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President Obama Signs Halt to Medicare Fee Cut / CMS Provides Instructions

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President Obama signed into law the Medicare 2.2% fee increase.  As reported by MGMA Washington Connexion, CMS has published the following statement. On June 25, 2010, President Obama signed into law the “Preservation of Access to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries and Pension Relief Act of 2010.”  This law establishes a 2.2 percent update to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) payment rates retroactive from June 1 through November 30, 2010. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid…
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CMS Releases Claim Hold

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Today, CMS directed contractors to lift the hold that affected claims with dates-of-service June 1 or after.  These claims were being held until June 17, now contractors are to begin processing claims on a first-in/first-out basis.  Per this release from CMS: Congress continues to debate the elimination of the negative update that took effect June 1, 2010.  The CMS is hopeful that Congressional action will be taken to avert the negative update.  We continue to monitor Congressional actions,…
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Medicare Extends Holding Claims Until June 18

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Medicare contractors have been instructed to hold claims with dates-of-service from June 1, 2010 forward until Friday, June 18 to allow congress more time to respond to the pending Medicare fee schedule changes.  This is an extension of the hold that was set to end Monday, June 14.  Below is the notification to providers from Cahaba Government Benefit Administrators®, LLCs Dear Medicare Part A, Part B Providers,and Partners, The 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule The Continuing Extension Act…
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Medicare Claims DOS June 1 on Hold

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Below is an email from Cahaba GBA,  the J10 A/B Medicare Administrative Contractor for the states of Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee. Regarding Medicare’s holding of claims for the first 10 days in June for claims with dates of service beginning June 1, 2010:  Dear Medicare Part A and Part B Providers, Information Regarding the Holding of June 2010 Claims for Services Paid Under the 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule The Continuing Extension Act of 2010,…
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MediSYS Prepares for DEA Ruling to Allow eRX of Control Substances

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The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) interim final rule to allow for electronic prescriptions for controlled substances became final June 1, 2010.  The rule is intended to allow DEA-registered prescribing practitioners to sign and transmit controlled substance prescriptions electronically.  The DEA sent a letter to qualified providers dated April 29, 2010 advising them of the ability to submit controlled substances electronically provided they are using software that meets the requirements outlined in the Final Rule.     As an Advanced Certified…
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DEA Allows eRX of Controlled Substances

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The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) interim final rule to allow for electronic prescriptions for controlled substances became final June 1, 2010.  The rule is intended to allow DEA-registered prescribing practitioners to sign and transmit controlled substance prescriptions electronically.  The DEA sent a letter to qualified providers dated April 29, 2010 advising them of the ability to submit controlled substances electronically provided they are using software that meets the requirements outlined in the Final Rule.   As an Advanced…
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Red Flag Rule Delayed Again

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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has again delayed the deadline for implementation of the “Red Flag” rule until January 1, 2011.  The latest deadline was June 1, but practices now have until the first of next year to implement a program to help prevent identity theft. Many feel this legislation puts an unnecessary burden on medical practices for what may have been meant for financial institutions. Several medical organizations including the American Medical Association (AMA) strongly oppose and have…
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Medicare Frowns on Duplicate Claim Submission

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In a recent notification from Cahaba Government Benefit Administrators®, LLC,, the Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) for the states of Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee, informed providers that the number of duplicate Medicare claims submitted is significant and improper.  Below is a statement included in this notification and a link to their article: Unlike other health insurance payers where it is customary to bill until paid, multiple or repetitive billing to Medicare for a particular item or service is…
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Retroactive Medicare Fee Updates for Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act

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  CMS Provider Resources emailed the following notice regarding Medicare Retroactive Payment Corrections:   Important Message Regarding Medicare’s Implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010   On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.  One week later, on March 30, the President also signed into law the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.  These two…
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CMS Makes Plans to Use PECOS for EHR Incentive Registration

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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) awarded a contract to CGI Federal, Inc. to expand the current provider enrollment system for HITECH Registration and Attestation Functionality.  The expansion of the Provider Enrollment Chain Ownership System (PECOS) is to include the ability for providers to register for electronic health records "meaningful use" incentives.    

Medicare Fee Schedule Freeze Extended to May 31

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President Obama signed the extension bill that was approved by the House of Representatives last night regarding the extension of the Medicare physician payment freeze through May 31.    Claims that were being held with dates of service April 1 or later are being released for processing.  The statutory 14-day payment floor still applies.