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Revision of the Internet Only Manual (IOM) to Remove References to "Purchased Diagnostic Test" and Replace with Language Consistent with the Anti-Markup Rule Reference: Trans. 326 and 1931, CR #6627, Pub. 100-08 and 100-04, MLN: MM6627 This article, based on CR 6627, informs physicians and IDTFs that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will begin to change all references to "purchased diagnostic tests" in Medicare manuals to "anti-markup tests." Until all changes are manualized, you and your billing staffs should consider any reference to a "purchased diagnostic test" to be a reference to an anti-markup test. Published Online: Thursday, March 18, 2010

2010 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative Educational Products are Now Available! Reference: CMS List-Serv Message 031710 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is pleased to announce the following updated 2010 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) educational products to the PQRI webpage at www.cms.hhs.gov/PQRI on the CMS website: 2010 PQRI – Educational Resource Documents, 2010 EHR-Based Reporting Documents, 2010 PQRI Measures Documents, Qualified Registries for 2010 PQRI and eRx Reporting, and Qualified Electronic Health Record (EHR) Vendors for the 2010 PQRI and Electronic Prescribing Incentive Programs Published Online: Thursday, March 18, 2010

2010 Electronic Prescribing Incentive (eRx) Educational Products are Now Available! Reference: CMS List-Serv Message 031710 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is pleased to announce the following updated 2010 Electronic Prescribing Incentive (eRx) Program educational products to the eRx webpage at www.cms.hhs.gov/ERxIncentive on the CMS website: 2010 eRx – Educational Resource Documents, and 2010 EHR-Based Reporting Documents. Published Online: Thursday, March 18, 2010

Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC) on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 - Webinar Available Reference: CMS List-Serv Message 031710 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has called a public meeting of the Medicare Evidence Development & Coverage Advisory Committee (MEDCAC) on Wednesday, March 24, 2010. The Committee generally provides advice and recommendations concerning the adequacy of scientific evidence needed to determine whether certain medical items and services can be covered under the Medicare statute. This meeting will examine currently available evidence on the use of erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs) to manage anemia in patients who have chronic kidney disease. This meeting is open to the public in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App. 2, section 10(a)). CMS is hosting a webinar for this meeting. CMS is piloting webinar technology for use in broadcasting future MEDCAC meetings. Webinar participants will be able to view presentations and will be connected to live audio. However, live video will not be streamed. Attendance is limited and requires registration. Registration will be closed at 5pm eastern time on March 22, 2010. Participants should be advised that the webinar is a listening only session; that is, no questions or interactions will be permitted and all lines will be muted. Published Online: Thursday, March 18, 2010

MCPSS Information - Attention Fee-for-Service Providers and Suppliers, Have You Responded? Reference: CMS List-Serv Message 031810 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) wants to hear from you about your satisfaction with the services provided by the Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) contractor that processes and pays your Medicare claims. CMS is now conducting the fifth national administration of the Medicare Contractor Provider Satisfaction Survey (MCPSS). The results of this annual survey are used by CMS to monitor trends, improve contractor oversight, and increase efficiency of the Medicare program. The MCPSS provides contractors with more insight into their provider communities and allows them to make process improvements based on provider feedback. In January, CMS notified approximately 30,000 Medicare FFS providers and suppliers that they were randomly selected to participate in the 2010 study. CMS urges all selected health care providers and suppliers to take a few minutes to complete and return this important survey. Published Online: Thursday, March 18, 2010

Reminder - Basic Introduction to ICD-10-CM National Provider Conference Call Reference: CMS List-Serv Message 031810 Reminder – The Basic Introduction to ICD-10-CM National Provider Conference Call will be conducted on Tuesday, March 23, 2010 from 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). Registration will close at 1:00 p.m. EDT on Monday, March 22, 2010 or when available space has been filled. This conference call will provide an overview of ICD-10-CM/PCS requirements and a basic introduction to ICD-10-CM. Published Online: Thursday, March 18, 2010

Revised Facilitator's Kit Reference: CMS List-Serv Message 031810 Attention: Facilitators, Trainers, Educators, and Physicians - The revised Medicare Resident, Practicing Physician, and Other Health Care Professional Training Facilitator's Kit (October 2009), which includes all the information and instructions necessary to prepare for and present a Medicare Resident, Practicing Physician, and Other Health Care Professional Training Program including instructions for facilitators, customization guide, a PowerPoint presentation with speaker notes, pre- and post-assessments, master assessment answer keys, and a course evaluation tool, is now available from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Medicare Learning Network. This kit contains the following materials: Medicare Physician Guide: A Resource for Residents, Practicing Physicians, and Other Health Care Professionals (CD-Rom format), Facilitator's Guide (CD-Rom format), and Medicare Resident, Practicing Physician, and Other Health Care Professional Training: An Introduction video (DVD format). To place your order, visit http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNGenInfo/ , scroll down to "Related Links Inside CMS" and select "MLN Product Ordering Page." Published Online: Thursday, March 18, 2010

Louisiana Provider Outreach and Education Advisory Group (POEAG) Meeting Minutes The primary function of the POEAG is to assist in the creation, implementation and review of contractor provider/supplier education strategies and efforts. The POEAG provides input and feedback on training topics, provider/supplier education materials, and dates and locations of provider/supplier education workshops and events. The group also identifies salient provider/supplier/education issues, and recommends effective means of information dissemination to all appropriate providers and suppliers and their staff. The POEAG should be used as a provider/supplier education consultant resource, and not as an approval or sanctioning authority. The minutes from our February 25, 2010 Medicare Part B Provider Outreach and Education Advisory Group (POEAG) Meeting are available online. Published Online: Wednesday, March 17, 2010

ICD-9 for Anti-Cancer Drugs Update – March 2010 Reference: AR – CKL 012110 Pinnacle Business Solutions, Inc. as a Medicare carrier has determined that the following anti-cancer drugs may be billed with the specified diagnosis codes only. Guidelines for coverage of anti-cancer drugs include FDA approval for specific indications and citation in the USPDI (United States Pharmacopeia Drug Information), AHFS (American Hospital Formulary Service Drug Information), and/or National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Drugs & Biologics Compendium providing support for the drug. Text analysis determines the support of a particular use. Please refer to the Medicare Benefit Manual (Pub.100-02) Chapter 15, Section 50.4.5 "Anti-Cancer Drugs" for additional information regarding indications and limitations of coverage and/or medical necessity as well as for documentation requirements. The Compendia List can be found on the CMS website at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/CoverageGenInfo/02_compendia.asp Published Online: Wednesday, March 17, 2010

CMS Outreach Efforts Reference: CMS List-Serv Message 031510 Of Special Note! The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) continues to break new ground to enhance our Medicare Fee-For-Service outreach efforts. CMS is now using the following social media outlets to get information out to our audience as fast as possible. LinkedIn: Join the CMS group at www.LinkedIn.com/in/CMSGov; YouTube: Log on to the official CMS YouTube channel at www.YouTube.com/CMSHHSGov to view several videos currently available and more to come in the upcoming months; and Twitter: Follow CMS’ two accounts to get the latest updates on information you need know about CMS (including Medicare Learning Network updates) and Insure Kids Now. Published Online: Tuesday, March 16, 2010

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