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Archive for CMS

Nov
17

CMS Public Events: Hospital Open Door Forum

Posted by: Medicare Weekly Update | Comments (0)
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The next Hospital & Hospital Quality Open Door Forum is scheduled for 2 p.m. Eastern, Thursday, November 19. To access the call, 800/837-1935 and reference conference ID: 34708559.

A transcript and audio recording of the conference call will be available to MedicareFind subscribers approximately one week after the Open Door Forum is held.

Nov
03

CMS releases 2010 OPPS final rule

Posted by: Lori Levans | Comments (0)
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The 2010 OPPS final rule released on October 30 contains few surprises, but does finalize two changes that received considerable attention when CMS proposed them.

“The information CMS has finalized for physician supervision and drug reimbursement are two key areas for hospital review, though for slightly different reasons,” says Jugna Shah, MPH, president of Nimitt Consulting in Washington, DC.

Click here to read more.

Oct
07

RAC News: New issues for region D, CMS announces Town Hall meeting, and AHA releases program update

Posted by: Andrea Kraynak, CPC-A | Comments (0)
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New issues for RAC Region D

HealthDataInsights (HDI) has announced two new issues for region D.  HDI can now audit DME providers in all region D states for the following two issues:

  • Urological bundling
  • Wheelchair Bundling

For more information on these issues, visit the HDI Web site. As always, the latest RAC issues for each state are posted on the Revenue Cycle Institute ”Tools” Web page.  Simply click the link at the top of the page to download a chart of RAC activity in your state.

CMS plans appeals town hall meeting

CMS has planned a town hall meeting for November 5 from 1-3:30 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss appeals of Medicare payment denials under Section 935 of the Medicare Modernization Act. CMS will release more information on the call in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for the latest information.

Read More→

Oct
06

September 28-October 5 Issuances: OIG issues 2010 Work Plan, CMS updates lab NCDs and RAC FAQ

Posted by: Medicare Weekly Update | Comments (0)
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OIG issues Work Plan

On October 1, the OIG issued its Work Plan for FY 2010.

View the Work Plan.

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Oct
02

Five Last-Minute Tips to Prepare for RACs

Posted by: Andrea Kraynak, CPC-A | Comments (0)
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RACs have begun auditing at this point, and providers in some states may have received their first denial letters this week. But many providers seem to still be waiting, holding their breath, and worrying whether the mail carrier might deliver their first RAC demand letter(s) that day.

However tempting it may be to simply wait, providers can still use this time effectively. Consider the following tips from several RAC experts: Read More→

Sep
29

September 21-28 Transmittals and MLN Matters articles: CMS updates drug HCPCS hook and hold, rescinds/replaces transmittals, and more

Posted by: Medicare Weekly Update | Comments (0)
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CMS rescinds, replaces LCD exception transmittal

On September 25, CMS replaced its previous transmittal on LCD exceptions. It had previously sent out the incorrect version of section 3.12. All other material remains the same.

Effective date: October 13, 2009
Implementation date: October 13, 2009

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Sep
22

September 14-21 Transmittals and MLN Matters articles: CMS rescinds/replaces transmittals, issues special edition MLN Matters

Posted by: Medicare Weekly Update | Comments (0)
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CMS replaces FDG PET transmittals

On September 18, CMS rescinded and replaced two previous transmittals related to FDG PET coverage.

Effective date: April 6, 2009
Implementation date: October 19, 2009

Read More→

Sep
17

CMS releases transmittal on RACs and LCDs

Posted by: The RAC Report | Comments (0)
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CMS released on September 11 transmittal 302, which outlines the authority RACs, MACs, and other Medicare auditors have to apply exceptions to certain local coverage determination (LCD) clinically reasonable and necessary requirements. According to CMS, such exceptions should be rare and only under unusual circumstances.
 
The transmittal notes that during complex medical reviews certain auditors (e.g., MACs, RACs, and CERT) must apply LCDs made by fiscal intermediaries, carriers or MACs. However, in rare and unusual circumstances it may become necessary during such a review to apply an exception to the clinical criteria in applicable LCDs after a thorough review of the patient’s medical record and a comprehensive analysis of the evidence in medical literature.
 
Contractors other than RACs may apply an exception to either approve or deny a claim. RACs, however, may only use the exception not to deny the claim, according to the transmittal. Note also that exceptions may not be made for insufficient or missing documentation, and auditors may not make exceptions to national coverage determinations, MAC articles, or CMS manuals.
 
The changes are effective October 13.
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