On Mon Jan 24, HHS announced new rules authorized by the Affordable Care Act which will help stop healthcare fraud. “Thanks to the new law, CMS now has additional resources to help detect fraud and stop criminals from getting into the system in the first place," CMS Administrator Donald Berwick, MD, said. “The Affordable Care Act’s new authorities allow us to develop sophisticated, new systems of monitoring and oversight to not only help us crack down on fraudulent activity scamming these programs, but also help us to prevent the loss of taxpayer dollars across the board for millions of American healthcare consumers.”
Specifically, the final rule:
Creates a rigorous screening process for providers and suppliers enrolling Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP to keep fraudulent providers out of those programs. Types of providers and suppliers that have been identified in the past as posing a higher risk of fraud (for example, durable medical equipment suppliers) will be subject to a more thorough screening process.
Requires new enrollment process for Medicaid and CHIP providers. Under the Affordable Care Act, states will have to screen providers who order and refer to Medicaid beneficiaries to determine if they have a history of defrauding the government. Providers that have been kicked out of Medicare or another state’s Medicaid or CHIP will be barred from all Medicaid and CHIP programs.
Temporarily stops enrollment of new providers and suppliers. Medicare and state agencies will be on the lookout for trends that may indicate healthcare fraud – including using advanced predictive modeling software, such as that used to detect credit-card fraud. If a trend is identified in a category of providers or geographic area, the program can temporarily stop enrollment as long as that will not impact access to care for patients.
Temporarily stops payments to providers and suppliers in cases of suspected fraud. Under the new rules, if there has been a credible fraud allegation, payments can be suspended while an action or investigation is underway.
For more information:
The full text of the press release issued on Mon Jan 24 is available at http://www.HHS.gov/news/press/2011pres/01/20110124a.html.
A copy of the regulation is available in the Federal Register at www.OFR.gov/inspection.aspx or www.archives.gov/federal-register/news.html.
A factsheet on the new rules can be found at www.HealthCare.gov/news/factsheets.
Dallas L Alford IV, CPA is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of North Carolina and owner of Atlantic Financial Consulting, a consulting firm that provides comprehensive medical billing services, practice management consulting, coding audits, Medicare compliance, Medicare RAC support and other general medical practice consulting services.
To learn more about Atlantic Financial Consulting you may visit their website at http://atlanticfinancial.us or contact Dallas L Alford IV, CPA directly at 1 888-428-2555, Ext. 200.
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Monday, January 31, 2011
Now Available from CMS—Written Transcript and Audio Recording for the “Preparing for ICD-10 Implementation in 2011” January 12 teleconference
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) hosted a national provider teleconference on "Preparing for ICD-10 Implementation in 2011” on January 12, 2011. The written transcript and audio recording are now available at http://www.cms.gov/ICD10/Tel10/itemdetail.asp?filterType=none&filterByDID=-99&sortByDID=1&sortOrder=ascending&itemID=CMS1242831&intNumPerPage=10. To access these file, scroll down the web page to the “Downloads” section and select the appropriate file.
Dallas L Alford IV, CPA is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of North Carolina and owner of Atlantic Financial Consulting, a consulting firm that provides comprehensive medical billing services, practice management consulting, coding audits, Medicare compliance, Medicare RAC support and other general medical practice consulting services.
To learn more about Atlantic Financial Consulting you may visit their website at http://atlanticfinancial.us or contact Dallas L Alford IV, CPA directly at 1 888-428-2555, Ext. 200.
Dallas L Alford IV, CPA is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of North Carolina and owner of Atlantic Financial Consulting, a consulting firm that provides comprehensive medical billing services, practice management consulting, coding audits, Medicare compliance, Medicare RAC support and other general medical practice consulting services.
To learn more about Atlantic Financial Consulting you may visit their website at http://atlanticfinancial.us or contact Dallas L Alford IV, CPA directly at 1 888-428-2555, Ext. 200.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Health Care Fraud Prevention And Enforcement Efforts Recover Record $4 Billion; New Affordable Care Act Tools Will Help Fight Fraud
Joint DOJ & HHS efforts results in largest sum ever recovered in single year; New rules under the Affordable Care Act will keep fraudulent providers and suppliers out of Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP and avoid payments of fraudulent claims
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and U.S. Associate Attorney General Thomas J. Perrelli announced a new report showing that the government’s health care fraud prevention and enforcement efforts recovered more than $4 billion in taxpayer dollars in Fiscal Year (FY) 2010. This is the highest annual amount ever recovered from people who attempted to defraud seniors and taxpayers. In addition, HHS announced new rules authorized by the Affordable Care Act that will help the department work proactively to prevent and fight fraud, waste and abuse in Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
These findings, released Monday, in the annual Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program (HCFAC) report, are a result of President Obama making the elimination of fraud, waste, and abuse a top priority in his administration. The success of this joint Department of Justice (DOJ) and HHS effort would not have been possible without the Health Care Fraud Prevention & Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), created in 2009 to prevent waste, fraud and abuse in the Medicare and Medicaid programs and to crack down on the fraud perpetrators who are abusing the system and costing American taxpayers billions of dollars. These efforts to reduce fraud will continue to improve with the new tools and resources provided by the Affordable Care Act, including the new rules announced Monday.
“President Obama has made it very clear that fraud and abuse of taxpayers’ dollars are unacceptable. And for too long, our fraud prevention efforts have focused on chasing after taxpayer dollars after they have already been paid out,” said Sebelius. “Thanks to the President’s leadership and the new tools provided by the Affordable Care Act, we can focus on stopping fraud before it happens.”
“Our aggressive pursuit of health care fraud has resulted in the largest recovery of taxpayer dollars in the history of the Justice Department,” said Perrelli. “These actions are in large part because of the great work being led by the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team. Through this initiative, we are working in partnership with government, law enforcement and industry leaders, and the public to protect taxpayer dollars, control health care costs, and ensure the strength and integrity of our most essential health care programs.”
Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program Report
More than $4 billion stolen from federal health care programs was recovered and returned to the Medicare Health Insurance Trust Fund, the Treasury, and others in FY 2010. This is an unprecedented achievement for the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program (HCFAC), a joint effort of the two departments to coordinate Federal, State, and local law enforcement activities to fight health care fraud and abuse.
The Affordable Care Act provides additional tools and resources to help fight fraud that will help boost these efforts, including an additional $350 million for HCFAC activities. The Administration is already using tools authorized by the Affordable Care Act, including enhanced screenings and enrollment requirements, increased data sharing across government, expanded overpayment recovery efforts, and greater oversight of private insurance abuses.
HHS and DOJ have enhanced their coordination through HEAT and have expanded Medicare Fraud Strike Force teams since 2009. HHS and DOJ hosted a series of regional fraud prevention summits around the country, and sent letters to state attorneys general urging them to work with HHS and Federal, state and local law enforcement officials to mount a substantial outreach campaign to educate seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries about how to prevent scams and fraud. During FY 2010, HEAT and the Medicare Fraud Strike Force expanded local partnerships and helped educate Medicare beneficiaries about how to protect themselves against fraud.
In FY 2010, the total number of cities with Strike Force prosecution teams was increased to seven, all of which have teams of investigators and prosecutors dedicated to fighting fraud. The Strike Force teams use advanced data analysis techniques to identify high-billing levels in health care fraud hot spots so that interagency teams can target emerging or migrating schemes along with chronic fraud by criminals masquerading as health care providers or suppliers. Strike Force enforcement accomplishments in all seven cities during FY 2010 include:
• 140 indictments involving charges filed against 284 defendants who collectively billed the Medicare program more than $590 million;
• 217 guilty pleas negotiated and 19 jury trials litigated, winning guilty verdicts against 23 defendants; and
• Imprisonment for 146 defendants sentenced during the fiscal year, averaging more than 40 months of incarceration.
Including Strike Force matters, federal prosecutors opened 1,116 criminal health care fraud investigations as of the end of FY 2010, and filed criminal charges in 488 cases involving 931 defendants. A total of 726 defendants were convicted for health care fraud-related crimes during the year.
In addition to these criminal enforcement successes, 2010 was a record year for recoveries obtained in civil health care matters brought under the False Claims Act—more than $2.5 billion, which is the largest in the history of the Department of Justice.
The HCFAC annual report can be found here, oig.hhs.gov/publications/hcfac.asp. For more information on the joint DOJ-HHS Strike Force activities, visit: http://www.StopMedicareFraud.gov/.
New Affordable Care Act Rules to Fight Fraud
On Monday, HHS also announced new rules authorized by the Affordable Care Act which will help stop health care fraud. The provisions of the Affordable Care Act implemented through this final rule include new provider screening and enforcement measures to help keep bad actors out of Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP. The final rule also contains important authority to suspend payments when a credible allegation of fraud is being investigated.
“Thanks to the new law, CMS now has additional resources to help detect fraud and stop criminals from getting into the system in the first place," CMS Administrator Donald Berwick, M.D. said. “The Affordable Care Act’s new authorities allow us to develop sophisticated, new systems of monitoring and oversight to not only help us crack down on fraudulent activity scamming these programs, but also help us to prevent the loss of taxpayer dollars across the board for millions of American health care consumers.”
Specifically, the final rule:
• Creates a rigorous screening process for providers and suppliers enrolling Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP to keep fraudulent providers out of those programs. Types of providers and suppliers that have been identified in the past as posing a higher risk of fraud, for example durable medical equipment suppliers, will be subject to a more thorough screening process.
• Requires new enrollment process for Medicaid and CHIP providers. Under the Affordable Care Act, States will have to screen providers who order and refer to Medicaid beneficiaries to determine if they have a history of defrauding government. Providers that have been kicked out of Medicare or another State’s Medicaid or CHIP will be barred from all Medicaid and CHIP programs.
• Temporarily stops enrollment of new providers and suppliers. Medicare and State agencies will be on the look out for trends that may indicate health care fraud – including using advanced predictive modeling software, such as that used to detect credit card fraud. If a trend is identified in a category of providers or geographic area, the program can temporarily stop enrollment as long as that will not impact access to care for patients.
• Temporarily stops payments to providers and suppliers in cases of suspected fraud. Under the new rules, if there has been a credible fraud allegation, payments can be suspended while an action or investigation is underway.
A copy of the regulation went on display Monday, January 24, 2011 at the Federal Register and may be downloaded from the following link: www.ofr.gov/inspection.aspx. Several days after the regulation is published, the preceding link will be deactivated and the published version of the regulation will be available on the National Archives website at www.archives.gov/federal-register/news.html. CMS will continue to take public comments on limited areas of this final rule for 60 days.
More information can be found at www.HealthCare.gov, a web portal made available by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. A fact sheet on the new rules is available at www.HealthCare.gov/news/factsheets.
Dallas L Alford IV, CPA is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of North Carolina and owner of Atlantic Financial Consulting, a consulting firm that provides comprehensive medical billing services, practice management consulting, coding audits, Medicare compliance, Medicare RAC support and other general medical practice consulting services.
To learn more about Atlantic Financial Consulting you may visit their website at http://atlanticfinancial.us or contact Dallas L Alford IV, CPA directly at 1 888-428-2555, Ext. 200.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and U.S. Associate Attorney General Thomas J. Perrelli announced a new report showing that the government’s health care fraud prevention and enforcement efforts recovered more than $4 billion in taxpayer dollars in Fiscal Year (FY) 2010. This is the highest annual amount ever recovered from people who attempted to defraud seniors and taxpayers. In addition, HHS announced new rules authorized by the Affordable Care Act that will help the department work proactively to prevent and fight fraud, waste and abuse in Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
These findings, released Monday, in the annual Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program (HCFAC) report, are a result of President Obama making the elimination of fraud, waste, and abuse a top priority in his administration. The success of this joint Department of Justice (DOJ) and HHS effort would not have been possible without the Health Care Fraud Prevention & Enforcement Action Team (HEAT), created in 2009 to prevent waste, fraud and abuse in the Medicare and Medicaid programs and to crack down on the fraud perpetrators who are abusing the system and costing American taxpayers billions of dollars. These efforts to reduce fraud will continue to improve with the new tools and resources provided by the Affordable Care Act, including the new rules announced Monday.
“President Obama has made it very clear that fraud and abuse of taxpayers’ dollars are unacceptable. And for too long, our fraud prevention efforts have focused on chasing after taxpayer dollars after they have already been paid out,” said Sebelius. “Thanks to the President’s leadership and the new tools provided by the Affordable Care Act, we can focus on stopping fraud before it happens.”
“Our aggressive pursuit of health care fraud has resulted in the largest recovery of taxpayer dollars in the history of the Justice Department,” said Perrelli. “These actions are in large part because of the great work being led by the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team. Through this initiative, we are working in partnership with government, law enforcement and industry leaders, and the public to protect taxpayer dollars, control health care costs, and ensure the strength and integrity of our most essential health care programs.”
Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program Report
More than $4 billion stolen from federal health care programs was recovered and returned to the Medicare Health Insurance Trust Fund, the Treasury, and others in FY 2010. This is an unprecedented achievement for the Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control Program (HCFAC), a joint effort of the two departments to coordinate Federal, State, and local law enforcement activities to fight health care fraud and abuse.
The Affordable Care Act provides additional tools and resources to help fight fraud that will help boost these efforts, including an additional $350 million for HCFAC activities. The Administration is already using tools authorized by the Affordable Care Act, including enhanced screenings and enrollment requirements, increased data sharing across government, expanded overpayment recovery efforts, and greater oversight of private insurance abuses.
HHS and DOJ have enhanced their coordination through HEAT and have expanded Medicare Fraud Strike Force teams since 2009. HHS and DOJ hosted a series of regional fraud prevention summits around the country, and sent letters to state attorneys general urging them to work with HHS and Federal, state and local law enforcement officials to mount a substantial outreach campaign to educate seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries about how to prevent scams and fraud. During FY 2010, HEAT and the Medicare Fraud Strike Force expanded local partnerships and helped educate Medicare beneficiaries about how to protect themselves against fraud.
In FY 2010, the total number of cities with Strike Force prosecution teams was increased to seven, all of which have teams of investigators and prosecutors dedicated to fighting fraud. The Strike Force teams use advanced data analysis techniques to identify high-billing levels in health care fraud hot spots so that interagency teams can target emerging or migrating schemes along with chronic fraud by criminals masquerading as health care providers or suppliers. Strike Force enforcement accomplishments in all seven cities during FY 2010 include:
• 140 indictments involving charges filed against 284 defendants who collectively billed the Medicare program more than $590 million;
• 217 guilty pleas negotiated and 19 jury trials litigated, winning guilty verdicts against 23 defendants; and
• Imprisonment for 146 defendants sentenced during the fiscal year, averaging more than 40 months of incarceration.
Including Strike Force matters, federal prosecutors opened 1,116 criminal health care fraud investigations as of the end of FY 2010, and filed criminal charges in 488 cases involving 931 defendants. A total of 726 defendants were convicted for health care fraud-related crimes during the year.
In addition to these criminal enforcement successes, 2010 was a record year for recoveries obtained in civil health care matters brought under the False Claims Act—more than $2.5 billion, which is the largest in the history of the Department of Justice.
The HCFAC annual report can be found here, oig.hhs.gov/publications/hcfac.asp. For more information on the joint DOJ-HHS Strike Force activities, visit: http://www.StopMedicareFraud.gov/.
New Affordable Care Act Rules to Fight Fraud
On Monday, HHS also announced new rules authorized by the Affordable Care Act which will help stop health care fraud. The provisions of the Affordable Care Act implemented through this final rule include new provider screening and enforcement measures to help keep bad actors out of Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP. The final rule also contains important authority to suspend payments when a credible allegation of fraud is being investigated.
“Thanks to the new law, CMS now has additional resources to help detect fraud and stop criminals from getting into the system in the first place," CMS Administrator Donald Berwick, M.D. said. “The Affordable Care Act’s new authorities allow us to develop sophisticated, new systems of monitoring and oversight to not only help us crack down on fraudulent activity scamming these programs, but also help us to prevent the loss of taxpayer dollars across the board for millions of American health care consumers.”
Specifically, the final rule:
• Creates a rigorous screening process for providers and suppliers enrolling Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP to keep fraudulent providers out of those programs. Types of providers and suppliers that have been identified in the past as posing a higher risk of fraud, for example durable medical equipment suppliers, will be subject to a more thorough screening process.
• Requires new enrollment process for Medicaid and CHIP providers. Under the Affordable Care Act, States will have to screen providers who order and refer to Medicaid beneficiaries to determine if they have a history of defrauding government. Providers that have been kicked out of Medicare or another State’s Medicaid or CHIP will be barred from all Medicaid and CHIP programs.
• Temporarily stops enrollment of new providers and suppliers. Medicare and State agencies will be on the look out for trends that may indicate health care fraud – including using advanced predictive modeling software, such as that used to detect credit card fraud. If a trend is identified in a category of providers or geographic area, the program can temporarily stop enrollment as long as that will not impact access to care for patients.
• Temporarily stops payments to providers and suppliers in cases of suspected fraud. Under the new rules, if there has been a credible fraud allegation, payments can be suspended while an action or investigation is underway.
A copy of the regulation went on display Monday, January 24, 2011 at the Federal Register and may be downloaded from the following link: www.ofr.gov/inspection.aspx. Several days after the regulation is published, the preceding link will be deactivated and the published version of the regulation will be available on the National Archives website at www.archives.gov/federal-register/news.html. CMS will continue to take public comments on limited areas of this final rule for 60 days.
More information can be found at www.HealthCare.gov, a web portal made available by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. A fact sheet on the new rules is available at www.HealthCare.gov/news/factsheets.
Dallas L Alford IV, CPA is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of North Carolina and owner of Atlantic Financial Consulting, a consulting firm that provides comprehensive medical billing services, practice management consulting, coding audits, Medicare compliance, Medicare RAC support and other general medical practice consulting services.
To learn more about Atlantic Financial Consulting you may visit their website at http://atlanticfinancial.us or contact Dallas L Alford IV, CPA directly at 1 888-428-2555, Ext. 200.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Corrected Federal Register Notice link for CMS Listening Session: Development of Additional Imaging Efficiency Measures
Corrected Federal Register Notice link in Announcement
CMS Listening Session: Development of Additional Imaging Efficiency Measures for Use in the Hospital Outpatient Quality Data Reporting Program.
Monday, January 31, 2011, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM EST. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is holding a Listening Session to solicit input on additional imaging efficiency measures that should be considered for use in the Hospital Outpatient Quality Data Reporting Program (HOP QDRP). Potential topics for consideration will include:
a. Are there other imaging procedures that would be appropriate candidates for imaging efficiency measures?
b. What data sources and methods are appropriate for imaging efficiency measures, e.g. claims data, chart abstracted data, EHRs, use of registries, etc.;--CMS has focused on the use of claims data. Are there other data sources that CMS should be considering in order to develop additional imaging efficiency measures that cannot be calculated based on claims data? -- What are examples of possible areas of imaging efficiency measurement that could be explored if other data sources were used?
Persons interested in attending the meeting in-person must register by completing the on-line registration via the designated Web site listed in the download document. For individuals interested in participating via teleconference, registration is available via the Web site listed in the download document. Registration is required.
Please see the Download section at the following URL for the complete announcement and corrected Federal Register Notice link: http://www.cms.gov/OpenDoorForums/18_ODF_Hospitals.asp.
Dallas L Alford IV, CPA is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of North Carolina and owner of Atlantic Financial Consulting, a consulting firm that provides comprehensive medical billing services, practice management consulting, coding audits, Medicare compliance, Medicare RAC support and other general medical practice consulting services.
To learn more about Atlantic Financial Consulting you may visit their website at http://atlanticfinancial.us or contact Dallas L Alford IV, CPA directly at 1 888-428-2555, Ext. 200.
CMS Listening Session: Development of Additional Imaging Efficiency Measures for Use in the Hospital Outpatient Quality Data Reporting Program.
Monday, January 31, 2011, 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM EST. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is holding a Listening Session to solicit input on additional imaging efficiency measures that should be considered for use in the Hospital Outpatient Quality Data Reporting Program (HOP QDRP). Potential topics for consideration will include:
a. Are there other imaging procedures that would be appropriate candidates for imaging efficiency measures?
b. What data sources and methods are appropriate for imaging efficiency measures, e.g. claims data, chart abstracted data, EHRs, use of registries, etc.;--CMS has focused on the use of claims data. Are there other data sources that CMS should be considering in order to develop additional imaging efficiency measures that cannot be calculated based on claims data? -- What are examples of possible areas of imaging efficiency measurement that could be explored if other data sources were used?
Persons interested in attending the meeting in-person must register by completing the on-line registration via the designated Web site listed in the download document. For individuals interested in participating via teleconference, registration is available via the Web site listed in the download document. Registration is required.
Please see the Download section at the following URL for the complete announcement and corrected Federal Register Notice link: http://www.cms.gov/OpenDoorForums/18_ODF_Hospitals.asp.
Dallas L Alford IV, CPA is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of North Carolina and owner of Atlantic Financial Consulting, a consulting firm that provides comprehensive medical billing services, practice management consulting, coding audits, Medicare compliance, Medicare RAC support and other general medical practice consulting services.
To learn more about Atlantic Financial Consulting you may visit their website at http://atlanticfinancial.us or contact Dallas L Alford IV, CPA directly at 1 888-428-2555, Ext. 200.
New Tools Available to Help with Registration for Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs
Did you know?
Since registration opened January 3rd:
14,455 providers have initiated registration for the Medicare & Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs.
Kentucky issued the first Medicaid EHR Incentive Program (ARRA) payment to the University of Kentucky Healthcare hospital for $2.86 million on January 5. For more information, go to Kentucky's website.
Oklahoma issued payments to two physicians at the Gastorf Family Clinic of Durant, OK for $21,250 each, for having adopted certified EHRs. Learn more at Oklahoma's website.
New Tools for Providers:
Interactive Eligibility Tool for Eligible Professionals – Are you eligible to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs? Use the tool found at the bottom of the Eligibility page on the CMs website.
Registration Webinar for Eligible Professionals – How do I register? CMS created a video containing step-by-step instructions to help ensure the registration process is a success. Watch the video found on the Registration and Attestation page of the CMS website.
Medicaid State Launch Dates and Websites – When will your State offer an EHR Incentive Program? Information on when registration will be available for Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs in specific states is posted at Medicaid State Information. Click on the map for information about your State: State EHR Incentive Program Launch Times and HIT Websites.
Medscape Participant Self Assessment, Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentives: What Do You Know and Do You Know Enough? - Earn CME credit while you learn! Take the Medscape EHR Self Assessment. Participation may require the user to log in to Medscape; however registration is free and does not require any commitment.
For more information about the EHR Incentive Programs and to register go to www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms.
Dallas L Alford IV, CPA is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of North Carolina and owner of Atlantic Financial Consulting, a consulting firm that provides comprehensive medical billing services, practice management consulting, coding audits, Medicare compliance, Medicare RAC support and other general medical practice consulting services.
To learn more about Atlantic Financial Consulting you may visit their website at http://atlanticfinancial.us or contact Dallas L Alford IV, CPA directly at 1 888-428-2555, Ext. 200.
Since registration opened January 3rd:
14,455 providers have initiated registration for the Medicare & Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs.
Kentucky issued the first Medicaid EHR Incentive Program (ARRA) payment to the University of Kentucky Healthcare hospital for $2.86 million on January 5. For more information, go to Kentucky's website.
Oklahoma issued payments to two physicians at the Gastorf Family Clinic of Durant, OK for $21,250 each, for having adopted certified EHRs. Learn more at Oklahoma's website.
New Tools for Providers:
Interactive Eligibility Tool for Eligible Professionals – Are you eligible to participate in the Medicare or Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs? Use the tool found at the bottom of the Eligibility page on the CMs website.
Registration Webinar for Eligible Professionals – How do I register? CMS created a video containing step-by-step instructions to help ensure the registration process is a success. Watch the video found on the Registration and Attestation page of the CMS website.
Medicaid State Launch Dates and Websites – When will your State offer an EHR Incentive Program? Information on when registration will be available for Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs in specific states is posted at Medicaid State Information. Click on the map for information about your State: State EHR Incentive Program Launch Times and HIT Websites.
Medscape Participant Self Assessment, Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentives: What Do You Know and Do You Know Enough? - Earn CME credit while you learn! Take the Medscape EHR Self Assessment. Participation may require the user to log in to Medscape; however registration is free and does not require any commitment.
For more information about the EHR Incentive Programs and to register go to www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms.
Dallas L Alford IV, CPA is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of North Carolina and owner of Atlantic Financial Consulting, a consulting firm that provides comprehensive medical billing services, practice management consulting, coding audits, Medicare compliance, Medicare RAC support and other general medical practice consulting services.
To learn more about Atlantic Financial Consulting you may visit their website at http://atlanticfinancial.us or contact Dallas L Alford IV, CPA directly at 1 888-428-2555, Ext. 200.
RESCHEDULED: National Provider Call on 2011 Physician Quality Reporting System & eRx Incentive Program
Rescheduled for Thursday, January 27, 2011 1:30-3:00pm EST (Originally scheduled for Tue Jan 18, 1:30-3:00pm EST)
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Provider Communications Group will host a national provider conference call on the 2011 Physician Quality Reporting System and Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program. The Physician Quality Reporting System is voluntary quality reporting program that provides an incentive payment to identified individual eligible professionals (EPs), and beginning with the 2010 Physician Quality Reporting System, 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 Physician Quality Reporting System 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.
Agenda:
Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program Payment Adjustment
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) Incentive Program Differences
Electronic Health Record (EHR) Submission
Q & A with CMS Physician Quality Reporting System and eRx subject matter experts
Educational products are available on the Physician Quality Reporting System and the eRx Incentive Program at http://www.CMS.gov/PQRI and http://www.CMS.gov/eRxIncentive, respectively. Feel free to download the resources prior to the call so that you may ask questions of the CMS presenters.
CMS will be adding a webinar as part of this national conference call (details follow below). This feature will allow participants who are on the internet the ability to follow the presentation online as it is given as well as the opportunity to answer polling questions during the presentation. This will not have any effect on those participants who are only dialing in to the audio portion of the call. Participants who are not participating in the webinar should be sure to download the presentation for the call in advance from the CMS website at http://www.CMS.gov/PQRI/04_CMSSponsoredCalls.asp.
In order to receive the call-in information, you must register for the call. (Note that if you are planning to sit in with a group, only one person needs to register to receive the call-in information.) Registration will close at 1:30pm EST on Wed Jan 26, or when available space has been filled; no exceptions will be made, so please register early. To register for the call:
Visit http://www.eventsvc.com/palmettogba/012711.
Fill in all required information and click “Register.”
You will be taken to the “Thank you for registering” page and will receive a confirmation email shortly thereafter. 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 days before the event.
At the time of the call, you will first dial in for the call audio, then (if you are participating in the webinar) direct your browser to https://webinar.CMS.hhs.gov/PQRSandERX and sign in as a guest (using your first and last name).
For those of who will be unable to attend, a written and audio transcript of the call will be available at least one week after the call at http://www.CMS.gov/PQRI.
Dallas L Alford IV, CPA is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of North Carolina and owner of Atlantic Financial Consulting, a consulting firm that provides comprehensive medical billing services, practice management consulting, coding audits, Medicare compliance, Medicare RAC support and other general medical practice consulting services.
To learn more about Atlantic Financial Consulting you may visit their website at http://atlanticfinancial.us or contact Dallas L Alford IV, CPA directly at 1 888-428-2555, Ext. 200.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Provider Communications Group will host a national provider conference call on the 2011 Physician Quality Reporting System and Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program. The Physician Quality Reporting System is voluntary quality reporting program that provides an incentive payment to identified individual eligible professionals (EPs), and beginning with the 2010 Physician Quality Reporting System, 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 Physician Quality Reporting System 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.
Agenda:
Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program Payment Adjustment
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) Incentive Program Differences
Electronic Health Record (EHR) Submission
Q & A with CMS Physician Quality Reporting System and eRx subject matter experts
Educational products are available on the Physician Quality Reporting System and the eRx Incentive Program at http://www.CMS.gov/PQRI and http://www.CMS.gov/eRxIncentive, respectively. Feel free to download the resources prior to the call so that you may ask questions of the CMS presenters.
CMS will be adding a webinar as part of this national conference call (details follow below). This feature will allow participants who are on the internet the ability to follow the presentation online as it is given as well as the opportunity to answer polling questions during the presentation. This will not have any effect on those participants who are only dialing in to the audio portion of the call. Participants who are not participating in the webinar should be sure to download the presentation for the call in advance from the CMS website at http://www.CMS.gov/PQRI/04_CMSSponsoredCalls.asp.
In order to receive the call-in information, you must register for the call. (Note that if you are planning to sit in with a group, only one person needs to register to receive the call-in information.) Registration will close at 1:30pm EST on Wed Jan 26, or when available space has been filled; no exceptions will be made, so please register early. To register for the call:
Visit http://www.eventsvc.com/palmettogba/012711.
Fill in all required information and click “Register.”
You will be taken to the “Thank you for registering” page and will receive a confirmation email shortly thereafter. 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 days before the event.
At the time of the call, you will first dial in for the call audio, then (if you are participating in the webinar) direct your browser to https://webinar.CMS.hhs.gov/PQRSandERX and sign in as a guest (using your first and last name).
For those of who will be unable to attend, a written and audio transcript of the call will be available at least one week after the call at http://www.CMS.gov/PQRI.
Dallas L Alford IV, CPA is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of North Carolina and owner of Atlantic Financial Consulting, a consulting firm that provides comprehensive medical billing services, practice management consulting, coding audits, Medicare compliance, Medicare RAC support and other general medical practice consulting services.
To learn more about Atlantic Financial Consulting you may visit their website at http://atlanticfinancial.us or contact Dallas L Alford IV, CPA directly at 1 888-428-2555, Ext. 200.
Information for Institutional Providers Regarding the Billing of CPT Code 90662 for Roster Billing
Attention Institutional Providers:
Medicare institutional providers should not submit claims with CPT code 90662 with dates of service on or after Friday, October 1, 2010, via roster billing; current editing prevents CPT code 90662 to be billed on roster claims. Medicare systems are unable to hold roster claims submitted by institutional providers until system changes are implemented on Tuesday, July 5, 2011. Medicare institutional providers may submit their roster claims on an individual claim basis or hold their roster claims until Tuesday, July 5, 2011, and then submit as a roster bill at that time.
Dallas L Alford IV, CPA is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of North Carolina and owner of Atlantic Financial Consulting, a consulting firm that provides comprehensive medical billing services, practice management consulting, coding audits, Medicare compliance, Medicare RAC support and other general medical practice consulting services.
To learn more about Atlantic Financial Consulting you may visit their website at http://atlanticfinancial.us or contact Dallas L Alford IV, CPA directly at 1 888-428-2555, Ext. 200.
Medicare institutional providers should not submit claims with CPT code 90662 with dates of service on or after Friday, October 1, 2010, via roster billing; current editing prevents CPT code 90662 to be billed on roster claims. Medicare systems are unable to hold roster claims submitted by institutional providers until system changes are implemented on Tuesday, July 5, 2011. Medicare institutional providers may submit their roster claims on an individual claim basis or hold their roster claims until Tuesday, July 5, 2011, and then submit as a roster bill at that time.
Dallas L Alford IV, CPA is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of North Carolina and owner of Atlantic Financial Consulting, a consulting firm that provides comprehensive medical billing services, practice management consulting, coding audits, Medicare compliance, Medicare RAC support and other general medical practice consulting services.
To learn more about Atlantic Financial Consulting you may visit their website at http://atlanticfinancial.us or contact Dallas L Alford IV, CPA directly at 1 888-428-2555, Ext. 200.
Special Open Door Forum: 2011 Physician Quality Reporting System and 2011 Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program -- Tuesday, January 25, 2011 (Conference Call Only)
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Special Open Door Forum:
2011 Physician Quality Reporting System
and 2011 Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program:
Understanding Physician Quality Reporting, Claims-Based Reporting for eRx (to Avoid Future Payment Adjustments), and
Maintenance of Certification Program Reporting Requirements
Tuesday, January 25, 2011 1:30-3:30 p.m. ET
Conference Call Only
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will host a Special Open Door Forum on the 2011 Physician Quality Reporting System (previously known as PQRI) and eRx Incentive programs. This Special Open Door Forum will focus on:
1. 1. Understanding the basics of the 2011 Physician Quality Reporting System, including:
· 2011 measures and criteria for satisfactory reporting
· Registry submission
· EHR submission
· Group Practice Reporting Option (GPRO) I and II
· Available resources
2. Understanding claims-based reporting for the 2011 eRx Incentive Program, including:
· Basics of the eRx Incentive Program
· A description and overview of the 2012 eRx payment adjustment
· How to avoid the eRx payment adjustment
· Hardship exemption guidance
· A description and overview of the 2013 eRx payment adjustment
· Available resources
Reporting requirements for the Maintenance of Certification Program
Following the presentation, the telephone lines will be opened to allow participants to ask questions of the CMS subject matter experts.
The requirements for the 2011 Physician Quality Reporting System, the 2011 eRx Incentive Program, the 2012 eRx payment adjustment, and the 2013 eRx payment adjustment are described in the 2011 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule with comment period. The final regulation was published in the Federal Register on November 29, 2010. To view the entire 2011 PFS Final Rule with comment period, go to http://www.cms.gov/PhysicianFeeSched/PFSFRN/list.asp . See CMS-1503-FC and CMS-1503-CN2.
Presentation materials will be posted to the CMS Sponsored Calls page of the CMS Physician Quality Reporting website at http://www.cms.gov/pqri/.
We look forward to your participation.
Special Open Door Forum Participation Instructions:
Dial 1-800-837-1935 Conference ID 34438298
Note: TTY Communications Relay Services are available for the Hearing Impaired. For TTY services dial 7-1-1 or 1-800-855-2880 and a Relay Communications Assistant will help.
An audio recording and transcript of this Special Forum will be posted to the Special Open Door Forum website at http://www.cms.gov/OpenDoorForums/05_ODF_SpecialODF.asp and will be accessible for downloading beginning on or around February 25, 2011.
For automatic emails of Open Door Forum schedule updates (E-Mailing list subscriptions) and to view Frequently Asked Questi
Dallas L Alford IV, CPA is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of North Carolina and owner of Atlantic Financial Consulting, a consulting firm that provides comprehensive medical billing services, practice management consulting, coding audits, Medicare compliance, Medicare RAC support and other general medical practice consulting services.
To learn more about Atlantic Financial Consulting you may visit their website at http://atlanticfinancial.us or contact Dallas L Alford IV, CPA directly at 1 888-428-2555, Ext. 200.
Special Open Door Forum:
2011 Physician Quality Reporting System
and 2011 Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program:
Understanding Physician Quality Reporting, Claims-Based Reporting for eRx (to Avoid Future Payment Adjustments), and
Maintenance of Certification Program Reporting Requirements
Tuesday, January 25, 2011 1:30-3:30 p.m. ET
Conference Call Only
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will host a Special Open Door Forum on the 2011 Physician Quality Reporting System (previously known as PQRI) and eRx Incentive programs. This Special Open Door Forum will focus on:
1. 1. Understanding the basics of the 2011 Physician Quality Reporting System, including:
· 2011 measures and criteria for satisfactory reporting
· Registry submission
· EHR submission
· Group Practice Reporting Option (GPRO) I and II
· Available resources
2. Understanding claims-based reporting for the 2011 eRx Incentive Program, including:
· Basics of the eRx Incentive Program
· A description and overview of the 2012 eRx payment adjustment
· How to avoid the eRx payment adjustment
· Hardship exemption guidance
· A description and overview of the 2013 eRx payment adjustment
· Available resources
Reporting requirements for the Maintenance of Certification Program
Following the presentation, the telephone lines will be opened to allow participants to ask questions of the CMS subject matter experts.
The requirements for the 2011 Physician Quality Reporting System, the 2011 eRx Incentive Program, the 2012 eRx payment adjustment, and the 2013 eRx payment adjustment are described in the 2011 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule with comment period. The final regulation was published in the Federal Register on November 29, 2010. To view the entire 2011 PFS Final Rule with comment period, go to http://www.cms.gov/PhysicianFeeSched/PFSFRN/list.asp . See CMS-1503-FC and CMS-1503-CN2.
Presentation materials will be posted to the CMS Sponsored Calls page of the CMS Physician Quality Reporting website at http://www.cms.gov/pqri/.
We look forward to your participation.
Special Open Door Forum Participation Instructions:
Dial 1-800-837-1935 Conference ID 34438298
Note: TTY Communications Relay Services are available for the Hearing Impaired. For TTY services dial 7-1-1 or 1-800-855-2880 and a Relay Communications Assistant will help.
An audio recording and transcript of this Special Forum will be posted to the Special Open Door Forum website at http://www.cms.gov/OpenDoorForums/05_ODF_SpecialODF.asp and will be accessible for downloading beginning on or around February 25, 2011.
For automatic emails of Open Door Forum schedule updates (E-Mailing list subscriptions) and to view Frequently Asked Questi
Dallas L Alford IV, CPA is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of North Carolina and owner of Atlantic Financial Consulting, a consulting firm that provides comprehensive medical billing services, practice management consulting, coding audits, Medicare compliance, Medicare RAC support and other general medical practice consulting services.
To learn more about Atlantic Financial Consulting you may visit their website at http://atlanticfinancial.us or contact Dallas L Alford IV, CPA directly at 1 888-428-2555, Ext. 200.
Friday, January 21, 2011
2011 Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program Reminder-Avoiding the Adjustment
In November, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced that, beginning in calendar year 2012, eligible professionals who are not successful electronic prescribers based on claims submitted between January 1, 2011 – June 30, 2011, may be subject to a payment adjustment on their Medicare Part B Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) covered professional services. Section 132 of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA) authorizes CMS to apply this payment adjustment whether or not the eligible professional is planning to participate in the eRx Incentive Program.
From 2012 through 2014, the payment adjustment will increase each calendar year. In 2012, the payment adjustment for not being a successful electronic prescriber will result in an eligible professional or group practice receiving 99% of their Medicare Part B PFS amount that would otherwise apply to such services. In 2013, an eligible professional or group practice will receive 98.5% of their Medicare Part B PFS covered professional services for not being a successful electronic prescriber in 2011 or as defined in a future regulation. In 2014, the payment adjustment for not being a successful electronic prescriber is 2%, resulting in an eligible professional or group practice receiving 98% of their Medicare Part B PFS covered professional services.
The payment adjustment does not apply if <10% of an eligible professional’s (or group practice’s) allowed charges for the January 1, 2011 through June 30, 2011 reporting period are comprised of codes in the denominator of the 2011 eRx measure. Please note that earning an eRx incentive for 2011 will NOT necessarily exempt an eligible professional or group practice from the payment adjustment in 2012. How to Avoid the 2012 eRx Payment Adjustment · Eligible professionals – An eligible professional can avoid the 2012 eRx Payment if (s)he: Is not a physician (MD, DO, or podiatrist), nurse practitioner, or physician assistant as of Jun 30, 2011 based on primary taxonomy code in NPPES; Does not have prescribing privileges. Note: (S)he must report (G8644) at least one time on an eligible claim prior to June 30, 2011; Does not have at least 100 cases containing an encounter code in the measure denominator; Becomes a successful e-prescriber; and Reports the eRx measure for at least 10 unique eRx events for patients in the denominator of the measure. · Group Practices - For group practices that are participating in eRx GPRO I or GPRO II during 2011, the group practice MUST become a successful e-prescriber. Depending on the group’s size, the group practice must report the eRx measure for 75-2,500 unique eRx events for patients in the denominator of the measure. For additional information, please visit the “Getting Started” webpage at http://www.cms.gov/erxincentive on the CMS website for more information; or download the Medicare’s Practical Guide to the Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program under Educational Resources. Dallas L Alford IV, CPA is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of North Carolina and owner of Atlantic Financial Consulting, a consulting firm that provides comprehensive medical billing services, practice management consulting, coding audits, Medicare compliance, Medicare RAC support and other general medical practice consulting services. To learn more about Atlantic Financial Consulting you may visit their website at http://atlanticfinancial.us or contact Dallas L Alford IV, CPA directly at 1 888-428-2555, Ext. 200.
From 2012 through 2014, the payment adjustment will increase each calendar year. In 2012, the payment adjustment for not being a successful electronic prescriber will result in an eligible professional or group practice receiving 99% of their Medicare Part B PFS amount that would otherwise apply to such services. In 2013, an eligible professional or group practice will receive 98.5% of their Medicare Part B PFS covered professional services for not being a successful electronic prescriber in 2011 or as defined in a future regulation. In 2014, the payment adjustment for not being a successful electronic prescriber is 2%, resulting in an eligible professional or group practice receiving 98% of their Medicare Part B PFS covered professional services.
The payment adjustment does not apply if <10% of an eligible professional’s (or group practice’s) allowed charges for the January 1, 2011 through June 30, 2011 reporting period are comprised of codes in the denominator of the 2011 eRx measure. Please note that earning an eRx incentive for 2011 will NOT necessarily exempt an eligible professional or group practice from the payment adjustment in 2012. How to Avoid the 2012 eRx Payment Adjustment · Eligible professionals – An eligible professional can avoid the 2012 eRx Payment if (s)he: Is not a physician (MD, DO, or podiatrist), nurse practitioner, or physician assistant as of Jun 30, 2011 based on primary taxonomy code in NPPES; Does not have prescribing privileges. Note: (S)he must report (G8644) at least one time on an eligible claim prior to June 30, 2011; Does not have at least 100 cases containing an encounter code in the measure denominator; Becomes a successful e-prescriber; and Reports the eRx measure for at least 10 unique eRx events for patients in the denominator of the measure. · Group Practices - For group practices that are participating in eRx GPRO I or GPRO II during 2011, the group practice MUST become a successful e-prescriber. Depending on the group’s size, the group practice must report the eRx measure for 75-2,500 unique eRx events for patients in the denominator of the measure. For additional information, please visit the “Getting Started” webpage at http://www.cms.gov/erxincentive on the CMS website for more information; or download the Medicare’s Practical Guide to the Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program under Educational Resources. Dallas L Alford IV, CPA is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of North Carolina and owner of Atlantic Financial Consulting, a consulting firm that provides comprehensive medical billing services, practice management consulting, coding audits, Medicare compliance, Medicare RAC support and other general medical practice consulting services. To learn more about Atlantic Financial Consulting you may visit their website at http://atlanticfinancial.us or contact Dallas L Alford IV, CPA directly at 1 888-428-2555, Ext. 200.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Recent Comments and Testimony from CCHIT
The Certification Commission is often called upon to provide comments or testimony about certification, electronic health records, and health information technology. Recent comments include:
January 10, 2011: Real World Experiences with Meaningful Use (PDF)
December 30, 2010: Response to Request for Public Comment on Stage 2 and 3 Meaningful Use Quality Measure Concepts (PDF)
Dallas L Alford IV, CPA is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of North Carolina and owner of Atlantic Financial Consulting, a consulting firm that provides comprehensive medical billing services, practice management consulting, coding audits, Medicare compliance, Medicare RAC support and other general medical practice consulting services.
To learn more about Atlantic Financial Consulting you may visit their website at http://atlanticfinancial.us or contact Dallas L Alford IV, CPA directly at 1 888-428-2555, Ext. 200.
January 10, 2011: Real World Experiences with Meaningful Use (PDF)
December 30, 2010: Response to Request for Public Comment on Stage 2 and 3 Meaningful Use Quality Measure Concepts (PDF)
Dallas L Alford IV, CPA is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of North Carolina and owner of Atlantic Financial Consulting, a consulting firm that provides comprehensive medical billing services, practice management consulting, coding audits, Medicare compliance, Medicare RAC support and other general medical practice consulting services.
To learn more about Atlantic Financial Consulting you may visit their website at http://atlanticfinancial.us or contact Dallas L Alford IV, CPA directly at 1 888-428-2555, Ext. 200.
From the Chair: For each hospital needing non-vendor certification...
"While the optimum approach for hospitals is to have vendor supplied technology with full ONC-ATCB certification for either a Complete EHR or a bundle of EHR modules, we recognize that this is not the case for many," said Karen Bell, MD, MMS, CCHIT Chair. "In response to that need, we have developed a program that will help hospitals achieve ONC authorized certification as efficiently and quickly as possible, whether they have partially certified vendor systems and need to fill certification gaps, or are using self-developed or older EHRs requiring full ONC-ATCB certification."
Read more in the January 2011 From the Chair (PDF).
Dallas L Alford IV, CPA is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of North Carolina and owner of Atlantic Financial Consulting, a consulting firm that provides comprehensive medical billing services, practice management consulting, coding audits, Medicare compliance, Medicare RAC support and other general medical practice consulting services.
To learn more about Atlantic Financial Consulting you may visit their website at http://atlanticfinancial.us or contact Dallas L Alford IV, CPA directly at 1 888-428-2555, Ext. 200.
Read more in the January 2011 From the Chair (PDF).
Dallas L Alford IV, CPA is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of North Carolina and owner of Atlantic Financial Consulting, a consulting firm that provides comprehensive medical billing services, practice management consulting, coding audits, Medicare compliance, Medicare RAC support and other general medical practice consulting services.
To learn more about Atlantic Financial Consulting you may visit their website at http://atlanticfinancial.us or contact Dallas L Alford IV, CPA directly at 1 888-428-2555, Ext. 200.
CCHIT EACH™: A Customized EHR Certification Program For Hospitals
The Certification Commission announced today the launch of its new EHR certification program for hospitals. The EHR Alternative Certification for Hospitals (EACH™) is an ONC-ATCB 2011/2012 certification program for installed hospital EHR technology that has been tested in a pilot program with hospitals in Boston, New York City and Pasadena, Calif.
The EACH program, relying on required ONC criteria and NIST test procedures and tools, offers:
A series of self-paced, online learning programs designed to prepare EACH program applicants for testing and certification
Online inventory and self-assessment tools developed to help hospitals evaluate how their installed EHR technology measures up to ONC’s criteria and standards
Additional hands-on support provided by CCHIT’s EACH program staff and access to an online community of other hospitals participating in the EACH program
More information and online tools for applying for EACH certification is available at http://each.cchit.org.
Dallas L Alford IV, CPA is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of North Carolina and owner of Atlantic Financial Consulting, a consulting firm that provides comprehensive medical billing services, practice management consulting, coding audits, Medicare compliance, Medicare RAC support and other general medical practice consulting services.
To learn more about Atlantic Financial Consulting you may visit their website at
http://atlanticfinancial.us or contact Dallas L Alford IV, CPA directly at 1 888-428-2555, Ext. 200.
The EACH program, relying on required ONC criteria and NIST test procedures and tools, offers:
A series of self-paced, online learning programs designed to prepare EACH program applicants for testing and certification
Online inventory and self-assessment tools developed to help hospitals evaluate how their installed EHR technology measures up to ONC’s criteria and standards
Additional hands-on support provided by CCHIT’s EACH program staff and access to an online community of other hospitals participating in the EACH program
More information and online tools for applying for EACH certification is available at http://each.cchit.org.
Dallas L Alford IV, CPA is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of North Carolina and owner of Atlantic Financial Consulting, a consulting firm that provides comprehensive medical billing services, practice management consulting, coding audits, Medicare compliance, Medicare RAC support and other general medical practice consulting services.
To learn more about Atlantic Financial Consulting you may visit their website at
http://atlanticfinancial.us or contact Dallas L Alford IV, CPA directly at 1 888-428-2555, Ext. 200.
Physician Quality Reporting System Town Hall Meeting
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will host a Town Hall Meeting to discuss the Physician Quality Reporting System (formerly known as the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative, or PQRI). The purpose of the Town Hall Meeting is to solicit input from participating stakeholders on individual quality measures and measures groups being considered for possible inclusion in the proposed set of quality measures for use in the 2012 Physician Quality Reporting System and key components of the design of the Physician Quality Reporting System. Read more...
http://www.cignagovernmentservices.com/partb/pubs/news/2011/0111/cope13701.html
Dallas L Alford IV, CPA is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of North Carolina and owner of Atlantic Financial Consulting, a consulting firm that provides comprehensive medical billing services, practice management consulting, coding audits, Medicare compliance, Medicare RAC support and other general medical practice consulting services.
To learn more about Atlantic Financial Consulting you may visit their website at http://atlanticfinancial.us/
or contact Dallas L Alford IV, CPA directly at 1 888-428-2555, Ext. 200.
http://www.cignagovernmentservices.com/partb/pubs/news/2011/0111/cope13701.html
Dallas L Alford IV, CPA is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of North Carolina and owner of Atlantic Financial Consulting, a consulting firm that provides comprehensive medical billing services, practice management consulting, coding audits, Medicare compliance, Medicare RAC support and other general medical practice consulting services.
To learn more about Atlantic Financial Consulting you may visit their website at http://atlanticfinancial.us/
or contact Dallas L Alford IV, CPA directly at 1 888-428-2555, Ext. 200.
2011 Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program Update-Avoiding the Adjustment
In November, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced that, beginning in 2012, eligible professionals who are not successful electronic prescribers may be subject to a payment adjustment on their Medicare Part B Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) covered professional services. Section 132 of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA) authorizes CMS to apply this payment adjustment whether or not the eligible professional is planning to participate in the eRx Incentive Program. Read more...
http://www.cignagovernmentservices.com/partb/pubs/news/2011/0111/cope13670.html
Dallas L Alford IV, CPA is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of North Carolina and owner of Atlantic Financial Consulting, a consulting firm that provides comprehensive medical billing services, practice management consulting, coding audits, Medicare compliance, Medicare RAC support and other general medical practice consulting services.
To learn more about Atlantic Financial Consulting you may visit their website at http://atlanticfinancial.us/
or contact Dallas L Alford IV, CPA directly at 1 888-428-2555, Ext. 200.
http://www.cignagovernmentservices.com/partb/pubs/news/2011/0111/cope13670.html
Dallas L Alford IV, CPA is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of North Carolina and owner of Atlantic Financial Consulting, a consulting firm that provides comprehensive medical billing services, practice management consulting, coding audits, Medicare compliance, Medicare RAC support and other general medical practice consulting services.
To learn more about Atlantic Financial Consulting you may visit their website at http://atlanticfinancial.us/
or contact Dallas L Alford IV, CPA directly at 1 888-428-2555, Ext. 200.
RESCHEDULED: National Provider Call on 2011 Physician Quality Reporting System & Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program
Originally scheduled for Tue Jan 18, 1:30-3pm EST
Rescheduled for Thu Jan 27, 1:30-3pm EST
For those who registered to participate in this afternoon’s national provider call, please be aware that the call is being rescheduled. Due to inclement weather conditions in the Washington, DC / Baltimore metropolitan area, some of the presenters for this afternoon’s call have been prevented from attending.
We apologize for any inconvenience caused by this, but appreciate your understanding. The rescheduled national provider call will be held on Thu Jan 27, 1:30-3pm EST. Registration information for the new call will be shared as soon as it is available, as well as posted to the CMS website at http://www.CMS.gov/PQRI.
Additionally, a CMS Open-Door Forum on the Physician Quality Reporting System and eRx Incentive Program is being held on Tue Jan 25, 1:30-3:30pm EST. The Open-Door Forum will focus on [1] understanding the basics of the 2011 Physician Quality Reporting System, [2] understanding claims-based reporting for the 2011 eRx Incentive Program, and [3] reporting requirements for the Maintenance of Certification Program. To attend, dial 800-837-1935 and use the conference ID 34438298.
Dallas L Alford IV, CPA is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of North Carolina and owner of Atlantic Financial Consulting, a consulting firm that provides comprehensive medical billing services, practice management consulting, coding audits, Medicare compliance, Medicare RAC support and other general medical practice consulting services.
To learn more about Atlantic Financial Consulting you may visit their website at http://atlanticfinancial/.
us or contact Dallas L Alford IV, CPA directly at 1 888-428-2555, Ext. 200.
Rescheduled for Thu Jan 27, 1:30-3pm EST
For those who registered to participate in this afternoon’s national provider call, please be aware that the call is being rescheduled. Due to inclement weather conditions in the Washington, DC / Baltimore metropolitan area, some of the presenters for this afternoon’s call have been prevented from attending.
We apologize for any inconvenience caused by this, but appreciate your understanding. The rescheduled national provider call will be held on Thu Jan 27, 1:30-3pm EST. Registration information for the new call will be shared as soon as it is available, as well as posted to the CMS website at http://www.CMS.gov/PQRI.
Additionally, a CMS Open-Door Forum on the Physician Quality Reporting System and eRx Incentive Program is being held on Tue Jan 25, 1:30-3:30pm EST. The Open-Door Forum will focus on [1] understanding the basics of the 2011 Physician Quality Reporting System, [2] understanding claims-based reporting for the 2011 eRx Incentive Program, and [3] reporting requirements for the Maintenance of Certification Program. To attend, dial 800-837-1935 and use the conference ID 34438298.
Dallas L Alford IV, CPA is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of North Carolina and owner of Atlantic Financial Consulting, a consulting firm that provides comprehensive medical billing services, practice management consulting, coding audits, Medicare compliance, Medicare RAC support and other general medical practice consulting services.
To learn more about Atlantic Financial Consulting you may visit their website at http://atlanticfinancial/.
us or contact Dallas L Alford IV, CPA directly at 1 888-428-2555, Ext. 200.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Physician Quality Reporting System Town Hall Meeting
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will host a Town Hall Meeting to discuss the Physician Quality Reporting System (formerly known as the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative, or PQRI). The purpose of the Town Hall Meeting is to solicit input from participating stakeholders on individual quality measures and measures groups being considered for possible inclusion in the proposed set of quality measures for use in the 2012 Physician Quality Reporting System and key components of the design of the Physician Quality Reporting System.
Read more…
http://www.cignagovernmentservices.com/partb/pubs/news/2011/0111/cope13701.html
Dallas L Alford IV, CPA is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of North Carolina and owner of Atlantic Financial Consulting, a consulting firm that provides comprehensive medical billing services, practice management consulting, coding audits, Medicare compliance, Medicare RAC support and other general medical practice consulting services.
To learn more about Atlantic Financial Consulting you may visit their website at http://atlanticfinancial.us/ or contact Dallas L Alford IV, CPA directly at 1 888-428-2555, Ext. 200.
Read more…
http://www.cignagovernmentservices.com/partb/pubs/news/2011/0111/cope13701.html
Dallas L Alford IV, CPA is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the state of North Carolina and owner of Atlantic Financial Consulting, a consulting firm that provides comprehensive medical billing services, practice management consulting, coding audits, Medicare compliance, Medicare RAC support and other general medical practice consulting services.
To learn more about Atlantic Financial Consulting you may visit their website at http://atlanticfinancial.us/ or contact Dallas L Alford IV, CPA directly at 1 888-428-2555, Ext. 200.
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