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07/16/2010July 2010Here we are already half way through the year with many changes still ahead of us. To help keep you updated, some of the information that is contained in this newsletter is:
I know this has been a very busy year for all of us. I would like for you to be aware of the two remaining meetings for this year. We have lined up some fantastic speakers with information to help you in your daily work schedule. Agendas will be sent out soon.
The new POHMS website is almost ready to launch. Information on the POHMS meetings as well as online registration and payment will once again be available through the new website. I hope you visit the website often and please send me your comments/suggstions.
As we enter the second half of the year I'd also like to remind all members that it is time for renewal. Renewal applications have been sent to all. Thank you to those I have already received.
If you did not receive your renewal application, please contact me ASAP.
Mediare Physician Fee Schedule
UPDATED: 7/16/2010 at 9:15am
As a result of the Preservation of Access to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries and Pension Relief Act of 2010, the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule was updated to apply a 2.2% increase for dates of service June 1, 2010 and after. CMS required contractors to start processing claims with the new rates by no later than July 1, 2010. Please see the bulletin dated 06/25/2010 for more information
HMS Current Status: The new 2.2% Medicare Physician Fee Schedule was loaded to production for both Part A and Part B services on Friday night, June 25th. The production files were validated by HMS staff on Saturday, June 26th. As of Monday night, June 28th, HMS began releasing previously held claims with June dates of service for payment using the new fee schedule. HMS will process claims first in, first out, processing the oldest claims first. As a reminder, claims received for services rendered prior to June 1st, will continue to be processed using the previously established 0% Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.
As reported previously, prior to the passage of the new law, CMS required contractors to begin paying claims at the negative 21% Medicare Physician Fee Schedule update. HMS processed Part A and Part B claims with June 1st and after dates of service, received on June 1st, 2nd and 3rd at the negative 21% fee schedule. At CMS direction, HMS will automatically reprocess these claims using the new 2.2% fee schedule. Providers do not need to take any action to have these claims reprocessed.
Medicare Third Quarter ASP has been released and can be accessed at www.highmarkmedicareservices.com
Meeting Information
September Bi-Monthly Meeting: Friday, September 17, 2010 at The Hertiage Hills Golf Resort and Conference Center
Fall Conference: Thursday and Friday, November 4-5, 2010 at The Hotel Hershey.
Information on both meetings will be sent out soon. Please save the dates for both meetings.
Survey Information
Thank you to those who have participated in the past surveys. If you have not yet done so, we ask that you please participate in the POHMS survey that is sent out every 6-8 weeks. These are very brief, easy to fill out online and help us in determining the needs of all POHMS members. I received very good feedback on the survey that was handed out to the attendees at the May meeting. This provided valuable information on EMR's and how practices are handling pay raises and bonuses in 2010.
If you are not receiving these surveys please let me know ASAP.
NEW POHMS Website
The new website is almost ready to launch. Could be as early as this Friday, July 23rd! You will receive an email when the website is live. Please contact me if you do not receive an email once the website is launched.
Any questions, commments or suggestions can be sent directly to me. Thank you for your patience during the construction of our new and improved website.
Thank you for your continued support and I hope to see you all in September. Stay cool and enjoy the rest of your summer!
Sincerely,
Fran Spine, LPN, CCS-p, CHOC
POHMS Administrative Director
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