Self-Service – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Website

Home Provider Part B Publications

This is the third in a series of articles about Self Service Technology. The article today will focus on the CMS Website: http://www.cms.hhs.gov

The CMS Website is designed for providers of all kinds to locate information about the Medicare Program. The Website has many different areas to explore, and we encourage all providers to thoroughly explore the sections related to their practice.

One extremely important section of the CMS Website is the Internet-Only Manuals (IOMs). The IOMs are a replica of the Agency's official record copy. They are CMS' program issuances, day-to-day operating instructions, policies, and procedures that are based on statutes, regulations, guidelines, models, and directives. The manuals are located in the Regulations and Guidance section of the CMS Website, under guidance. The direct link to the manuals is http://www.cms.hhs.gov/Manuals/IOM/list.asp

Within the "Medicare" section of the CMS Website, you can learn about a variety of different aspects of the Medicare program. Here is a list of the sections:

General Information	Health Plans
Appeals and Grievances	Medicare Advantage
Billing	Medicare Contracting
CMS Forms	Medicare Fee-for-Service Part B Drugs
Coding	Medicare Fee-for-Service Payment
Coordination of Benefits	Medicare Secondary Payer Recovery
Coverage	Prescription Drug Coverage
Demonstration Projects	Prevention
E-Health	Provider Enrollment and Certification
Eligibility and Enrollment	Quality Initiatives/Patient Assessment Instruments
End-Stage Renal Disease	Transplantation
Fraud and Abuse

Another area to be sure to review is the Medicare Learning Network. We will focus an entire article on this topic later in the series.

You can also "Browse by Provider Type." This option is located at the bottom of the Medicare section of the CMS Website and can be a helpful tool. Not all provider types are listed, but many of the specialties' or service providers are listed. Here is a list of provider types:

All Fee-For-Service Providers	Home Health Agency (HHA) Center
Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASC) Center	Hospice Center
Ambulance Services Center	Hospital Center
Anesthesiologists Center	Pharmacist Center
Clinical Labs Center	Physician Center
Critical Access Hospitals Center	Practice Administration Center
Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Center	Rural Health Center
Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC)	Skilled Nursing Facility Center

Remember each section is broken down further, and providers are responsible for knowing all information on the CMS Website. Check back often for updates.

Page Last Updated: Wednesday, 30-Dec-2009 10:48:29 CST