News

IRS ruling allows hospitals to provide healthcare IT to physicians May 15, 2009 - WASHINGTON - A short, two-page memorandum from the Internal Revenue Service issued Friday is expected to offer encouragement to not-for-profit ...

Vendors respond to new CCHIT certifications May 10, 2009 - The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology last week announced the final 30 electronic health-record systems for the ...

AMA unveils ePrescribing online learning center April 01, 2009 - CHICAGO - The American Medical Association has launched an online learning center to provide physicians with information and tools to make informed ...

Tech Coalition to Provide Free e-Prescribing January 16, 2009 - WASHINGTON - A new coalition of technology companies and healthcare payers has initiated a project to provide free electronic prescribing to every ...

Physician Self-Referral Exceptions for E-Prescribing and EHR Technology January 01, 2009 - PHYSICIAN SELF-REFERRAL EXCEPTIONS FOR ELECTRONIC PRESCRIBING AND ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORDS TECHNOLOGY BACKGROUND: Section 1877 of the Social ...

Doctors Are Slow to Sign Off on Online Prescribing November 25, 2008 - Few Doctors Sign Off on Online Prescribing By Ceci Connolly Washington Post Staff Writer Tuesday, November 25, 2008; HE01 Samuel Benesh, an ...

E-prescribing Guide for Clinicians Aims to Aid Adoption October 07, 2008 - BOSTON - The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released an electronic prescribing guide for clinicians at its National e-Prescribing ...

Registration Open for ACS 2008 Healthcare Symposium May 29, 2008 - "Jazz it Up" is the theme for the ACS 2008 Healthcare Symposium. This user conference will be held in New Orleans, LA at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. ...

Quick Reference Information: Medicare Immunization Billing Chart Available to Order December 19, 2006 - The Quick Reference Information: Medicare Immunization Billing chart is now available in hardcopy or as a download from the Medicare Learning ...

Understanding the Remittance Advice for Professional Providers December 19, 2006 - Understanding the Remittance Advice for Professional Providers Web-based training (WBT) course is now available through the Medicare Learning ...

Medicare Announces Final Rule Setting Physician Payment Rates and Policies for 2007 November 01, 2006 - NEW PAYMENT RATES WILL ENCOURAGE INCREASED PHYSICIAN/PATIENT COMMUNICATION Starting next year, the Medicare program will pay physicians more for ...

CMS Announces Changes to Policies and Payment for Outpatient Services November 01, 2006 - NEW STEPS TO INCREASE VALUE IN HOSPITAL OUTPATIENT CARE The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today issued a ...

CMS Announces Payment Changes for Medicare Home Health Services and Certain DME November 01, 2006 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced a 3.3 percent market basket increase for Medicare payment rates for home health ...

New Demonstration Program Tests Financial Incentives for Improved Quality and Coordination October 16, 2006 - The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced a new initiative to pay physicians for the quality of the care they provide to ...

CMS Proposes Policy, Payment Changes for Physicians' Services in 2007 August 08, 2006 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) projects that it will pay approximately $61.5 billion to 875,000 physicians and other health care ...

Proposed Changes for Payment for Imaging Services Under the Physician Fee Schedule August 08, 2006 - Overview The Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) proposed rule for 2007 includes proposals to implement two provisions of the Deficit ...

Effect of the Medicare Economic Index (MEI) on the Physician Update August 08, 2006 - The Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) is updated on an annual basis according to a formula specified by statute. The formula specifies that the ...

Hospital Quality Reporting Expansion Provisions in CY 2007 Hospital OPPS Rule August 08, 2006 - On August 7, 2006, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the hospital outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) proposed rule ...

CMS Proposes Changes to Policies and Payment for Outpatient Services August 08, 2006 - NEW STEPS TO INCREASE VALUE IN HOSPITAL OUTPATIENT CARE, WITH MAJOR REVISION OF AMBULATORY SURGICAL CENTERS PAYMENTS The Centers ...

New Regulations to Facilitate Adoption of Health Information Technology August 08, 2006 - HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt today announced final regulations that will support physician adoption of electronic prescribing and electronic health ...

Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 - 9-Day Payment Hold -- REMINDER August 08, 2006 - This message is a reminder for all providers and physicians who bill Medicare contractors for their services. A brief hold will be placed on ...

National Provider Identifier (NPI) News for Medicare DME Suppliers August 02, 2006 - The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will be linking Medicare provider numbers with NPIs. As mentioned in the paper entitled, ...

Physician Self-Referral Exceptions for Electronic Prescribing and Electronic Health Records Technolo August 01, 2006 - BACKGROUND: Section 1877 of the Social Security Act (the Act), commonly referred to as the “Stark” law, prohibits a physician from making referrals ...

Medicare Physician Guide Now Available in Print Format July 18, 2006 - The Medicare Physician Guide: A Resource for Residents, Practicing Physicians, and Other Health Care Professionals is now available in print format ...

Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) Brochure June 09, 2006 - The Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) brochure has been updated and is now available in downloadable format on the Medicare Learning ...

Physician Investment in Specialty Hospitals May 15, 2006 - An Interim Report to Congress was released on 5/9/06. The report is available at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PhysicianSelfReferral/03_DRA_Reports.asp ...

NPI Medlearn Matters Article Available September 28, 2005 - A Medlearn Matters article (SE0005) entitled: Medicare’s Implementation of the National Provider Identifier (NPI): The Second in the Series of ...

NPRM for Claims Attachments Published September 23, 2005 - On September 23, the proposed rule adopting standards for electronic health care claims attachments was published in the Federal Register. Health ...

Katrina Bulletin #2: HIPAA Privacy Rule Compliance Guidance and Enforcement Statement September 12, 2005 - We wanted to make you aware of a second Bulletin on our web site addressing circumstances arising from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. The ...

CMS Takes Emergency Steps to Ease Health Care Access to Katrina Evacuees September 09, 2005 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has adopted a series of emergency policy changes to accommodate the needs of thousands of displaced ...

CMS Actions to Help Beneficiaries, Providers in Katrina Stricken Areas September 07, 2005 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has acted to assure that the Medicare, Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Programs will ...

Medicare Provider Feedback Town Hall Meeting September 02, 2005 - September 12, 2005 2:00 - 4:00 PM EST On September 12, 2005, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will convene a Medicare ...

Katrina Bulletin: Disclosing PHI in Emergency Situations September 02, 2005 - In light of the devastation that Hurricane Katrina has caused to parts of the country, we wanted to emphasize how the HIPAA Privacy Rule allows ...

Important Information for Medicare Providers Regarding Hurricane Katrina Issues September 02, 2005 - The CMS staff express our deepest concern and hope to those coping with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. We appreciate the dedication and support ...

CMS Announces Proposed Payment Update and Policy Changes for Medicare Physician Fee Schedule August 02, 2005 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) expects to pay approximately $56.5 billion to 875,000 physicians and other health care ...

CMS Announces the National Contractor to Process Claims for Section 1011 of the MMA July 07, 2005 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services (CMS) announced today that it has taken an important step to help hospitals and other providers recoup a ...

National Provider Identifier (NPI) -- REMINDER June 29, 2005 - REMINDER -- Health care providers are required by law to apply for a National Provider Identifier (NPI). To apply online, visit: ...

CMS Offers New Option for Physicians Who Administer Drugs in their Offices June 27, 2005 - COMPETITIVE ALTERNATIVE TO PURCHASING AND BILLING MANY COMMONLY USED PART B DRUGS WILL START IN 2006 Physicians who administer drugs in their ...

CMS Reaffirms Expanded Criteria for Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities June 21, 2005 - CRITERIA “NOT INCONSISTENT” WITH GAO FINDINGS The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today issued a notice announcing it will proceed ...

HIPAA Update Newsletter Published June 13, 2005 - CMS's HIPAA Update Newsletter is available by joining the HIPAA-OUTREACH ...

ACS Breaks Ground on New Corporate Headquarters June 06, 2005 - Acadiana Computer Systems, Inc. (ACS) has broken ground on a new facility that will house its corporate headquarters in Lafayette, LA. Construction ...

ACS Garners HIPAA Standard Transaction Approvals April 07, 2005 - ACS has completed testing and has moved into production with the HIPAA compliant ANSI X12 4010A1 837P Professional Claim Transaction Format for a ...

CMS Announces the National Provider Identifier (NPI) Enumerator Contractor April 06, 2005 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced today it has taken an important step in helping health care providers obtain the new ...

HIPAA Update Newsletter Published March 23, 2005 - CMS's HIPAA Update Newsletter is available by joining the HIPAA-OUTREACH ...

Consolidated Claims Crossover Process February 17, 2005 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is consolidating the Medicare claims crossover process under a special Coordination of Benefits ...

CMS Issues Guidance on HIPAA Transaction and Code Sets Compliance January 01, 2005 - The law is clear: October 16, 2003 is the deadline for covered entities to comply with HIPAA's electronic transaction and code sets provisions. After ...