Part B News | Editors' Blog

State of the Union: Malpractice reform possible, but health reform will stand

by: Grant Huang Jan 26, 2011

There weren't any big surprises where health care and Medicare were concerned during the hour-long State of the Union address last night. President Obama made it clear that the health reform law will not be repealed, only tweaked for improvement. He also hinted again at the possibility of his support for malpractice reform as a way to bring down costs.

"I'm willing to look at other ideas to bring down costs, including one that Republicans suggested last year -- medical malpractice reform to rein in frivolous lawsuits," he said. It was a remark that drew Republican applause, but did not strengthen earlier committments he made to the idea of malpractice reform.

NGS will automatically reprocess AWV claims

by: Charles Fiegl Jan 25, 2011

The Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) National Government Services (NGS, New York, Connecticut) sent out the following message regarding the new annual wellness visit service this afternoon.

eClinicalWorks unveils 5010 transition plans

by: Grant Huang Jan 24, 2011

CMS is preparing to test electronic claims transmission using the new 5010 HIPAA standard -- a secure electronic format that all your software must use. This will impact your practice management software, your electronic health record (EHR) system if you have one, and your clearinghouse, if you use one.

Remember: All claims must be transmitted using the 5010 standard, rather than the current 4010 standard, starting Jan. 1, 2012. This change spans all health plans bound by HIPAA, which basically means you've got to comply not just for Medicare, but for private payers as well.

One piece of advice you've been getting from CMS and us is to call your vendor and make sure they're ready. Well, at least one vendor has a letter explaining their 5010 transition plans, which they sent to me last week. Here is what eClinicalWorks has to say about the transition. If you are using their software, this gives you a great idea of what to expect. If not -- their answers are the ones you want to get out of your vendor.

CMS finalizes anti-fraud rule

by: Charles Fiegl Jan 24, 2011

Federal anti-fraud programs recovered more than $4 billion in fiscal year 2010. HHS, CMS and the Department of Justice (DOJ) stand to recoup more, and prevent further waste and abuse, with new enforcement tools created by a new regulation released today. Here are three provisions in the rule that the federal agencies highlighted today.

Surgeons face uphill battle to get EHR bonus

by: Grant Huang Jan 21, 2011

CMS launched a new website that your providers must personally log into in order to be paid under the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program. The website, dubbed the "Medicare & Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Registration and Attestation System," also checks to see if your providers even qualify for the bonus payments. If the site decides you don't qualify under the 90% rule (most relevant to surgeons), you don't have a way to appeal -- and that may not change anytime soon, according to a CMS official I exchanged emails with.

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