to determine when they will switch to the new form. Medicare will begin accepting the revised form on January 6, 2014. Starting April 1, 2014, Medicare will accept only the revised version of the form.