2008 News Archives
WPS Medicare has maintained Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)-published articles (i.e. MLN Matters, Learnsource) on our Website since CMS began releasing them. To reduce duplication of information between WPS' and CMS' Websites, effective December 3, 2007, WPS Medicare will maintain links to CMS-published articles on our Website for two months after their release/revision date. After that time, we will remove the links from our Website. CMS maintains all MLN Matters articles on their Website at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/ 
Please note: Some of the older materials on these archives might have outdated information and references (including Web links that are no longer functional). Please keep this in mind when referring to archived materials. For the most up-to-date information, sign up for WPS Medicare e-News (Listserv).
For the week of 08/11/08
- Are You Missing Your e-News Messages? (08/11/08)
- Implementation of New Provider Authentication Requirements for Medicare Contractor Interactive Voice Response (IVR) Systems (CMS MLN Matters)
(08/13/08) - CMS Seeks Cosponsors for Educational Conference on E-prescribing Incentive Payment Program (CMS Learnsource) (08/13/08)
- Screening DNA Stool Test for Colorectal Cancer (Revised CMS MLN Matters) (08/13/08)
Note: This article was revised on August 11, 2008, to reflect changes made to CR6145. The transmittal number, release date, and Web address for accessing the NCD portion of CR6145 were revised. All other information remains the same. - CMS Seeks Cosponsors for Educational Conference on E-prescribing Incentive Payment Program (CMS Learnsource) (08/13/08)
- CMS Reading Materials (CMS Learnsource) (08/13/08)
- New Requirement for Ordering/Referring Information on Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Claims for Diagnostic Services (CMS MLN Matters) (08/13/08)
- Steps for Individual Eligible Professionals to Access Their 2007 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) Feedback Reports Personally(CMS SE MLN Matters) (08/11/08)
- Steps for Organizations to Access Their 2007 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) Feedback Reports(CMS SE MLN Matters) (08/11/08)
- CD-ROM Version - Medicare Guide to Rural Health Services Information (08/11/08)
- Inpatient Prospective Payment System (PPS) Personal Computer (PC) Pricer Update (08/11/08)
- Adjustment to Payment Under Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System for Partial Device Credit (CMS SE MLN Matters) (08/11/08)
For the week of 08/04/08
- Medicare Payments for Part B Mental Health Services (CMS MLN Matters) (08/06/08)
- August is National Immunization Awareness Month! (CMS Learnsource) (08/06/08)
- Critical Care Visits and Neonatal Intensive Care (Codes 99291 - 99292) (CMS MLN Matters) (08/06/08)
Note: This article was revised on July 23, 2008, to reflect additional changes made to CR5993 on July 9. CR5993 was revised to correctly state the payment policy regarding emergency department visits on the same day as critical care services for the same patient by the same physician, to clarify reporting of services supplied to neonates, infants, and children by referring providers to consult the American Medical Association’s Current Procedural Terminology, and to correct the information on how to calculate critical care time from the paragraph before the table on page 6 of this article. There are additional minor clarifications. - CMS Updates: New Fact Sheet and 2007 PQRI Final Feedback Reports (CMS Learnsource) (08/06/08)
- One More News Item Regarding August 2008 Quarterly Provider Specific File Update (CMS Learnsource) (08/06/08)
- CR 5971 Clarification - Signature Requirements (CMS MLN Matters) (08/06/08)
- NPPES & the NPI Registry will be Unavailable on August 10th (CMS Learnsource) (08/06/08)
- Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 - Legislative Change to Independent Laboratory Billing for the Technical Component (TC) of Physician Pathology Services (CMS MLN Matters) (08/06/08)
- Individuals Authorized Access to CMS Computer Services – Provider/Supplier Community (IACS-PC): THE THIRD IN A SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THE IACS-PC (CMS MLN Matters) (08/06/08)
Note: This article was revised on July 30, 2008, to reflect current processes and provide the Web address for the new IACS website which contains user reference guides. Please note that CMS will notify providers as internet applications become available, and provide clear instructions that specify which providers should register in IACS-PC. Do not register until you are notified by CMS or one of its contractors to do so and only if you meet the criteria in the notice. - Individuals Authorized Access to CMS Computer Services – Provider/Supplier Community (IACS-PC): THE SECOND IN A SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THE IACS (CMS MLN Matters) (08/06/08)
Note: This article was revised on July 30, 2008, to reflect current processes and provide the Web address for the new IACS website which contains user reference guides. Please note that CMS will notify providers as internet applications become available, and provide clear instructions that specify which providers should register in IACS-PC. Do not register until you are notified by CMS or one of its contractors to do so and only if you meet the criteria in the notice. - Individuals Authorized Access to CMS Computer Services (IACS)- Provider/Supplier Community (IACS-PC): THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF ARTICLES (CMS MLN Matters) (08/06/08)
Note: This article was revised on July 30, 2008, to reflect current processes and provide the Web address for the new IACS website which contains user reference guides. Please note that CMS will notify providers as internet applications become available, and provide clear instructions that specify which providers should register in IACS-PC. Do not register until you are notified by CMS or one of its contractors to do so and only if you meet the criteria in the notice. - Medicare Contractor Annual Update of the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) (CMS MLN Matters) (08/04/08)
- HHS NEWS - Fact Sheet- HHS Takes New Steps to Accelerate Adoption of Electronic Prescribing (CMS Learnsource) (08/04/08)
- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) (Revised CMS MLN Matters) (08/04/08)
Note: This article was revised on July 28, 2008, to reflect changes to CR 6048, which CMS revised on July 25, 2008. The CR release date, transmittal number, and the Web address for accessing CR6048 were revised. All other information remains the same. - MLN Fact Sheets (CMS Learnsource) (08/04/08)
- Medicare Hospices to See Increase In 2009 Wage Index, CMS Announces (CMS Learnsource) (08/04/08)
- Medicare Increases Nursing Home Payment Rates, Recalibration of RUGs to be Studied Further (CMS Learnsource) (08/04/08)
- Medicare Hospices To See Increase in 2009 Wage Index-CMS-1548-F (CMS Learnsource) (08/04/08)
For the week of 07/28/08
- Mental Health Claims Hold (07/28/08)
- Where to Find Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Information (07/28/08)
- 2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) ~ National Provider Call with Question Answer Session to be Held on August 13 (CMS Learnsource) (07/30/08)
- Prothrombin Time (PT/INR) Monitoring for Home Anticoagulation Management (CMS MLN Matters) (07/30/08)
- Revisions to the Chapter 14 of the Medicare Program Integrity Manual (CMS MLN Matters) (07/30/08)
- Screening DNA Stool Test for Colorectal Cancer (CMS MLN Matters) (07/30/08)
- Beneficiary Submitted Claims (CMS MLN Matters) (07/30/08)
- CMS MIPPA News: Waiving Retroactive Beneficiary Cost Sharing and Ground Ambulance Payment (CMS Learnsource) (07/28/08)
For the week of 07/21/08
- Delay of the National DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program: Claims Processing (CMS Learnsource) (07/23/08)
- Rescinded: Reminder that Exceptions to Therapy Caps are Restricted as of July 1, 2008 (CMS SE MLN Matters)
Note: This article was rescinded on July 17, 2008, since legislation extended the exceptions to the therapy caps. See MLN Matters article SE0826 at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/
downloads/SE0826.pdf for more details. (07/23/08) - Important Information on the New Medicare Law – The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (CMS SE MLN Matters) (07/23/08)
- Revision to Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Common Working File (CWF) Editing (CMS MLN Matters) (07/23/08)
- Clarifications to Audiology Update Transmittal 1470 (CMS MLN Matters) (07/23/08)
- Rescinded: Pathology Services: Notification of the Sunset for the Payment of Physician Pathology Services for Independent Laboratories (CMS MLN Matters)
Note: This article was rescinded on July 17, 2008, since CR6088 was rescinded on the same date. (07/23/08) - Delay of the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program (07/21/08)
- National Provider Identifier (NPI) – Things to Consider (07/21/08)
For the week of 07/14/08
- Reinstatement of the Moratorium That Allows Independent Laboratories to Bill for the TC of Physician Pathology Services Furnished to Hospital Patients (07/18/08)
- Update for the July 2008 Medicare Fee Schedule Hold (07/18/08)
- Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) Denials (07/18/08)
- Extension of Therapy Cap Exceptions (07/17/08)
- New 2008 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Payment Rates Effective for Dates of Service July 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008 (07/16/08)
- Critical Access Hospital Fact Sheet Now Available (07/16/08)
- New Report Shows CMS Pilot Program Saving Nearly $700 Million in Improper Medicare Payments (07/16/08)
- Intracranial Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty (PTA) with Stenting (CMS MLN Matters) (07/16/08)
- Critical Care Visits and Neonatal Intensive Care (Codes 99291 - 99292) (Revised CMS MLN Matters) (07/16/08)
- Pathology Services: Notification of the Sunset for the Payment of Physician Pathology Services for Independent Laboratories (CMS MLN Matters) (07/16/08)
- Medicare Quality Reporting Initiative Pays Over $36 Million To Participating Physicians From the 2007 PQRI Reporting Period (07/16/08)
- Updated 2008 Medicare Physician Fee Schedules Available (07/16/08)
- Important EDI Reminders (07/14/08)
- Medicare Guide to Rural Health Services Information for Providers, Suppliers, and Physicians (07/14/08)
- Rural Health Clinic Fact Sheet (07/14/08)
- 2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) PowerPoint Presentation Announcement (07/14/08)
- 2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI): New Educational Product Announcement (07/14/08)
For the week of 07/07/08
- Rural Referral Center Fact Sheet (07/09/08)
- "Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Accreditation 101": Audio Conference/ Q&A Session (07/09/08)
- 2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) Establishment of Alternative Reporting Periods and Reporting Criteria (Revised CMS MLN Matters) (07/09/08)
- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) (CMS MLN Matters) (07/09/08)
- Retired National Coverage Provision (NCP) - ASC-001 Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs) (07/07/08)
- Reminder - Medicare Provides Coverage of Diabetes Screening Tests (07/07/08)
- REMINDER~2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) ~ National Provider Call to held on July 9 (07/07/08)
- Clarification of Medicare Bad Debt Policy Related to Accounts at a Collection Agency (CMS SE MLN Matters) (07/07/08)
For the week of 06/30/08
- Unprocessable Claim Rejections Do Not Have Appeal Rights (06/30/08)
- 2008 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Database (MPFSDB) July Quarterly Update (06/30/08)
- Expiration of Therapy Cap Exceptions (07/02/08)
- Interest Rate on Clean Claims not Paid Timely (07/02/08)
- Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding News (07/02/08)
- Private Contracting/Opting out of Medicare (CMS MLN Matters) (07/02/08)
- Private Contracting/Opting out of Medicare (CMS Transmittal) (07/02/08)
- Cardiac Computed Tomographic Angiography (CTA) (CMS MLN Matters) (07/02/08)
- Payment for Inpatient Hospital Visits - General (Codes 99221 – 99239) (Revised CMS MLN Matters) (07/02/08)
- Changes to the Laboratory National Coverage Determination (NCD) Edit Software for July 2008 (Revised CMS MLN Matters) (07/02/08)
- The Medicare DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program begins July 1, 2008 (06/30/08)
- Quarterly Provider Update (06/30/08)
- 2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) ~ National Provider Call to held on July 9 with Question & Answer Session (06/30/08)
- July 2008 Update to the Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System; Summary of Payment Policy Changes (CMS MLN Matters) (06/30/08)
- Phase 2 Manual Revisions for the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program (Revised CMS MLN Matters) (06/30/08)
For the week of 06/23/08
- CERT Alert: Handling a Providers' Allegation of Record Destruction(06/23/08)
- October Quarterly Update to 2008 Annual Update of HCPCS Codes Used for Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Consolidated Billing (CB) Enforcement (CMS MLN Matters) (06/25/08)
- Screening Pelvic Examination (CMS MLN Matters) (06/25/08)
- Multi-Carrier System Release Information for July 2008 (06/25/08)
- July 1 is Coming! Medicare DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program News (06/25/08)
- New Waived Tests (CMS MLN Matters) (06/25/08)
- Claim Status Category Code and Claim Status Code Update (CMS MLN Matters) (06/25/08)
- Medicare FFS NPI Update & Part B Issues Identified (06/23/08)
- Reminder – Medicare Provides Coverage of Diabetes Screening Tests (CMS SE MLN Matters) (06/23/08)
- Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program: Grandfathering, Repair and Replacement, Mail Order Diabetic Supplies and Advance Beneficiary Notices (ABNs) – The second in a series of articles on the new DMEPOS competitive bidding program. (Revised CMS SE MLN Matters) (06/23/08)
- Phase 1 of Manual Revisions to Reflect Payment Changes for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) Items as a Result of the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program and the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (Revised CMS MLN Matters) (06/23/08)
- Important Exceptions and Special Circumstances that Occur under the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program: – The third in a series of articles on the new DMEPOS competitive bidding program. (Revised CMS SE MLN Matters) (06/23/08)
- 2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) Establishment of Alternative Reporting Periods and Reporting Criteria (CMS MLN Matters) (06/23/08)
For the week of 06/09/08
Page Last Updated: Wednesday, 20-Aug-2008 08:49:24 CDT
