Updates

Below you will find a listing of current Medicare changes and updates to the Web site pertinent to the New England area.

For National CMS program information updates (transmittals, corrections/changes to existing Medicare guidelines) refer to What's New.

Note: Should you have landed here as a result of a search engine (or other) link, be advised that these files contain material which is copyrighted by the American Medical Association (AMA). You are forbidden to download the files unless you read, agree to and abide by the provisions of the copyright statement. Read the copyright statement now (you will be linked back to here).

November | October | September | August | July | June

November

26 Nov 2008

• Changes to the Laboratory National Coverage Determinations Edit Software for October 2008  (JSMTDL 09067 / CR 6213)

20 Nov 2008

• The 2009 Chiropractors Fee Schedule is available. (CR 6235)
• The December Resource has been added.

13 Nov 2008

• The 2009 Medicare Physician Fee Schedules Database (MPFS) files are available in CSV and in PDF formats. (JSMTDL 09017 / CR 6235)

06 Nov 2008

• The 2009 Medicare Physician Fee Schedules Database (MPFS) files are now available in text format. JSMTDL 09017 / CR 6235
• The 2009 Anesthesia Conversion Factors are now available. JSMTDL 09017 / CR 6235
• The 2009 CMS-460 form, the Medicare Participating Physician or Supplier Agreement, is available. The Agreement must be signed and postmarked prior to January 1, 2009. (CR6235)

October

30 Oct 2008

• Two educational articles have been updated for the Appeal Process and the Reopening Process.  Please reference these Appeals aritcles to view the new Reopening/Redetermination form.
• The listings of Opt-Out Providers have been updated.

23 Oct 2008

• NHIC is pleased to present the "Consultation Dual Documentation Request" form which was developed jointly with the Provider Education Advisory Group to facilitate proper documentation of consultation requests.
• The questions and answers from the September 18, 2008, Vermont Interactive Fair have been posted to the Seminar page. Please click on the following link for the presentations.

16 Oct 2008

• Quarterly Provider Update (QPU)   (IOM Pub 100-09-Chapter 6 Section 50.2.4.3)
  The Quarterly Provider Update (QPU) is a listing of the regulations and program instructions issued by CMS that impact Medicare providers. The QPU is maintained by CMS and available to providers through the CMS Web site. Providers may elect to join a CMS electronic mailing list, to be notified periodically, of additions to the QPU. CMS publishes this Update at the beginning of each quarter to inform the public about the following:
     • Regulations and major policies currently under development during this quarter.
     • Regulations and major policies completed or cancelled.
     • New/Revised manual instructions
  The page may be found at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/QuarterlyProviderUpdates/
  Visit the QPU What’s New page at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/QuarterlyProviderUpdates/02_WhatsNew.asp
• We are pleased to present Medicare Fair X - Educational Conference For Providers & Billers of Medicare Services, on October 29, 2008. The event will be held at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel & Trade Center in Fitchburg, MA. Registration is On-Line only. Please see details to sign up for Medicare Fair X. We regret that we cannot offer you the option of payment by credit card at this time. October 29, 2008, Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel & Trade Center, Fitchburg, MA

9 Oct 2008

• A new educational article has been published titled Clinical Social Workers Rendering Services in a Part A Stay
• We are pleased to present Medicare Fair X - Educational Conference For Providers & Billers of Medicare Services, on October 29, 2008. The event will be held at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel & Trade Center in Fitchburg, MA. Registration is On-Line only. Please see details to sign up for Medicare Fair X. We regret that we cannot offer you the option of payment by credit card at this time. October 29, 2008, Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel & Trade Center, Fitchburg, MA
• The minutes from the September Provider Outreach & Education Advisory Group and an updated membership list have been posted.

2 Oct 2008

• We are pleased to present Medicare Fair X - Educational Conference For Providers & Billers of Medicare Services, on October 29, 2008. The event will be held at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel & Trade Center in Fitchburg, MA. Registration is On-Line only. Please see details to sign up for Medicare Fair X. We regret that we cannot offer you the option of payment by credit card at this time. October 29, 2008, Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel & Trade Center, Fitchburg, MA
• New educational article for the 2008 Jurisdiction List for DMEPOS HCPCS Codes

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September

25 Sept 2008

• We are pleased to present Medicare Fair X - Educational Conference For Providers & Billers of Medicare Services, on October 29, 2008. The event will be held at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel & Trade Center in Fitchburg, MA. Registration is On-Line only. Please see details to sign up for Medicare Fair X. We regret that we cannot offer you the option of payment by credit card at this time. October 29, 2008, Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel & Trade Center, Fitchburg, MA

18 Sept 2008

• We are pleased to present Medicare Fair X - Educational Conference For Providers & Billers of Medicare Services, on October 29, 2008. The event will be held at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel & Trade Center in Fitchburg, MA. Registration is On-Line only. Please see details to sign up for Medicare Fair X. We regret that we cannot offer you the option of payment by credit card at this time. October 29, 2008, Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel & Trade Center, Fitchburg, MA
• A new educational article has been published for the Advanced Beneficiary Notice.

11 Sept 2008

• The CABBS User Guide has been updated on the Electronic Data Interchange Guide website.
• We are pleased to present Medicare Fair X - Educational Conference For Providers & Billers of Medicare Services, on October 29, 2008. The event will be held at the Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel & Trade Center in Fitchburg, MA. Registration is On-Line only. Please see details to sign up for Medicare Fair X. We regret that we cannot offer you the option of payment by credit card at this time. October 29, 2008 Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel & Trade Center Fitchburg, MA

4 Sept 2008

• Upcoming schedule for Immunization training for Roster Billers 2008-2009.

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August

21 Aug 2008

• Medicare will only reimburse for FDA-Certified mammography centers for mammography services. CMS information about Mammography billing.
  The following link lists those facilities centers that are certified:
         http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfMQSA/mqsa.cfm
  CMS encourages physicians to inform their patients about centers that are certified.
• The September 2008 issue of the Medicare B Resource newsletter is now available.
• Registration is now available for a Webinar on September 24 on the topic of Billing for Ophthalmology/Optometry Services.
• Medicare Fair X- NHIC, CORP. & National Government Services, Inc. present Educational Conferences for providers & billers of Medicare Services on October 29, 2008, Learning and Networking. On line registrations only on Presto Registry. Please use the registration link to sign up for the conference.
• A new educational article has been published: Required Fields for Secondary Insurance Submitting Electronically.

14 Aug 2008

• The following Local Coverage Determinations will become effective for services on or after 9/28/2008:
        • Blepharoplasty
        • Category III CPT Codes
  They can be accessed from the Future LCD Index, on the CMS website.

07 Aug 2008

• Three new educational articles have been added: Independent Laboratory Billing for the Technical Component (TC) of Physician Pathology Services,  New 2008 Payment Rates for Ambulance Services Effective for Dates of Service July 1, 2008, through December 31, 2009 and  Outpatient Therapy Cap and Exception Process 2008.

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July

31 July 2008

• Registration is now being accepted for Roster Bill Training Seminars for Vaccine 2008-2009 Season
• Updated Fee Schedules have been posted for Ambulance, Clinical Psychologist, and Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

24 July 2008

• The Revised Fee Schedule Amounts for Mental Health Codes have been posted.
• The presentation from the July Webinar on Provider Enrollment NPI Troubleshooting is now available.
• A new educational article has been added: Audiologists and Enrollment
• Registration is now being accepted for a Free Medicare Fair via Interactive Television. This fair will cover the topics of Denial Management, Modifiers & Patient-Provider Financial Responsibility.

17 July 2008

• Welcome New Providers and Suppliers!
  NHIC, Corp. welcomes you to the Medicare program. Please go to this link for important information to help you begin your participation in the program: http://www.medicarenhic.com/ne_prov/enroll_provider.shtml
• The LCD Molecular Diagnostics (# L3201), will be retired effective for services on or after 8/1/2008. It can be viewed from the Retired LCD Index on the CMS website, which is accessible from the Policy Indices page.

10 July 2008

• Two new educational articles have been posted: Medicare Specialties That Do Not Require Rendering NPI Numbers and Screening Pelvic Examinations.
• A new page has been added to the website for those providers new to Medicare.
• The listings of Opt-Out Providers have been updated.

03 July 2008

• The NHIC New England Provider Call Center will conduct weekly training sessions for their Customer Service staff. The Provider Call Center will be closed every Friday from 8:00 am – 10:00 am Eastern Standard Time beginning July 11, 2008, for these training sessions. The Interactive Voice Recognition (IVR) System will be available during this time to assist providers with claim information, patient eligibility and financial inquiries. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause.
• Two educational articles have been revised: Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agents (ESA) Coverage and Claims Requirements and Evaluation and Management Services Updates.
• Registration is now being accepted for the webinar on Provider Enrollment NPI Troubleshooting.
• The PDF newsletter index has been updated to include the June 2008 newsletter.

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June

26 June 2008

• The Questions & Answers from Medicare Fair VIII and IX have been posted.
• The minutes from the June Provider Outreach & Education Advisory Group have been posted.
• The Allowance Limits for Medicare Part B Drugs for July and revised ones for the past two quarters are now available.
• Two new educational articles have been added: PQRI Notification of New Quarterly Updates to the Ambulance Fee Schedule Public Use File (PUF) and 2008 PQRI Establishment of Alternative Reporting Periods and Reporting Criteria.

19 June 2008

• The Questions & Answers from the ABN and National & Local Coverage Determinations Webinar have been posted.
• A new educational article has been posted: Evaluation and Management Services - Nursing Facility, Prolonged Services and Critical Care Visits.
• The Update to the Indicators for the Physician Fee Schedule have been posted.
• The Fee Schedules are now available in PDF and CSV format, along with the original TXT format.
• Registration is now being accepted for a July webinar on 'Claim Denial Management'.

12 June 2008

• The Chiropractic Services Billing Guide has been updated.
• The July 2008 Fee Schedules have been posted.
• Effective for services on or after 7/1/2008, the following LCDs have been revised:
  
  • Foot Care- Routine (L3207)
  • Debridement of Toenails (L3176)
  They can be accessed from the Future LCD Index on the CMS website.

05 June 2008

• The Physical & Occupational Therapy Billing Guide has been updated.
• Two new educational articles have been added: Laboratory and Pathology Specimens Date of Service and NPI for Self-Referred Screening Mammography - Contractor Instruction.

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11/26/2008