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. National Education Call for Non-Contract Suppliers in the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program
2. Save-the-Date for National Education Call for Referral Agents for the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program
3. Special Open-Door Forum: Update on Medicaid Integrity Provider Audit Program [Wed Nov 3]
4. Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System Resource Utilization Group-Version 4 (RUG-IV) National Provider Call with Q&A [Tue Nov 9]
5. 2010 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative & Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program National Provider Call with Question & Answer Session [Wed Nov 10]
6. Twelfth National Education Call on Medicare Fee-For-Service (FFS) Implementation of HIPAA Version 5010 and D.0 Transactions: Taking EDI to the Next Level [Wed Nov 17]
7. Registration for ONC Personal Health Records Roundtable Now Open [Fri Dec 3]
8. Updates from the Medicare Learning Network (MLN)
– New DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program Fact Sheets
– DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program Nat’l Education Call and MLN Fact Sheet
– Two New Fact Sheets Regarding Walker Exceptions to the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program
– “Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facility”
– “Rural Health Clinic” Publication Revised
– MLN Matters Article #MM7133: “Counseling to Prevent Tobacco Use”
9. X12 Announces Deadline for Requests for Modifications to the ASC X12 005010 Health Care Implementation Guides
10. EHR Incentive Program: Certified Health IT Product List
11. ONC Reaches Out to Vendor Community to Help Reduce Health Disparities
12. October Flu Shot Reminder
13. National Diabetes Awareness Month and Diabetic Eye Disease Month
14. Clinician Outreach and Communication Activities from the Centers for Disease Control
15. A new “twist” in the law makes it easier to save on your prescription drug costs.
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1. National Education Call for Non-Contract Suppliers in the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program
Mon Nov 8, 2-3:30pm EST
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will host a national provider education call on the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program. The target audience for this call is DMEPOS suppliers that will not be contract suppliers in the program. The target audience includes non-contract suppliers in the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding program.
The presentation for this call will be available on the following website within twenty four hours of the call: http://www.cms.gov/DMEPOSCompetitiveBid/04_Educational_Resources.asp.
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 2pm EST on Fri Nov 5 or when available space has been filled. No exceptions will be made, so please be sure to register prior to this time. To register for the call:
Visit http://www.eventsvc.com/palmettogba/110810.
Fill in all required data.
Verify that your time zone is displayed correctly in the drop down box.
Click “Register.”
You will be taken to the “Thank you for registering” page and will receive a confirmation e-mail shortly thereafter. Note: Please save this page, in the event that your server blocks the confirmation e-mails. If you do not receive the confirmation e-mail, please check your spam/junk mail filter as it may have been directed there.
If assistance for hearing impaired services is needed the request must be sent to medicare.ttt@palmettogba.com no later than 3 business day before the event.
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2. Save-the-Date for National Education Call for Referral Agents for the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program
Tue Nov 16, 2-3:30pm EST
Please hold the date for a national provider education call on the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program, aimed at referral agents for the program. (Referral agents generally include Medicare-enrolled providers, physicians, treating practitioners, discharge planners, social workers, and pharmacists who refer beneficiaries for DMEPOS items and services in a competitive bidding area). The call will take place on Tue Nov 16, from 2pm to 3:30pm EST, and more details (including registration instructions) will be shared in the days to come.
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3. Special Open-Door Forum: Update on Medicaid Integrity Provider Audit Program [Wed Nov 3]
Wed Nov 3, 2-3:30pm EST
Section 1936 of the Social Security Act required CMS to enter into contracts to perform four key Medicaid program integrity activities:
§ Review of provider actions to determine whether fraud, waste, or abuse occurred or may have occurred;
§ Audit provider claims;
§ Identify overpayments;
§ Educate providers and others.
In July 2009, CMS held the first ODF on this topic to discuss the implementation of the MIP Provider Audit Program. CMS staff discussed the MIP audit process, audit timelines, web site information and future meetings. This upcoming special ODF is intended to provide feedback and lessons learned from the initial 18 months of the Medicaid audit program and discuss opportunities for improvement.
Open-Door Forum Instructions:
§ Capacity is limited so dial in early. You may begin dialing into this forum as early as 1:45pm EST.
§ Dial 800-837-1935
§ Conference ID 18705250
§ 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 and transcript of this Special ODF will be posted to the Special ODF website at http://www.cms.gov/OpenDoorForums/05_ODF_SpecialODF.asp and will be accessible for downloading on or around November 17, 2010 and available for 30 days.
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4. Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System Resource Utilization Group-Version 4 (RUG-IV) National Provider Call with Q&A [Tue Nov 9]
Tue Nov 9, 2-3:30pm EST
This call is one in a series of calls designed to provide information on key aspects of the RUG-IV SNF PPS case mix system, which was put into place on an interim basis effective October 1, 2010. CMS held three previous calls, which provided details of significant changes related to the RUG-IV payment system.
In June, CMS discussed coding procedures, with emphasis on the appropriate Look-back Period to be used when coding the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 and how facility staff should separately report individual, concurrent and group therapy for accurate payment, along with changes to the ADL coding requirements and their impact on the assignment of MDS 3.0 records to a RUG-IV group. In August, CMS held a second call, where subject matter experts discussed the transition from RUG-III to RUG-IV. The third call, in September, discussed several SNF PPS policies, including Start of Therapy and End of Therapy Other Medicare Required Assessments and the SNF short stay policy.
For this call, CMS subject matter experts will review some of the significant changes associated with the RUG-IV payment system. Information on the previous calls and future information for this call will be available on the SNF PPS webpage at http://www.cms.gov/SNFPPS/03_RUGIVEdu.asp. Following the formal presentation, callers will have an opportunity to ask questions of CMS subject matter experts.
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 2pm EST on Mon Nov 8, or when available space has been filled. No exceptions will be made, so please be sure to register prior to this time. To register for the call:
Visit http://www.eventsvc.com/palmettogba/110910.
Fill in all required data.
Verify that your time zone is displayed correctly in the drop down box.
Click “Register.”
You will be taken to the “Thank you for registering” page and will receive a confirmation email shortly thereafter. Note: Please 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.
If assistance for hearing impaired services is needed, the request must be sent to medicare.ttt@palmettogba.com no later than 3 business day before the event.
For those who will be unable to attend, a transcript and MP3 audio file of the call will be available at http://www.cms.gov/SNFPPS/03_RUGIVEdu.asp#TopOfPage on the CMS website shortly after the call.
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5. 2010 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative & Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program National Provider Call with Question & Answer Session [Wed Nov 10]
Wed Nov 10, 1:30pm-3pm EST
The PQRI is voluntary quality reporting program that provides an incentive payment to identified individual eligible professionals (EPs), and beginning with the 2010 PQRI, group practices who satisfactorily report data on quality measures for covered Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) services furnished to Medicare Part B Fee-For-Service (FFS) beneficiaries. The PQRI was first implemented in 2007 as a result of section 101 of the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 (TRHCA), and further expanded as a result of the Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 (MMSEA), and the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA).
The eRx Incentive Program is an incentive program for eligible professionals initially implemented in 2009 as a result of section 132(b) of the MIPPA. The eRx Incentive Program promotes the adoption and use of eRx systems by individual eligible professionals and beginning with the 2010 eRx Incentive Program, group practices.
The formal presentation will cover the following:
Overview of the 2011 rule and comments;
2009 PQRI and eRx Incentive Program payment distribution and instructions for understanding these payments;
An overview for the use of the 2009 Feedback Report User Guides for PQRI and the eRx Incentive Program;
Discussion on the changes to the electronic remittance advice for eligible professionals receiving PQRI and eRx incentive payments in 2010; and
Participation in the 2010 eRX Incentive Program.
The lines will be opened to allow participants to ask questions of CMS PQRI and eRx subject matter experts. A PowerPoint slide presentation will be posted to the PQRI webpage (at http://www.cms.gov/PQRI/04_CMSSponsoredCalls.asp) on the CMS website for you to download prior to the call so that you can follow along with the presenter.
Educational products are available on the PQRI-dedicated webpage (http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PQRI) in the Educational Resources section and on the eRx-dedicated webpage (http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ERxIncentive) on the CMS website. Feel free to download the resources prior to the call so that you may ask questions of the CMS presenters.
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 1:30pm EST on Tue Nov 9 or when available space has been filled. No exceptions will be made, so please be sure to register prior to this time. To register for the call:
Visit http://www.eventsvc.com/palmettogba/111010.
Fill in all required data.
Verify that your time zone is displayed correctly in the drop down box.
Click “Register.”
You will be taken to the “Thank you for registering” page and will receive a confirmation email shortly thereafter. Note: Please 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.
If assistance for hearing impaired services is needed the request must be sent to medicare.ttt@palmettogba.com no later than 3 business day before the event. For those of who will be unable to attend, a transcript and MP3 file of the call will be available at least one week after the call at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PQRI on the CMS website.
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6. Twelfth National Education Call on Medicare Fee-For-Service (FFS) Implementation of HIPAA Version 5010 and D.0 Transactions: Taking EDI to the Next Level [Wed Nov 17]
Wed Nov 17, 2pm-3:30pm EST
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will host its twelfth national education call regarding Medicare FFS’s implementation of HIPAA Version 5010 and D.0 transaction standards on Wed Nov 17, focusing on the Coordination of Benefits (COB). Subject matter experts will review Medicare FFS specific changes, including those arising from the adoption of the HIPAA 5010 Errata, as well as general information to help the audience prepare for the transition; the presentation will be followed by a Q&A session. Target Audience includes vendors, clearinghouses, and providers who will need to make Medicare FFS specific changes in compliance with HIPAA version 5010 requirements. The presentation will be available on the CMS website at http://www.cms.gov/Versions5010andD0/V50/list.asp.
Agenda:
§ General Overview
§ Medicare Specific COB Changes
§ Timelines and Deadlines
§ What you need to do to prepare
§ Q & A
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 2:00 p.m. ET on November 16, 2010, or when available space has been filled. No exceptions will be made, so please be sure to register prior to this time. To register for the call:
Visit http://www.eventsvc.com/palmettogba/111710.
Fill in all required data.
Verify that your time zone is displayed correctly in the drop down box.
Click “Register.”
You will be taken to the “Thank you for registering” page and will receive a confirmation e-mail shortly thereafter. Note: Please save this page, in the event that your server blocks the confirmation e-mails. If you do not receive the confirmation e-mail, please check your spam/junk mail filter as it may have been directed there.
If assistance for hearing impaired services is needed the request must be sent to medicare.ttt@palmettogba.com no later than 3 business day before the event.
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7. Registration for ONC Personal Health Records Roundtable Now Open [Fri Dec 3]
Fri Dec 3, 8:30am-4:30pm
Online registration is now open for the roundtable on “Personal Health Records – Understanding the Evolving Landscape.” This free day-long public roundtable, hosted by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), will be held on Fri Dec 3 at the FTC Conference Center in Washington DC (601 New Jersey Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20001).
Register to attend in person or via webcast by visiting http://healthit.hhs.gov/PHRroundtable. The webcast will be hosted at http://healthit.hhs.gov/blog/phr-roundtable.
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8. Updates from the Medicare Learning Network (MLN)
New DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program Fact Sheets
New from the Medicare Learning Network!
The following new fact sheets related to the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program are now available in downloadable format from the Medicare Learning Network®.
§ DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program Traveling Beneficiary Fact Sheet,
§ DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program Physicians and Other Treating Practitioners Who Are Enrolled Medicare DMEPOS Suppliers Fact Sheet, and
§ DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program Hospitals That Are Not Contract Suppliers Fact Sheet
On January 1, 2011, when the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program goes into effect in nine competitive bidding areas (CBAs), beneficiaries with Original Medicare who obtain competitively bid items in CBAs must obtain those items from a contract supplier in order for Medicare to pay, unless an exception applies.
To learn more, view the fact sheets at http://www.cms.gov/DMEPOSCompetitiveBid/04_Educational_Resources.asp on the CMS website and click on the appropriate links in the “Downloads” section.
For more information about the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program, including a list of the first nine CBAs and items included in the program, visit http://www.cms.gov/DMEPOSCompetitiveBid on the CMS website.
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DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program Nat’l Education Call and MLN Fact Sheet
National Education Call for Non-Contract Suppliers in the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program
Mon Nov 8, 2-3:30pm EST
Conference Call Only
Please hold the date for a national provider education call on the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program. The target audience for this call is DMEPOS suppliers that will not be contract suppliers in the program. The call will take place on Mon Nov 8, from 2pm to 3:30pm EST, and more details (including registration instructions) will be shared in the days to come.
From the Medicare Learning Network: “The DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program Traveling Beneficiary Fact Sheet”
The Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program Traveling Beneficiary Fact Sheet is now available, free of charge, from the Medicare Learning Network®.
Once the DMEPOS competitive bidding program becomes effective on January 1, 2011, beneficiaries with Original Medicare who obtain competitively bid items in competitive bidding areas (CBAs) must obtain these items from a contract supplier for Medicare to pay, unless an exception applies. This includes beneficiaries who do not live in a CBA but who obtain competitively bid items while traveling to a CBA. This fact sheet contains helpful information on competitive bidding program rules that apply when a beneficiary travels.
To learn more, please visit the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Educational Resources page at http://www.cms.gov/DMEPOSCompetitiveBid/04_Educational_Resources.asp on the CMS website, then select the link entitled “DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program Traveling Beneficiary Fact Sheet” in the “Downloads” section.
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Two New Fact Sheets Regarding Walker Exceptions to the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program
The Medicare Learning Network® has released two fact sheets related to exceptions for walkers under the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program. They are the “DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program Hospitals That Are Not Contract Suppliers Fact Sheet” and the “DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program Physicians and Other Treating Practitioners Who Are Enrolled Medicare DMEPOS Suppliers Fact Sheet.”
Under the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program, beneficiaries with Original Medicare who obtain competitive bidding items in designated competitive bidding areas (CBAs) are required to obtain these items from a contract supplier, unless an exception applies. For the first phase of competitive bidding, which is effective January 1, 2011, one of these exceptions allows hospitals to furnish competitively bid walkers in a CBA to their own patients, without submitting a bid and being selected as a contract supplier. Similarly, another of these exceptions allows physicians and other treating practitioners who are enrolled Medicare DMEPOS suppliers to furnish competitively bid walkers in a CBA to their own patients without submitting a bid and being selected as a contract supplier.
To learn more and download these fact sheets, please visit the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Educational Resources page at http://www.cms.gov/DMEPOSCompetitiveBid/04_Educational_Resources.asp on the CMS website, then select the appropriate link in the “Downloads” section.
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“Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facility”
A new Medicare Learning Network® publication titled “Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facility” is now available in downloadable format at http://www.cms.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/Comprehensive_Outpatient_Rehabilitation_Facility_Fact_Sheet_ICN904085.pdf. This fact sheet provides information about basic, core and optional Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facility (CORF) services; place of treatment requirements; rehabilitation plan of care requirements; and CORF payments.
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“Rural Health Clinic” Publication Revised
A revised Medicare Learning Network® publication titled “Rural Health Clinic” is now available in downloadable format at http://www.cms.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/RuralHlthClinfctsht.pdf. This fact sheet provides information about Rural Health Clinic (RHC) services, Medicare certification as a RHC, RHC visits, RHC payments, cost reports, and annual reconciliation.
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MLN Matters Article #MM7133: “Counseling to Prevent Tobacco Use”
The Medicare Learning Network® (MLN) has released MLN Matters Article #MM7133 to inform providers that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will cover counseling services to prevent tobacco use for outpatient and hospitalized beneficiaries. Effective for claims with dates of service on and after August 25, 2010, CMS will cover tobacco cessation counseling for outpatient and hospitalized Medicare beneficiaries [1] who use tobacco, regardless of whether they have signs or symptoms of tobacco-related disease, [2] who are competent and alert at the time that counseling is provide, and [3] whose counseling is furnished by a qualified physician or other Medicare-recognized practitioner. This article is based on Change Request (CR) #7133 and is available at http://www.cms.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM7133.pdf.
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9. X12 Announces Deadline for Requests for Modifications to the ASC X12 005010 Health Care Implementation Guides
On Wed Oct 20, 2010, the Accredited Standards Committee X12 (ASC X12) announced that February 4, 2011 is the deadline to submit revision requests related to the ASC X12 005010 Type 3 Technical Reports (TR3), also known as Implementation Guides.
Requests for revisions to the ASC X12 Technical Reports mandated under HIPAA may be submitted via the Designated Standard Maintenance Organizations (DSMO) website at http://www.hipaa-dsmo.org. Requests for revisions to other ASC X12 Technical Reports may be submitted via http://www.x12.org/TR3ChangeRequest. To be considered for inclusion in the 006020 implementation guides, requests must include all of the detailed information requested on the on-line submission forms. Change requests submitted after the deadline will be considered for inclusion in a future version.
The ASC X12 Insurance Subcommittee (ASC X12N) has implemented a new process for managing change requests, beginning with this ASC X12 006020 maintenance cycle. The new process shortens the timeline for revisions to ASC X12 TR3s by as much as 15 months, to approximately 21 months. For additional information, please visit http://www.x12.org/dsmo/help or contact info@disa.org.
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10. EHR Incentive Program: Certified Health IT Product List
Providers must use certified Electronic Health Record (EHR) technology in order to earn incentives under the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs. How can you be sure which EHR technology has been certified?
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) has published the Certified Health IT Product List (CHPL), a comprehensive listing of Complete EHRs and EHR Modules that have been tested and certified under the Temporary Certification Program. Each Complete EHR and EHR Module included in the CHPL has been tested and certified by an ONC-Authorized Testing and Certification Body (ATCB), and reported to ONC by an ONC-ATCB, with reports validated by ONC. Only those EHR technologies appearing on the ONC-CHPL may be granted the reporting number that will be accepted by CMS for purposes of attestation under the EHR Incentive Programs.
The listing will be updated as additional products are certified by ONC-ATCBs and reported to ONC for validation. For more information about this product listing, please visit http://healthit.hhs.gov/CHPL. For more information on the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs, visit http://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms.
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11. ONC Reaches Out to Vendor Community to Help Reduce Health Disparities
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) and the Office of Minority Health (OMH) believe that electronic health records (EHRs) can help improve health care for low-income and minority communities who remain disproportionately affected by chronic illnesses. However, EHR adoption rates among providers who serve these communities remain low.
In an effort to prevent health disparities caused by a “digital divide,” Dr David Blumenthal, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, and Dr Garth Graham, Director of the OMH, are encouraging vendors to work together to help providers serving low-income and minority communities adopt EHRs. Read more in Dr Blumenthal’s new letter to the vendor community.
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12. October Flu Shot Reminder
Vaccination is the Best Protection Against the Flu. This year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is encouraging everyone 6 months of age and older to get vaccinated against the seasonal flu. The risks for complications, hospitalizations and deaths from the flu are higher among individuals aged 65 years and older. Medicare pays for the seasonal flu vaccine and its administration for seniors and others with Medicare with no co-pay or deductible. And remember, vaccination is particularly important for health care workers, who may spread the flu to high risk patients. Don’t forget to immunize yourself and your staff. Protect your patients. Protect your family. Protect yourself. Get Your Flu Vaccine – Not the Flu.
Remember – Influenza vaccine plus its administration are covered Part B benefits. Note that influenza vaccine is NOT a Part D covered drug. For information about Medicare’s coverage of the influenza vaccine and its administration, as well as related educational resources for health care professionals and their staff, please visit http://www.cms.gov/AdultImmunizations.
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13. National Diabetes Awareness Month and Diabetic Eye Disease Month
November is National Diabetes Awareness Month and Diabetic Eye Disease Month. Diabetes can lead to severe complications such as heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. It is also a significant risk factor for developing glaucoma.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) asks the provider community to keep their patients with Medicare healthy by encouraging eligible patients to take advantage of Medicare-covered diabetes-related services. Medicare provides coverage of several diabetes-related preventive services for eligible beneficiaries, including:
§ Diabetes Screening Tests,
§ Diabetes Self-Management Training,
§ Medical Nutrition Therapy,
§ Diabetes-Related Supplies, and
§ Glaucoma Screening.
What Can You Do? As a health care professional who provides care to patients with Medicare, you can help protect the health of your patients by encouraging them to take advantage of Medicare-covered preventive services, including diabetes-related services, that are appropriate for them.
For More Information – CMS has developed several educational products related to Medicare-covered diabetes-related services. They are all available, free of charge, from the Medicare Learning Network®:
The MLN Preventive Services Educational Products Web Page – provides descriptions and ordering information for Medicare Learning Network® (MLN) educational products for health care professionals related to Medicare-covered preventive services. Visit http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/35_PreventiveServices.asp.
The Diabetes-Related Services brochure – provides information on coverage for Medicare-covered diabetes-related services. This product is available in hardcopy or as a downloadable PDF. Visit http://www.cms.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/DiabetesSvcs.pdf.
The Glaucoma Screening brochure – provides information on coverage for Medicare-covered glaucoma screening. This product is available in hardcopy or as a downloadable PDF. Visit http://www.cms.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/glaucoma.pdf.
The Guide to Medicare Preventive Services for Physicians, Providers, Suppliers, and Other Health Care Professionals – provides coverage and coding information on Medicare-covered preventive services and screenings. Available as a downloadable PDF only. Visit http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/mps_guide_web-061305.pdf.
Quick Reference Information: Medicare Preventive Services – this chart provides coverage and coding information on Medicare-covered preventive services. Visit http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/MPS_QuickReferenceChart_1.pdf.
The Medicare Preventive Services Series: Part 2 Web-Based-Training (WBT) course – this WBT includes lessons on coverage, coding, and billing for Medicare-covered preventive services, including diabetes-related services. To access the course, please visit the MLN home page at http://www.cms.gov/mlngeninfo. Scroll down to “Related Links Inside CMS” and click on “Web Based Training (WBT) Modules.”
The Medicare Preventive Services Series: Part e Web-Based-Training (WBT) course – this WBT includes lessons on coverage, coding, and billing for Medicare-covered preventive services, including glaucoma screening. To access the course, please visit the MLN home page at http://www.cms.gov/mlngeninfo. Scroll down to “Related Links Inside CMS” and click on “Web Based Training (WBT) Modules.”
Please visit the Medicare Learning Network for more information on these and other Medicare fee-for-service educational products. For more information on National Diabetes Awareness Month, please visit the American Diabetes Association’s official page at http://www.diabetes.org/in-my-community/programs/american-diabetes-month. For additional information on National Diabetes Awareness Month, please visit the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) website at http://ndep.nih.gov/whats-new/posting.aspx?id=23. For more information on diabetic eye disease, please visit the Prevent Blindness America website at http://www.preventblindness.org. For more information to share with your patients about diabetes, please visit the NDEP website at http://www.ndep.nih.gov.
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14. Clinician Outreach and Communication Activities from the Centers for Disease Control
Upcoming COCA Conference Call: Neglected Infections of Poverty in the United States
Tue Nov 2, 2-3pm EST
Neglected infections of poverty are a group of parasitic, bacterial, and viral infections that disproportionately affect impoverished groups in the United States, and lead to illness in a significant number of individuals in vulnerable populations. These infections are often not well studied or tracked; thereby impacting diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. During this call, a CDC subject matter expert will describe the epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of 3 neglected infections of poverty: Chagas Disease, Toxocariasis, and Trichomoniasis. For more information on this call visit http://emergency.cdc.gov/coca/callinfo.asp.
§ Call Number: 888-790-6180 / Passcode 1281914
Upcoming COCA Conference Call: Practical Tools for Radiation Emergency Preparedness
Tue Nov 9, 2-3pm EST
Healthcare providers play an important role in any radiation emergency. Clinicians of all specialties will be responsible for providing care and information to patients in multiple settings from hospitals to community reception centers (CRCs). It is important for clinicians to develop plans and response capacity for radiation emergencies using practical tools for radiation emergency preparedness. Join subject matter experts as they describe the process flow and stations in a Community Reception Center; identify the unique psychological effects of radiation disasters; and define skills and techniques used when performing psychological first aid in radiation disasters.
This COCA call will utilize a webinar format. We are going to use an interactive webinar for this call to deliver content, as an alternative to using the traditional audio and PowerPoint option. This new webinar format will utilize several new features such as automated presentation transition, live and recorded video, and optional call registration. You may still access the audio portion of the call by using the provided call number. For additional information visit: http://emergency.cdc.gov/coca/callinfo.asp.
§ Register for this webinar at http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=pf7m85dab&oeidk=a07e33aaoq677b7b5e4
§ Call-in Number: 800-619-8497 / Passcode 3381626
Courses and On-Demand Trainings: CDC Public Health Grand Rounds: Malaria
Thu Nov 18, 1-2pm EST
The Public Health Grand Rounds is a monthly series created to further strengthen CDC’s common scientific culture and foster discussion and debate on major public health issues. This session of the Public Health Grand Rounds will focus on key issues related to Malaria. Watch live and archived broadcasts at www.cdc.gov/about/grand-rounds.
Upcoming Conference: Modeling for Public Health Action: From Epidemiology to Operations
Thu Dec 9 – Fri Dec 10, 2010 // Location: Atlanta, GA
This conference promotes the exchange of information and ideas about modeling uses to shape public health action. The conference will address effective and practical modeling applications to public health and provide high-quality sessions, training and networking opportunities. It is intended for public health practitioners and policy makers in state and local health departments; scientists and modelers working at CDC and its federal partners in public health; academic researchers, non-government organizations, and international practitioners, modelers and policy makers. For more information, visit http://www.phmodeling2010conference.com/index.html.
H1N1 & Seasonal Influenza Resources: Seasonal Flu: International Situation Update
This report is a summary of key influenza-related updates created from regional World Health Organization (WHO) reports, country reports, CDC field staff updates, and other sources. Updates are listed by region and focus on data collected during epidemiologic weeks 37 through 40 (September 12 – October 9, 2010). Visit http://www.cdc.gov/flu/international/activity.htm.
H1N1 & Seasonal Influenza Resources: Seasonal Influenza Vaccine Coverage
Current available coverage data and past trends available at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/vaccinecoverage.htm.
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15. A new “twist” in the law makes it easier to save on your prescription drug costs.
http://www.ssa.gov/prescriptionhelp/
Under a new law, more Medicare beneficiaries could qualify for Extra Help with their Medicare prescription drug plan costs because some things no longer count as income and resources. The Extra Help is estimated to be worth an average of $3,900 per year. To qualify for the Extra Help, a person must be on Medicare, have limited income and resources, and reside in one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia.
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