Reminder: 2% cut to Medicare reimbursement begins April 1
Physicians should expect a 2 percent reduction in reimbursement from the Medicare program across the board for all claims with dates of service on or after April 1. These cuts are the result of the Sequestration Transparency Act of 2012, which was part of a deal worked out between President Obama and Congress to address the debt ceiling crisis....
>> Story Continues >>
Sequestration FAQ
How will the cuts affect Physicians?
On Friday, March 1, the automatic seqestration of federal spending is scheduled to take effect. The sequester was originally set to begin on January 1, 2013, under provisions of the Budget Control Act of 2011....
>> Story Continues >>
Medicare payments may be cut by 2% on April 1
With no solution on the horizon to the budgetary woes in Congress, physicians should prepare for a 2 percent reduction in reimbursement from the Medicare program beginning on April 1.
The 2 percent Medicare "sequestration" cuts are part of the $1....
>> Story Continues >>
Palmetto GBA loses protest for Medicare contract
On January 18, the U. S....
>> Story Continues >>
Deadline to request exemption from 2013 e-prescribing penalty is Jan. 31
Physicians who were unable to file for a Medicare e-prescribing hardship exemption by the original deadline of June 30, 2012, have until Jan. 31, 2013, to avoid the 2013 payment penalty....
>> Story Continues >>
CMS instructs Medicare contractors to hold claims for 10 days
On January 3, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released instructions to Medicare contractors for implementation of the revised fee schedule.
As previously reported, Congress on January 1 passed HR 8, the American Taxpayer Relief Act, narrowly averting the so-called "fiscal cliff....
>> Story Continues >>
President Obama Signs the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012
New Law Includes Physician Update Fix Through December 2013
On Wednesday, January 2, 2013, President Obama signed into law the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012. This new law prevents a scheduled payment cut for physicians and other practitioners who treat Medicare patients from taking effect on January 1, 2013....
>> Story Continues >>
file for 2013 Medicare ePrescribing hardship
By Jan 31
December 14, 2012
If physicians believe they meet one of the Medicare electronic prescribing (ePrescribing) hardship exemptions but did not file by the June 30, 2012 deadline, they will have another opportunity to apply. Pursuant to AMA advocacy, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has reopened the Communications Support webpage to give physicians more time to file for a hardship, allowing more physicians to avoid the ePrescribing penalty....
>> Story Continues >>
Medicare to Require prior auth for power mobility devices
August 20, 2012
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will require physicians in seven states, including California, to obtain prior authorization for motorized wheelchairs and other power mobility devices for Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries.
While it is being called a demonstration project, CMS said prior authorization will ensure the delivery of necessary medical equipment and should reduce the number of high dollar fraud investigations....
>> Story Continues >>
Medicare signature requirements for medical records
August 1, 2012
When Palmetto GBA requests medical records, they check to see if the signature present on the records is that of the provider billing for the service. If the signature is illegible or missing, they will send out an additional documentation request (ADR) for a signature log or attestation....
>> Story Continues >>
Medicare Electronic Prescribing 2013 Hardship Exemption
Posted 4-3-12
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has reopened the Quality Reporting Communications Support Page to allow individual eligible professionals the opportunity to request a significant hardship exemption for the 2013 Electronic Prescribing (eRx) payment adjustment. The exemptions available must be supported by justification for the hardship exemption....
>> Story Continues >>
Medicare physician pay cut delayed 10 months
February 22, 2012
On Tuesday, February 14, 2012, a $20 billion deal on the sustainable growth rate (SGR) was struck, which would protect physicians from the 27. 4 percent rate cut to Medicare fee-for-service reimbursement slated to go into effect on March 1, 2012....
>> Story Continues >>
Medicare Advisory
The J1 Medicare Advisory contains coverage, billing and other information for providers in Jurisdiction 1 Part B.
Signatures and Documentation
What You Need to Know
ln the past year, Palmetto GBA has seen an escalating number of errors assessed by the Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) Review Contractor due to signature problems on practitioners' medical records, x-ray reports and laboratory/radiology orders. As Medicare providers, you may be asking yourself, "Why is this important to me?" The discovery of CERT errors may lead to increased scrutiny of future services billed to Medicare....
>> Story Continues >>
