New Employment Opportunities have been posted.
The MOASC/ANCO Legislative Committee seeks physician member input on the California Compassionate Choice Act (AB654). This bill, if passed would would authorize an adult who meets certain qualifications, and who has been determined by his or her attending physician to be suffering from a terminal disease, as defined, to make a request for medication for the purpose of ending his or her life in a humane and dignified manner. A .pdf version of AB654 is available here for your information.
Express your
anonymous opinion by voting at:
www.anco-online.org/survey.html
Thank you for your opinion on this important matter.
UPDATE 03/16/05
ASCO has received confirmation from CMS that it will accept the American Medical Association's recommendation that an infusion of 15 minutes or less should be reported as an IV push, and infusions lasting longer than 15 minutes should be reported as an infusion. CMS will be issuing guidance later this week, and ASCO will update you as soon as they have more information on this issue.
As posted 03/13/05:
As reported by ASCO, the CPT Editorial Panel met on February 13-13, 2005. Much of the discussion focused on the new coding guideline for a short infusion.The Panel addressed this issue by stating that an infusion of less than 15 minutes duration should be reported with the appropriate CPT code for the push technique (90775, 90776, 96409, 96411 or 96420) and that infusions lasting longer than 15 minutes should be reported with the appropriate infusion code.The Panel also redefined an intravenous or intra-arterial push as: an injection in which the healthcare professional who administers the substance/drug is continuously present to administer the injection and observe the patient; or an infusion of 15 minutes or less.
The MOASC office continues to receive reports of problems with claims processings by NHIC from January 1, 2005 to current, regarding services related to the new G-Code administration and demonstration projects.
We need you answers to the following:
- Demonstration project denials received in January 2005 - Has this issue been resolved or is it still outstanding?
- G0349, G0350, G0360, G0362 - denied with Reason Code " B5"? Outcome of this denial?
- When NHIC pays claims, are they paying randomly, not according to when they were submitted (i.e. 3rd week in February paid, but 1st and 2nd week not paid, etc.)?
- Denials on G0363 (vascular port flush) when it is the only item billed for that date of service?
The preceding were samples of the questions we are receiving at the MOASC office. We need to know all the problems you are experiencing with clean claims processings with NHIC in order to help alleviate any cash flow issues that may arise out of misprocessings on the carriers part. Please be as specific as possible, so we can take the questions directly to NHIC for resolution.
Email Pat Tyler at pat@moasc.org or Fax your samples to the MOASC office @ 909-985-8581.
Mandatory Electronic Submission of Medicare Claims (Revised: 1/31/2005)
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medlearn/matters/mmarticles/2005/MM3440.pdf
MOASC is pleased to announce that one of our distinguished physician members, Dr. James Berenson, Medical & Scientific Director of the Institute for Myeloma & Bone Cancer Research will be speaking at a Telephone Education Workshop presented by CancerCare entitled, "Bone Health for People Living With Multiple Myeloma" Friday April 15, 2005. Click here for more workshop information and learn how to register.
Please join CancerCare, Lance Armstrong Foundation, National Cancer Institute, Intercultural Cancer Council, Living Beyond Breast Cancer and National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, on Tuesday, April 12th, from 1:00 to 2:00 pm Eastern Time, for a free telephone education workshop entitled, Care & Well-Being After Treatment. Click here for more workshop information and learn how to register.
