Public comments on the proposed rules are due by October 5, 2020. For a fact sheet on the CY 2021 Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule, please visit: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/proposed-policy-payment-and-quality-provisions-changes-medicare-physician-fee-schedule-calendar-year-4 Trump Administration Proposes to Expand Telehealth Benefits Permanently for Medicare Beneficiaries Beyond the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and Advances Access to Care in Rural Areas Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule would make permanent certain telehealth and workforce flexibilities provided during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and improve healthcare...
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Oct. 5 - Deadline to Request MIPS Targeted Review Clinicians who participated in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) in 2019 can review their performance feedback, MIPS final score, and 2021 payment adjustment factor on the Quality Payment Program (QPP) website. If you believe there is an error in your group practice or clinician's 2021 MIPS payment adjustment calculation, you can request a targeted review via the QPP site until Oct. 5, 2020, at 8:00 PM ET....
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October 5th, 2020 is the first day applications will be accepted for $20 billion in new funding under Phase 3 of the Provider Relief Fund General Distribution allocation. The application portal closes on November 6, 2020 at 10:59 p.m. CST. HHS is encouraging providers to submit their applications as soon as possible to expedite calculation and distribution of payments. For more information please visit: https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/cares-act-provider-relief-fund/index.html.

View the Proposed Rule, the Physician Fee Schedule Fact Sheet, and the QPP Fact Sheet for more information.

November 6th, 2020 is the last day applications will be accepted for $20 billion in new funding under Phase 3 of the Provider Relief Fund General Distribution allocation. The application portal closes on November 6, 2020 at 10:59 p.m. CST. HHS is encouraging providers to submit their applications as soon as possible to expedite calculation and distribution of payments. For more information please visit: https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/cares-act-provider-relief-fund/index.html.

Reminder: Update Your Billing Info by November 13 for Your APM Incentive Payment The CMS QPP (Quality Payment Program) website includes 2020 Alternative Payment Model (APM) Incentive Payment details. To access information on the incentive amount and organization paid, clinicians and surrogates can log in to the QPP website using their HARP credentials. In order to receive payments, certain clinicians will need to verify their Medicare billing information by November 13, 2020. Many eligible clinicians who were Qualifying...
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Alabama Medicaid Promoting Interoperability, formerly known as the Meaningful Use EHR Incentive Program Alabama’s State Level Registry (SLR) will begin accepting Program Year 2020 applications on December 1, 2020. All Applications must be submitted by February 28, 2021. Visit the SLR website at: https://alslr.thinkhts.com/. Providers must attest to Stage 3 for Program Year 2020. Spec Sheets for Program Year 2020 are available at https://www.cms.gov/files/document/medicaid-ep-2020-table-contents.pdf. For the latest information, visit the agency’s Promoting Interoperability (PI) website at the following link: http://medicaid.alabama.gov/content/2.0_Newsroom/2.7_Special_Initiatives/2.7.2_Meaningful_Use.aspx For questions...
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Ambulance service providers are required to submit updated license information to Palmetto GBA prior to the expiration date of their current license to prevent disruption to claims payments. Many states relaxed license requirements during the start of the COVID-19 public health emergency. At this time, all Palmetto GBA-serviced states are operating under normal license renewal procedures. If you are an ambulance supplier with a license that expired or expires in 2020, please ensure your updated...
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To form a virtual group for the 2021 MIPS performance year, an election must be submitted to CMS via e-mail by December 31, 2020 (11:59 p.m. Eastern Time) Solo practitioners and groups with 10 or fewer clinicians (including at least one MIPS eligible clinician) who want to participate in MIPS as a virtual group for the 2021 performance year must submit their election to CMS. For more information visit: Virtual Group Tool-kit    

The Promoting Interoperability Hardship Exception Application for PY 2020 is currently open and will close December 31, 2020. This application deadline hasn't been extended for PY 2020. About Exception Applications - QPP (cms.gov)

Due to COVID-19, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama expanded coverage for telehealth services effective March 1, 2020. This expansion of services will expire on December 31, 2020. See our Telehealth page for more detailed information about eligible providers and services.

Effective Jan. 1, 2021, certain UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage and commercial plans will allow certain Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS)-eligible telehealth services when billed with the member’s home as an originating site. For important information on changes to UnitedHealthcare’s commercial Telehealth and Telemedicine Reimbursement Policy, UnitedHealthcare Commercial Reimbursement Policy Update Bulletin: October. Questions? For additional telehealth resources, visit UHCprovider.com/telehealth.

2020 MIPS performance year data submission window opens

Alabama Medicaid Promoting Interoperability (PI), formerly known as the Meaningful Use EHR Incentive Program Alabama’s State Level Registry (SLR) will begin accepting Program Year 2020 applications on December 1, 2020. All Applications must be submitted by February 28, 2021. The link to the SLR is: https://alslr.thinkhts.com/.

Deadline for CMS to receive 2020 claims for the Quality performance category. Claims must be received by CMS within 60 days of the end of the performance period. Deadline dates vary to submit claims to the MACs . Check with the MACs for more specific instructions.

Care Compare is a transparency initiative that displays MIPS performance data on a public website; clinicians and groups may use the currently open preview period (until March 25th) to ensure the accuracy of 2019 MIPS performance information and submit a targeted review of any inaccuracies before the data goes live in 2021. For more information on Care Compare please visit: https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Quality-Initiatives-Patient-Assessment-Instruments/Compare-DAC

2020 MIPS performance year data submission window closes.

As an additional COVID-19 flexibility, CMS is applying the MIPS automatic extreme and uncontrollable circumstances (EUC) policy to all MIPS eligible clinicians for the 2020 performance period. Additionally, CMS has reopened the deadline to complete an extreme and uncontrollable circumstances application for PY 2020. The previous deadline was Monday, February 1, 2021. However, the NEW deadline is March 31, 2021 at 8:00 PM ET. Note that applications received between now and March 31, 2021 won’t override...
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Going forward from April 5, 2021, health information networks and exchanges, EHR vendors and health care providers will be subject to information blocking. What is information blocking? Information blocking can occur in many forms. Physicians can experience info blocking when trying to access patient records from other providers, connecting their EHR systems to local health information exchanges, migrating from one EHR to another, and linking their EHRs with a clinical data registry. Read more at: https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/2021-01/information-blocking-part-1.pdf...
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UPDATED: May 14, 2021 - Last Day to Resubmit Mississippi Division of Medicaid is requesting that all applications be submitted by May 14th to allow the staff time to review and render payments. The State Level Registry (SLR) will shutdown on May 28th to officially close Program Year 2020.  All applications that were not completely submitted will be withdrawn from the SLR. We are moving rather quickly to prepare for Program Year 2021 which starts June...
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MS Medicaid Promoting Interoperability Program Year 2021 June 1, 2021 is rapidly approaching.  This is the last time to participate in the CMS Promoting Interoperability Program (commonly known as EHR Incentive Program/Meaningful Use). All eligible providers have only 2 months to submit all applications.  The program will close on July 31, 2021.  Please review the information below to help you prepare. Open attestation begins June 1, 2021 and closes July 31, 2021.  Program Requirements: All eligible providers must has...
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Alabama Medicaid Promoting Interoperability Program Updates for Program Year 2021 Alabama Medicaid’s Promoting Interoperability, formerly known as the Meaningful Use EHR Incentive Program is gearing up for the LAST and FINAL YEAR of the PI Program and accepting Program Year 2021 applications. It is our priority to create a smooth and hassle-free experience for our provider community by updating you with the following announcements:  Alabama’s State Level Registry (SLR) will begin accepting application for the Final Program Year...
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MS Medicaid Promoting Interoperability Program Year 2021 June 1, 2021 is rapidly approaching.  This is the last time to participate in the CMS Promoting Interoperability Program (commonly known as EHR Incentive Program/Meaningful Use). All eligible providers have only 2 months to submit all applications.  The program will close on July 31, 2021.  Please review the information below to help you prepare. Open attestation begins June 1, 2021 and closes July 31, 2021.  Program Requirements: All eligible providers must has...
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New Medicaid ID cards, with a new Medicaid number that starts with 530, will be effective on August 1, 2021. According to Alabama Medicaid, patients should present both Medicaid cards to providers. Guidelines from Alabama Medicaid to assist with eligibility verification/claims submission during this transition: All information for the previous Medicaid ID and the new Medicaid ID are being combined to allow providers to use either the previous card or new card for eligibility verification...
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Alabama Medicaid Promoting Interoperability Program Updates for Program Year 2021 The Alabama Medicaid Promoting Interoperability (PI) Program is gearing up for the LAST and FINAL YEAR of the PI Program and will soon begin accepting Program Year (PY) 2021 applications. It is our priority to create a smooth and hassle-free experience for our provider community by updating you with the following announcements:The Alabama State Level Registry (SLR) is scheduled to open Thursday, July 1, 2021 at 8:00 a.m. CST to...
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