Hello Everyone,
Please enjoy the information contained in this edition of Frontier Focus. Please be sure to share it with your members, colleagues, providers and office billing staff. Thank you for your continued efforts to broadcast Medicare information to the providers in Region VIII.
Table of Contents
1. New from the Medicare Learning Network
2. 2009 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) National Provider Call to be held on August 20, 2009
3. Special Open Door Forum: Medicare DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program Bidders’ Conference–How to Register to Access the Bidding System
4. Medicare Announces Timeline for Bidding/ Begins Supplier Education Campaign for DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program
5. Get Ready for DMEPOS Competitive Bidding
6. Policy and Payment Rate Changes for Inpatient Stays in Acute Care and Long-Term Care Hospitals in Fiscal 2010
7. More Accurate Payment Rates for Medicare Skilled Nursing Facilities in Fiscal 2010
8. Fiscal 2010 Payment and Policy Updates for Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities
9. National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) Update Announcement for Physicians
10. HHS Delegates Authority for the HIPAA Security Rule to Office for Civil Rights
11. August Is Immunization Awareness Month!
12. Extra Help for Beneficiaries Paying for Prescription Drugs
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1. New from the Medicare Learning Network
Recently-Released MLN Matters Articles of Particular Interest
A new Special Edition MLN Matters provider education article—SE0914 Guidance on Using Internet-based Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS)–has been released. This article provides guidance and reaches out to assist those providers and suppliers who wish to use Internet-based PECOS for enrollment in Medicare and/or to maintain the currency of the enrollment data they have on file with Medicare. You can view this article at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/SE0914.pdf
Also recently released–MM6571 – Program Instructions Designating the Competitive Bidding Areas and Product Categories Included in the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program Round One Rebid in calendar year (CY) 2009. This article identifies the nine metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) as well as product categories in which the DMEPOS competitive bidding round one re-bid will occur in CY 2009 under section 1847 of the Social Security Act. You can view this article at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM6571.pdf
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2. 2009 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) National Provider Call to be held on August 20, 2009
2009 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative
National Provider Call with Question & Answer Session
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Provider Communications Group will host a national provider conference call on the 2009 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI). This toll-free call will take place from 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., EDT, on Thursday, August 20, 2009.
The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA) made the PQRI program permanent, but only authorized incentive payments through 2010. Eligible professionals who meet the criteria for satisfactory submission of quality measures data for services furnished during the reporting period, January 1, 2009 – December 31, 2009, will earn an incentive payment of 2.0 percent of their total allowed charges for Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) covered professional services furnished during that same period. The 2009 PQRI consists of 153 quality measures and 7 measures groups.
The topics covered on this national provider call will include:
· Status of the 2007 re-run and 2008 PQRI Incentive payments and feedback reports;
· How to access the 2007 re-run and 2008 PQRI feedback reports; and
· Resources to assist eligible professionals.
Following this presentation, the lines will be opened to allow participants to ask questions of CMS PQRI subject matter experts.
Educational products are available on the PQRI dedicated web page located at, http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PQRI , on the CMS website, in the Educational Resources section, section, as well as educational products are available on the e-prescribing dedicated web page located at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ERxIncentive. Feel free to download the resources prior to the call so that you may ask questions of the CMS presenters.
Conference call details:
Date: 8/20/2009
Conference Title: 2009 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative National Provider Call
Time: 2:30 p.m. EDT
In order to receive the call-in information, you must register for the call. It is important to note that if you are planning to sit in with a group, only one person needs to register to receive the call-in data. This registration is solely to reserve a phone line, NOT to allow participation.
Registration will close at 2:30 p.m. EDT on 8/19/2009, or when available space has been filled. No exceptions will be made, so please be sure to register prior to this time.
1. To register for the call participants need to go to: http://www2.eventsvc.com/palmettogba/082009
2. Fill in all required data.
3. Verify your time zone is displayed correctly the drop down box.
4. Click “Register”.
5. You will be taken to the “Thank you for registering” page and will receive a confirmation email shortly thereafter. Note: Please print and save this page, in the event that your server blocks the confirmation emails. If you do not receive the confirmation email, please check your spam/junk mail filter as it may have been directed there.
For those of you who will be unable to attend, a transcript of the call will be available at least one week after the call at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/pqri on the CMS website.
If you require services for the hearing impaired please send an email to: Medicare.TTT@PalmettoGBA.com.
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3. Special Open Door Forum: Medicare DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program Bidders’ Conference–How to Register to Access the Bidding System
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Special Open Door Forum:
Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies Competitive Bidding Program Bidders’ Conference – How to Register to Access the Bidding System
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
2:00 pm-3:00 pm Eastern Time
Conference Call Only
Please join us for the first in a series of eight Special Open Door Forum (ODF) bidders’ conferences for the Round 1 Rebid of the Medicare durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) competitive bidding program. At this Special ODF, we will provide an overview of what to expect during the bidder education period and provide suppliers with a step-by-step explanation of the registration process. In addition, we will identify common registration issues from the original Round 1 of the DMEPOS competitive bidding program and discuss refinements to the bidding system.
Reminder: It’s important for suppliers to register early to avoid delays in accessing the online bidding system when bidding opens.
Background:
The Medicare DMEPOS competitive bidding program was established by Congress in the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 and later amended by the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008. These statutes require the implementation of a competitive bidding program that replaces Medicare’s current fee schedule methodology for determining payment rates for certain DMEPOS items in competitive bidding areas (CBAs). These payment rates for DMEPOS competitively bid items are determined by using bids submitted by DMEPOS suppliers.
On August 3, 2009, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service (CMS) issued the bidding timeline for the Round 1 Rebid of the DMEPOS competitive bidding program and initiated a comprehensive bidder education campaign. CMS’ Competitive Bidding Implementation Contractor (CBIC) will be the focal point for bidder education. The CBIC’s dedicated website, www.dmecompetitivebid.com, will include a comprehensive array of important information for suppliers, including bidding rules, user guides, frequently asked questions, policy fact sheets, checklists, and bidding information charts. The CBIC toll-free help desk, 1‑877‑577‑5331, is now open to help bidders with all of their questions and concerns. All suppliers interested in bidding are urged to sign up for E-mail Updates on the home page of the CBIC website.
We look forward to your participation.
Special Open Door Participation Instructions:
Dial: 1-800-837-1935 & Reference Conference ID: 23038688
Note: TTY Communications Relay Services are available for the Hearing Impaired. For TTY services dial 7-1-1 or 1-800-855-2880. A Relay Communications Assistant will help.
An audio recording of this Special Forum will be posted to the Special Open Door Forum website at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/OpenDoorForums/05_ODF_SpecialODF.asp and will be accessible for downloading beginning Thursday, August 27, 2009.
For Open Door Forum schedule updates, E-Mailing list subscriptions, and to view Frequently Asked Questions please visit our website at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/opendoorforums/ .
Thank you for your interest in CMS Open Door Forums.
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4. Medicare Announces Timeline for Bidding/ Begins Supplier Education Campaign for DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program
BIDDING TIMELINE FOR THE DMEPOS COMPETITIVE BIDDING PROGRAM
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced the bidding timeline for the Round 1 Rebid of the Medicare durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) competitive bidding program. To view the timeline, please click: www.dmecompetitivebid.com.
BIDDER EDUCATION CAMPAIGN
CMS is launching an intensive bidder education campaign designed to ensure that DMEPOS suppliers interested in bidding get all the information they need to submit a complete bid in a timely manner. CMS will focus initially on preparing suppliers for the registration period. As suppliers get registered for the competitive bidding process, CMS education and outreach efforts will intensify with particular focus on information specific to registered bidders and the bidding process.
CMS‘s Competitive Bidding Implementation Contractor (CBIC) will be the focal point for bidder education. The CBIC has a dedicated Web site, www.dmecompetitivebid.com, which will include a comprehensive array of important information for suppliers, including bidding rules, user guides, frequently asked questions, policy fact sheets, checklists, and bidding information charts. The CBIC toll-free help desk, 1‑877‑577‑5331, is now open to help bidders with all of their questions and concerns. All suppliers interested in bidding are urged to visit the CBIC Web site to sign up for e-mail updates.
Visit the CMS Web site at www.cms.hhs.gov/DMEPOSCompetitiveBid/ for the latest information on the DMEPOS competitive bidding program.
To view the Press Release, please click: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/media/press_releases.asp.
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5. Get Ready for DMEPOS Competitive Bidding
The Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS)
Competitive Bidding Program Round 1 Rebid is Coming Soon!!
Summer 2009
Ø CMS announces bidding schedule/schedule of education events
Ø CMS begins bidder education campaign
Ø Bidder registration period to obtain user ID and passwords begins
Fall 2009
Ø Bidding begins
If you are a supplier interested in bidding, prepare now – don’t wait!
Ø UPDATE YOUR NSC FILES: DMEPOS supplier standard # 2 requires ALL suppliers to notify the National Supplier Clearinghouse (NSC) of any change to the information provided on the Medicare enrollment application (CMS-855S) within 30 days of the change. DMEPOS suppliers should use the 3/09 version of the CMS-855S and should review and update:
• The list of products and services found in section 2.D;
• The Authorized Official(s) information in sections 6A and 15; and
• The correspondence address in section 2A2 of the CMS-855S.
This is especially important for suppliers who will be involved in the Medicare DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program. These suppliers must ensure the information listed on their supplier files is accurate to enable participation in this program. Information and instructions on how to submit a change of information may be found on the NSC Web site (http://www.palmettogba.com/nsc) and by following this path: Supplier Enrollment/Change of Information/Change of Information Guide.
Ø GET LICENSED: Suppliers submitting a bid for a product category in a competitive bidding area (CBA) must meet all DMEPOS state licensure requirements and other applicable state licensure requirements, if any, for that product category for every state in that CBA. Prior to submitting a bid for a CBA and product category, the supplier must have a copy of the applicable state licenses on file with the NSC. As part of the bid evaluation we will verify with the NSC that the supplier has on file a copy of all applicable required state license(s).
Ø GET ACCREDITED: CMS would like to remind DMEPOS suppliers that time is running out to obtain accreditation by the September 30, 2009 deadline or risk having their Medicare Part B billing privileges revoked on October 1, 2009. Accreditation takes an average of 6 months to complete. DMEPOS suppliers should contact a CMS deemed accreditation organization to obtain information about the accreditation process and the application process. Suppliers must be accredited for a product category in order to submit a bid for that product category. CMS cannot contract with suppliers that are not accredited by a CMS-approved accreditation organization.
Further information on the DMEPOS accreditation requirements along with a list of the accreditation organizations and those professionals and other persons exempted from accreditation may be found at the CMS website: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MedicareProviderSupEnroll/01_Overview.asp .
Ø GET BONDED: CMS would like to remind DMEPOS suppliers that certain suppliers will need to obtain and submit a surety bond by the October 2, 2009 deadline or risk having their Medicare Part B billing privileges revoked. Suppliers subject to the bonding requirement must be bonded in order to bid in the DMEPOS competitive bidding program. A list of sureties from which a bond can be secured is found at the Department of the Treasury’s “List of Certified (Surety Bond) Companies;” the web site is located at:
www.fms.treas.gov/c570/c570_a-z.html.
Visit the CMS website at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/DMEPOSCompetitiveBid/ for the latest information on the DMEPOS competitive bidding program.
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DMEPOS Supplier Accreditation and Surety Bond Requirement Deadlines Coming In October
Suppliers May Choose to Voluntarily Terminate Enrollment If They Do Not Plan To Comply
Medicare suppliers of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS), unless exempt, must be accredited and obtain a surety bond by October 1, 2009 and October 2, 2009, respectively.
If you have made the decision not to obtain accreditation or a surety bond when required, you may want to voluntarily terminate your enrollment in the Medicare program before the implementation dates above. You can voluntary terminate your enrollment with the Medicare program by completing the sections associated with voluntary termination on page 4 of the Medicare enrollment application (CMS-855S). Once complete, you should sign, date and send the completed application to the National Supplier Clearinghouse (NSC). By voluntarily terminating your Medicare enrollment, you will preserve your right to re-enroll in Medicare once you meet the requirements to participate in the Medicare program.
If you do not comply with the accreditation and surety bond requirements and do not submit a voluntary termination, your Medicare billing privileges will be revoked. A revocation will bar you from re-enrolling in Medicare for at least one year after the date of revocation.
Suppliers who do not plan to stay enrolled in Medicare are strongly encouraged to notify their beneficiaries as soon as possible so the beneficiary can find another supplier.
For additional information regarding DMEPOS accreditation or the provisions associated with a surety bond, go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MedicareProviderSupEnroll. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the surety bond requirement can be found on the NSC’s FAQ page at http://www.palmettogba.com/nsc.
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Take Action Now to Prepare for the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics,
and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program!
A Special Edition MLN Matters education article identifying steps suppliers should take in preparation for the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program to ensure successful bidder registration is available at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/SE0915.pdf.
The article highlights specific sections of the CMS-855S, Medicare Enrollment Application, where the accuracy of the Authorized Official information and correspondence mailing address are critical for successful bidder registration. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) urges suppliers planning to bid in the 2009 bidding cycle to read this article and make sure their most recent CMS-855S submission is still current and accurate.
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6. Policy and Payment Rate Changes for Inpatient Stays in Acute Care and Long-Term Care Hospitals in Fiscal 2010
FINAL RULE WILL NOT REDUCE 2010 INPATIENT RATES FOR ACUTE CARE HOSPITALS
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced that acute care hospitals will receive an inflation update in their payment rates of 2.1 percent in fiscal year 2010. Earlier this year, CMS had proposed to reduce payments to account for the effect of increases in aggregate payments due to changes in hospital coding practices that do not reflect increases in patient’s severity of illness.
The update was included in a final rule making policy changes and setting payment rates for inpatient services in general acute care hospitals paid under the Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS), as well as long-term care hospitals (LTCHs), paid under the LTCH PPS. The changes will be effective beginning with discharges on or after Oct. 1, 2009.
To view the entire Press Release, visit the CMS website at
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/media/press_releases.asp
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7. More Accurate Payment Rates for Medicare Skilled Nursing Facilities in Fiscal 2010
CASE-MIX ADJUSTMENT RECALIBRATED
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced adjustments to fiscal year (FY) 2010 payment rates to better reflect the cost of caring for Medicare beneficiaries in nursing homes.
The final rule calls for payments to Medicare skilled nursing facilities to be reduced by $360 million, or 1.1 percent lower than payments for FY 2009. This adjustment to nursing facility payments is an effort to rebalance an earlier adjustment to the case-mix indexes (CMIs) and better align Medicare payments with costs.
To view the entire Press Release, visit the CMS website at
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/media/press_releases.asp
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8. Fiscal 2010 Payment and Policy Updates for Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities
NEW RULES CLARIFY AND STRENGTHEN PATIENT SELECTION AND CARE REQUIREMENTS
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today issued a final rule that updates Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) payment rates for fiscal 2010 and adopts a new regulatory framework that clarifies the coverage criteria (including provisions regarding patient selection and care) for IRFs that will be effective on Jan. 1, 2010. The final rule applies to more than 200 freestanding IRFs and just under 1,000 IRF units in acute care hospitals and, except as otherwise specified, is effective for discharges occurring on or after Oct. 1, 2009.
The coverage criteria provisions are intended to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries who need the intensive rehabilitation services provided in IRFs continue to have access to high quality care. The Jan. 1, 2010 effective date for these provisions will allow facilities time to change their operations as needed to comply with the final regulation. The new regulatory scheme will replace the prior policies, including those contained in HCFAR 85-2-1 (a 1985 ruling that was issued by CMS, then called Health Care Financing Administration). CMS plans to issue a notice in the Federal Register that will rescind HCFAR 85-2-1, effective Jan. 1, 2010. CMS also plans to draft new guidance regarding the new coverage criteria that it will place in the Medicare Benefit Policy Manual (MBPM). As amended, the MBPM will provide detailed policy guidance regarding CMS’s interpretations of the coverage criteria regulations adopted under this rule.
To view the entire Press Release, visit the CMS website at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/media/press_releases.asp
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9. National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) Update Announcement for Physicians
PHYSICIANS!
Did an academic medical institution or university obtain your NPI for you?
If so, is your NPPES record up to date?
Health care providers, including physicians, began applying for National Provider Identifiers (NPIs) on May 23, 2005. Since then, the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) has assigned nearly 3 million NPIs. More than 700,000 NPIs have been assigned to physicians.
Many physicians were assigned their NPIs upon their graduation from medical school. Often, the administrative staff at the physicians’ academic medical centers or universities applied for the physicians’ NPIs. The administrative staff handled similar actions for their new physicians and had, in their records, all the information that needed to be furnished on the application for an NPI. Some of these NPIs may have been assigned as long as 4 years ago.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is required by regulation to make available to the public certain information about health care providers that is contained in their NPPES records. This information includes the name, provider type (e.g., physician), business practice location address, business mailing address, and business practice location telephone number. Publicly available NPPES information can be found in the NPI Registry, a query-only database which anyone can access on the Internet (https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov/NPPES/NPIRegistryHome.do), and in a monthly downloadable file that individuals with the necessary technical expertise can download from the Internet (http://nppesdata.cms.hhs.gov/CMS_NPI_files.html). Health plans, health care clearinghouses, health care providers, and others with a need to know can easily use the NPI Registry to view data for a particular health care provider simply by entering the health care provider’s name or NPI. The downloadable file is used primarily by health plans and other large health industry organizations that need information for all or most of the health care providers who have NPIs and who may need to sort or otherwise manipulate the data in the file to suit their business needs.
Now, months or years later, many of the physicians whose academic medical centers or universities obtain their NPIs for them have moved on in their careers to new locations. Many have not updated their NPPES information to show new business practice location addresses, business mailing addresses, or business practice location telephone numbers. As a result, the information in the NPI Registry and in the downloadable file is out of date. Academic medical centers and universities whose addresses and telephone numbers were entered into NPPES as the business practice locations, business mailing addresses, and business practice location telephone numbers for the physicians who they formerly employed are now being burdened with the receipt of mail and telephone calls for physicians who are no longer there.
It is not the responsibility of the academic medical centers or the universities to continue to update the NPPES records of physicians who are no longer working for them. In most cases, the academic medical centers and universities do not have the updated information and, therefore, are unable to contact the physicians to ask that they update their NPPES information.
Unless physicians have agreements in place for others to keep their NPPES information up to date, the physicians themselves are responsible for ensuring that their NPPES records contain accurate and current information.
Some of these physicians may have enrolled in health plans and may be sending claims electronically to health plans or conducting other electronic health transactions with health plans. These physicians are “covered entities” under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). As covered entities, they are required by regulation to update their NPPES records within 30 days of any change. Those who have NPIs but who do not conduct electronic health transactions with health plans, and, thus, are not covered entities, are encouraged to keep their NPPES information up to date.
We remind all health care providers who have NPIs, not just the physicians specially noted above, to view their NPPES records and, if corrections are necessary, to furnish the updates. Health care providers who established User IDs and passwords in NPPES can easily access their NPPES records to make updates. Those who did not establish User IDs and passwords may do so at any time. For assistance in setting up User IDs and passwords, or in situations where the User ID or password has been forgotten, health care providers should contact the NPI Enumerator at 1-800-465-3203. If they prefer, health care providers may furnish their updates by filling out the paper NPI application (Form CMS-10114) and mailing the completed form to the NPI Enumerator. The instructions are on the form, along with the mailing address of the NPI Enumerator. The form may be downloaded from the CMS forms web page (www.cms.hhs.gov/cmsforms) or one may be obtained by contacting the NPI Enumerator at the number above.
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10. HHS Delegates Authority for the HIPAA Security Rule to Office for Civil Rights
On August 3, 2009 OCR announced that the Secretary of Health and Human Services has delegated to the Director of OCR the authority to administer and enforce the HIPAA Security Rule. This action by Secretary Sebelius will improve HHS’ ability to protect individuals’ health information by combining the authority for administration and enforcement of the Federal standards for health information privacy and security called for in the HIPAA.
The transition of authority for the administration and enforcement of the Security Rule is expected to be seamless with no interruption in the management or processing of any complaints filed prior to the transition. Consumers may continue to submit HIPAA security complaints using the on-line resource – the Administrative Simplification Enforcement Tool (ASET), found at https:htct.hhs.gov/aset. New security complaints may also be sent to the Office for Civil Rights. For more information and detailed instructions on how to submit a complaint to OCR, visit the OCR website: http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/hipaa/complaints/. The transition of security complaints from CMS to OCR has no impact on how complaints about Transactions and Codes Sets or Unique Identifiers are filed or processed. CMS retains its enforcement authority for these other HIPAA rules.
View the Federal Register notice of the Delegation of Authority at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/srdelegationofauthority2009.pdf and the Secretary’s press release at http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2009pres/08/20090803a.html
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11. August Is Immunization Awareness Month!
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is asking the provider community to keep their patients with Medicare healthy by encouraging them to take advantage of Medicare-covered vaccines.
Medicare provides coverage for seasonal influenza, pneumococcal, and hepatitis B vaccines for qualified beneficiaries.
What Can You Do?
As a health care professional who provides care to seniors and others with Medicare, you can help protect the health of your Medicare patients by educating them about their risk factors and reminding them of the importance of getting vaccinations that are appropriate for them.
For More Information
CMS has developed several educational products related to Medicare-covered immunization services:
o The MLN Preventive Services Educational Products Web Page ~ provides descriptions and ordering information for Medicare Learning Network (MLN) preventive services educational products, including Medicare-covered adult immunizations, and resources for health care professionals and their staff. http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/35_PreventiveServices.asp
o Quick Reference Information: Medicare Part B Immunization Billing ~This double-sided chart provides coverage and coding information on Medicare-covered immunizations. http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/qr_immun_bill.pdf
o Quick Reference Information: Medicare Preventive Services ~ This double-sided chart provides coverage and coding information on Medicare-covered preventive services, including immunizations. http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/MPS_QuickReferenceChart_1.pdf
o Adult Immunizations brochure~ This brochure provides information on risk factors and coverage for the season influenza, pneumococcal, and hepatitis B vaccines.
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/adult_immunization.pdf
Please visit the Medicare Learning Network for more information on these and other Medicare fee-for-service educational products.
Thank you for helping CMS improve the health of patients with Medicare by joining in the effort to educate beneficiaries about the importance of taking advantage of immunizations and other preventive services covered by Medicare.
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12. Extra Help for Beneficiaries Paying for Prescription Drugs
Do You Know Someone Who Is Having Trouble Paying For Prescription Drugs?
Medicare Can Help!
If an individual has limited income and resources, they may qualify for extra help from Medicare. It could be worth over $3,300 in savings on prescription drug costs per year.
Encourage people with Medicare to file for Extra Help online: https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps6z/i1020/main.html or by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to apply over the phone.
State Health Insurance Information Program (SHIP) offices can assist with the application. Find contact information for a local SHIP Counselor at http://www.medicare.gov/contacts/static/allStateContacts.asp or by calling
1-800-MEDICARE.
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Lucretia James
Division for Medicare Health Plans Operations
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Region VIII
1600 Broadway, Suite 700
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 844-1568
lucretia.james@cms.hhs.gov