All Entries in the "MedicareFind tips" Category
NCCI update complete
As I mentioned in my previous post, we’ve been working to test and load the new NCCI edits into our NCCI Edit Lookup Tool. This process is now complete, so the tool is currently up-to-date — searchable through v. 16.2 on the physician side and v. 16.1 on the hospital side. (Remember, the hospital edits run one quarter behind the physician edits.)
For users of our NCCI Edit Lookup Tool…
CMS has published the latest updates to the NCCI edits (v. 16.2 on the physician side and 16.1 on the facility side). Please note that we’ll be verifying and testing these edits prior to loading them into our NCCI Edit Lookup Tool. When that’s all set I will post an announcement here.
In the meantime, our lookup tool is current through v. 16.1 on the physician side and 16.0 on the hospital outpatient side.
Thank you!
New sources in the MedicareFind database
In response to feedback from MedicareFind subscribers, we recently flipped the switch on an enhancement — the following document types are now incorporated into our database:
The PRRB decisions include some great information related to appeals. The CMS fact sheets and press releases should help users monitor and analyze CMS policy changes as they occur. (The fact sheets, in particular, provide a good overview of often-lengthy rulemaking.)
Thank you to those users who provided the feedback leading to these enhancements!
MedicareFind User’s Guide available
We recently compiled the MedicareFind User’s Guide, a short document containing information that I think will be helpful to both current MedicareFind subscribers and folks who are taking free trials.
Among other topics, the guide contains explanations and examples of how to:
- Reset or change your password
- Use MedicareFind filters and sorting
- Check bundling issues with our NCCI Edits tool
- Take advantage of MedicareFind proximity searching
- Locate relevant information in a particularly large document
Thanks to those users who asked for a list of tips like this that they could print out and keep at their desks. I’m glad we could respond!
MedicareFind demonstration webcast June 16
I’d like to invite everyone to attend our free MedicareFind demonstration on Wednesday, June 16 (1 – 2 pm Eastern). This is a live call, so come prepared with any questions you might have about the MedicareFind solution.
For current MedicareFind users, I’ll review some handy tips for getting the most out of your MedicareFind subscription and discuss some new enhancements to the site. For those who don’t currently subscribe, I’ll walk through some research scenarios and explain the benefits of MedicareFind. It should be a good opportunity to determine whether MedicareFind is a fit for your team.
Check out the agenda and register for the free webcast here.
MedicareFind tip: How to track health reform updates
The recently enacted Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (and companion Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act) will be followed by plenty of rulemaking and guidance from HHS and other government entities. To help MedicareFind users keep track of these changes, we’re introducing a new Health Reform EasyFind link. This resource page will automatically update itself with any new issuances (e.g., transmittals, proposed rules, Open Door Forum transcripts) related to healthcare reform so you can incorporate changes into your workflow.
Already, we can see several transmittals to implement new timely filing requirements, direct contractors to use revised MPFS database files, and extend various policies that would have expired without the health reform law.
CMS also recently posted revised OPPS data files, pursuant to PPACA’s changes. You can access these revisions to the January and April versions of Addendum A and Addendum B here:
- Addendum A, revised January release
- Addendum B, revised January release
- Addendum A, revised April release
- Addendum B, revised April release
Stay tuned for further health reform updates and analysis.
Site maintenance tomorrow morning
This is just to notify MedicareFind users that we’ll be performing some site maintenance tomorrow morning — visitors to www.medicarefind.com will encounter a maintenance message on the site between 2 am and 12 noon tomorrow (Saturday, 4/24).
On an unrelated note, I’d like to thank the MedicareFind users who came by our booth at the HCCA Compliance Institute earlier this week to say hello. It was great to put faces with names and hear about how you’re using the site! I hope you all had safe trips back home.
Check out upcoming CMS calls
Spring is bringing with it a slew of CMS conference calls. In addition to the usual Open Door Forum conferences, CMS recently announced a series of nationwide RAC educational calls.
Go to our Calendar page for specific dates, times, and dial-in information.
As always, MedicareFind subscribers will have access to the transcripts and recordings of these calls.
NCCI quarterly update – complete
As I noted before, we’ve been working to test and load the new NCCI edits into our NCCI edit lookup tool. This process is now complete, so the tool is currently up-to-date — searchable through v. 16.1 on the physician side and v. 16.0 on the hospital side.
NCCI quarterly update status
The end of March brings with it a change of quarters, and with that comes an NCCI update. The MedicareFind NCCI Lookup Tool is currently up-to-date through March 31 — searchable through v. 16.0 on the physician side and v. 15.3 on the hospital side.
CMS will soon publish updated edits for the quarter starting April 1. I’ll post an update announcement to the blog after we’ve tested these edits thoroughly and loaded them into the tool.
