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Another CMOM Class Available in September!
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There is still time to register for the WVSMA’s second Certified Medical Office Manager (CMOM) Course to be held in September. This will be the last class offered in 2010 and no additional classes are scheduled at this time.
The CMOM course will take place in Charleston for two days during two different weeks in order to minimize office downtime. Participants will be able to “try out” their newly learned skills during the week in between classes. The course is scheduled for Friday, September 10 and Saturday, September 11, and then again on Friday, September 17 and Saturday, September 18. The certification exam will be given on September 18. Participants must attend all four sessions.
The tuition for the class is $799.00, which includes program manuals, workbooks, and the exam. WVSMA physicians and staff may attend for $699.00. Discounted hotel rooms are available at the Embassy Suites.
Registration forms are available on the WVSMA website, www.wvsma.com. You may also contact Karie Sharp (Karie@wvsma.com) to register.
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CMS Offering Educational Conference Calls
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CMS has announced dates for conference calls on several important issues. Listed below are details of the upcoming calls.
Thursday, Sept 2, 2:30-4:00 p.m. ET: “2010 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative & Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program National Provider Call with Question & Answer Session”
Details: “The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Provider Communications Group will host a national provider conference call on the 2010 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) and Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program (eRx). Following the formal presentation that will cover the 2010 Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program, a step by step review of how to start participating in the 2010 program by reporting the eRx measure, a few program announcements and updates, the lines will be opened to allow participants to ask questions of CMS PQRI and eRx subject matter experts.”
Advance registration is required. To register for the call, go to: http://www.eventsvc.com/palmettogba/090210
A PowerPoint slide presentation will be posted on the CMS PQRI web page at http://www.cms.gov/PQRI/04_CMSSponsoredCalls.asp prior to the call so that you can follow along with the presenter.
More info on PQRI: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PQRI
More info on eRx: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ERxIncentive
For those who will be unable to attend, a transcript and MP3 file of the call will be available at least one week after the call on the CMS Web site at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PQRI
Monday, Sept 13, 12-1:30 p.m. ET: “ICD-10 Implementation in a 5010 Environment Follow-up National Provider Call”
Details: “Subject matter experts will review basic information on both ICD-10 and 5010 and explain how they are interrelated. A question and answer session will follow the presentations.”
The following topics will be discussed:
ICD-10 implementation for services provided on and after October 1, 2013
Differences between ICD-10 and ICD-9-CM codes
ICD-10-CM basic information for all users
Tools for converting codes - General Equivalence Mappings (GEMs)
Proposal to freeze ICD-9-CM and ICD-10 code updates except for new technologies and diseases
Compliance dates and timelines (No contingencies)
5010 before and after ICD-10 Implementation
Readiness review for implementing HIPAA version 5010 and D.0
What you need to be doing to prepare
Medicare fee-for-service activities update
Other issues and considerations
Advance registration is required. To register for the call, go to: http://www.eventsvc.com/palmettogba/091310
Friday, Sept 24, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. ET: “Listening Session Regarding Confidential Feedback Reports and the Implementation of a Value-Based Payment Modifier for Physicians”
Details: “CMS will host a listening session on September 24th as part of the transition to a value-based purchasing program for services of physicians and certain other professionals, as well as other related provisions under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA)). The ACA contains provisions that continue and expand the Physician Feedback Program and also require implementation of a value-based payment modifier to the Fee-For-Service physician fee schedule. The purpose of the listening session is to solicit comments on approaches being considered as we implement these provisions.”
Advance registration is required. To register for the call, go to: http://www.eventsvc.com/palmettogba/092410.
For the complete Federal Register notice, which includes registration information, go to http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-19128.pdf.
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CMS Holding Claims for Fluzone
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is changing the status indicator for the CPT code for Fluzone from “E” to “L” in the October 2010 Integrated Outpatient Code Editor (IOCE). This affects claims with dates of service on and after December 23, 2009, and before October 1, 2010. CMS is instructing contractors to hold claims submitted during this period and to release them for processing after the implementation of the October 2010 IOCE. For additional information, please see:
http://www.palmettogba.com/palmetto/providers.nsf/vMasterDID/88ESF63484?opendocument
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West Virginia Medicaid Update---Suboxone
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Beginning August 1, 2010, West Virginia Medicaid has begun reimbursing for Suboxone® and Subutex® only when prescribed by a qualified physician who is also enrolled with West Virginia Medicaid and bills West Virginia Medicaid for addiction treatment (the member’s office visit).
Physicians who prescribe Suboxone and are not enrolled in West Virginia Medicaid may obtain information about becoming an enrolled provider by contacting Molina Medicaid Solutions at 1-888-483-0793, option 3.
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Sanofi Pasteur Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccine in Multi-Dose Vials--Shortened Shelf Life
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(This information has been supplied by the CDC Health Alert Network.)
Sanofi Pasteur has notified the CDC and the FDA that their influenza A (H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccine manufactured in 2009 in multi-dose vials will have a shorter expiration period than indicated on the label, and they will provide more specific notification of which lots will be affected and the new expiration date in the very near future. This is to ensure that the vaccine is used while it remains within its potency specification. There are no safety concerns with these lots of 2009 H1N1 vaccine. People who were immunized with Sanofi Pasteur influenza A (H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccine from multi-dose vials do not need to take any action.
2009 H1N1 viruses, along with influenza A H3N2 viruses and influenza B viruses are circulating internationally. While it cannot be known in advance which influenza viruses will predominate in any given year, the 2009 H1N1 virus, along with influenza A H3N2 viruses and influenza B viruses may circulate in the United States during its upcoming influenza season. The 2010-2011 influenza vaccine will protect against an influenza A H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus and the 2009 H1N1 virus. Initial shipping of the 2010-2011 influenza vaccine has begun.
Background
As part of its quality assurance program, Sanofi Pasteur performs routine, ongoing stability testing of the vaccine after it has been shipped to providers. Stability testing means measuring the strength of a vaccine over time.
The multi-dose vials subject to this change in expiration date include approximately 16 million doses of vaccine manufactured in 2009 that has not yet been administered, but that has been shipped to providers. Although the vaccine remains potent, it is losing potency more rapidly than expected, and therefore the shelf life will be shortened.
Sanofi Pasteur influenza A (H1N1) 2009 monovalent vaccine in multi-dose vials is the only remaining presentation of monovalent 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine whose expiration date has not yet passed.
Sanofi Pasteur will send a notification to providers who received this product regarding the specific lot numbers and the new expiration date.
For More Information:
For Questions and Answers on Using Monovalent 2009 Influenza A (H1N1) Vaccine Prior to the Availability of Trivalent 2010–11 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine go to:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/infohealthcare.htm
Questions about the Federal H1N1 Influenza Vaccine Central Recovery Program should be directed to:
State immunization programs or the HHS Supply Service center (1-800-642-0263, 7:00 am to 7:00 pm EST).
For other inquiries, please contact Sanofi Pasteur Customer Services:
1-800-VACCINE (1-800-822-2463) or visit: http://www.vaccineshoppe.com.
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Medicare Guidelines for Signatures Related to Ordered/Referred Tests
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A recent communication from Robert Kamps, MD, Medical Director for Palmetto GBA (Medicare Part B, Ohio/West Virginia) issued additional guidance on the signature requirements for Medicare claims. The following information is provided by Dr. Kamps and Palmetto GBA.
Definition of an Order
CMS defines an order as: “a communication from the treating physician/practitioner requesting that a diagnostic test be performed for a beneficiary.” For Medicare purposes, an order from the treating physician/practitioner is required for x-rays and other diagnostic tests.
Delivery of an Order
For Medicare purposes, an order may be delivered via:
A written document signed by the treating physician/practitioner, which is hand-delivered, mailed, or faxed to the testing facility (NOTE: No signature is required on orders for clinical diagnostic tests paid on the basis of the clinical laboratory fee schedule, the physician fee schedule, or for physician pathology services);
A telephone call by the treating physician/practitioner or his/her office to the testing facility; or
An e-mail by the treating physician/practitioner or his/her office to the testing facility.
For orders communicated via telephone, both the treating physician/practitioner or his/her office and the testing facility must document the telephone call in their respective copies of the beneficiary’s medical records. While a physician order is not required to be signed, the physician must clearly document, in the medical record, his or her intent that the test be performed.
Medicare Guidelines for Signatures Related to Ordered/Referred Tests
“For medical review purposes, Medicare requires that services provided/ordered be authenticated by the author. The method used shall be a hand written or an electronic signature. Stamp signatures are not acceptable.”
Clinical diagnostic laboratory tests are an exception to this rule. If an order for a clinical diagnostic laboratory test is not signed, there must be “medical documentation by the treating physician (e.g. a progress note) that he/she intended the clinical diagnostic test be performed. This documentation showing the intent that the test be performed must be authenticated by the author via a handwritten or electronic signature.” The signature must be legible.
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WVSMA News
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The WVSMA welcomes the newest member of our family! On August 15, Amy Tolliver gave birth to little Eli Soren, who weighed in at 7 lbs. 14 oz. Congratulations to Amy, Scott and big sister Emma!
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August 31, 2010
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