Prostate Cancer Research Institute - Posted 06/19/07

The Prostate Cancer Research Institute, an organization dedicated to educating Prostate Cancer patients and their families, is proud to announce the 2007 National Conference on Prostate Cancer, taking place Friday, September 7 through Sunday, September 9, 2007 at the LAX Marriott Hotel. www.pcri.org.

Download the brochure and registration information packet >>

Save The Date!
Seventh Annual Women's Cancer Conference - NEW 06/30/07

November 2-4, 2007
Wynn Hotel & Casino
3131 Las Vegas Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89109

Register Online Now!

Overview/Need
Breast, cervical and ovarian cancers are three of the most common cancers among American women, with over 212,060 newly diagnosed cases and 45,658 deaths projected for 2007 by the Cancer Institute.  Colorectal cancer will be diagnosed in another 74,630 American women and an estimated 26,180 will die of the disease by the end of 2007, making colorectal cancer the third leading cause of cancer death among American women. Recognizing that patient quality of life and survival rates for these cancers are significantly improved when they are detected early and treated appropriately. There is a need for physicians to remain current on the rapidly evolving approaches to their diagnosis and treatment.  Read More >>

Save The Date!
New Technologies and Innovative Treatment Strategies for Genitourinary Malignancies - NEW 06/30/07

September 28 to 30, 2007
Hotel Del Coronado
San Diego, California

Register Online Now!

Overview
Cancers of the genitourinary (GU) tract, namely prostate, bladder and kidney cancer, are quite common. Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed solid tumor in men and second only to lung cancer as the leading cause of cancer related deaths among men in the U.S.. The American Cancer Society projected 61,420 new cases of bladder cancer and 13,060 bladder cancer deaths in the U.S. in 2006.  Since the 1950s, kidney cancer has increased at a rate of nearly 2 percent per year in the U.S. with 38,890 patients being diagnosed in 2006 and 12,840 dying from the disease. Read More >>

Medicare Coverage Convoy - NEW 06/30/07

Medicare will be conducting a billing and coverage workshop program at a location near you for the registration fee of $95.00.

NHIC, your Medicare Contractor for Part B in California, is offering these special workshop programs that consist of:

TOPICS	CLASS DESCRIPTION
New Biller Express	This Introduction to Medicare workshop covers billing basics including completion of the new 1500 claim form, Appeals, ABN and more
Medicare Updates - Setting Course for the Fall of 2007 into 2008	A review of the updates to the Medicare program for the Fall of 2007 continuing into 2008
The Route to Prompt PT/OT Payments	Billing and coverage requirements for Physical and Occupational Therapy
Pathway to Oncology	Oncology billing – the quickest way to proper payment
Modifier Mapping	Correct modifier usage and billing tips
Avoid Claim Payment Detours	New tips to eliminate and/or reduce claim payment errors
Navigating Evaluation and Management Documentation Guidelines	A look at the guidelines for proper E/M documentation and some tips on avoiding common pitfalls
Preventive Services - Your Map to Information	Find out what Preventive services are covered and the guidelines for coverage and billing
The Provider/Patient Financial Relationship	This session will discuss the financial responsibilities of both the provider and patient under Medicare Part B (eligibility, ordering/referring services, MSP, overpayments, ABN’s and more.)

Click Here for registration information >>

Medicare Releases Final PQRI Details - Posted 06/10/07

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) this week released the final specifications for its Physicians Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI), which starts July 1. The specifications contain descriptions and clinical recommendation statements for each of the 74 performance measures and include instructions on how to code each measure’s numerator and denominator. (182 pages)

PQRI Coding For Quality Handbook - Posted 06/19/07

CMS has released the handbook for the PQRI initiative. It can be found here >>

ASCO's National Audioconference on PQRI - Posted 06/19/07

ASCO hosted a national audioconference on Medicare's Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI).  Links to access the call materials are provided below:

Call Materials

ASCO PQRI slide presentation (pdf version)
2007 PQRI Measures for Consideration by Oncology Providers 

Discarded Drugs & Biologicals - Posted 06/19/07

CMS Change Request 5520, revises the Medicare Claims Processing Manual , Chapter 17, Sections 40 and 100.2.9 to include language clarifying that Medicare will cover the amount of a single use vial or single use package of a drug or biological that was discarded along with the amount of that single use vial/package that was administered to the Medicare patient up to the amount of the drug or biological as indicated on the vial or package label.  CMS expects that physicians will make good faith efforts to limit wasted drug. CMS will not pay for drug that must be discarded when an appropriate vial size that would eliminate waste is available but not ordered.  Reporting discarded drug with modifier -JW, “Drug or Biological Amount Discarded/Not Administered to Any Patient”, may be required by your Medicare contractor. Watch for updates on this in your Medicare carrier’s newsletters/bulletins.

Resources:
CMS MLN Matters Number 5520
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM5520.pdf
CMS Transmittal 1248 Change Request 5520

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/transmittals/downloads/R1248CP.pdf

Deadline Approaches for New CMS 1500 Form - Posted 06/19/07

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announces in Change Request 5616 , that Medicare contractors will no longer accept CMS-1500 Claim Form version (12-90) after July 1, 2007. The only acceptable claim form will be the CMS-1500 Claim Form version (08-05). Go to the National Uniform Claim Committee Website for more information, instructions and FAQs & to view the new 1500 08/05 form.   
Resources: 
CMS “Breaking News” Article on 1500 08/05
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ElectronicBillingEDITrans/Downloads/Webterminateold1500.pdf
CMS Transmittal 1247 Change Request 5616
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/transmittals/downloads/R1247CP.pdf
CMS MLN Matters Number 5616
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM5616.pdf
National Uniform Claim Committee
http://www.nucc.org/

CMS Discontinues UPIN Assignment - Posted 06/10/07

The CMS will discontinue assigning Unique Physician Identification Numbers (UPIN) on June 29, 2007, but CMS will maintain its UPIN public "look-up" functionality and Registry website (http://www.upinregistry.com) through September 30, 2007. (CR 5584)

NPI Look-Up Tool Available Soon - Posted 06/10/07

So, you’ve gotten your National Provider Identifier (NPI), right? Did you know you will also have to include the NPIs of referring physicians and health care facilities on your claim forms?

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finally announced that  physicians and other covered entities will soon be able to look up NPIs by simply entering the provider or facility name into an online database. This online lookup will be available on June 28, 30-days after CMS’s official NPI data dissemination policy was published in the Federal Register.

The online lookup will return NPIs and relevant demographic information, but it will not disclose social security numbers, dates of birth, or IRS taxpayer identification numbers, according to CMS.

New Immune Globulin Codes - Posted 06/19/07

Effective for claims with dates of service on or after July 1, 2007, HCPCS code J1567 (injection, immune globulin, intravenous, non-lyophilized (e.g. liquid), 500 mg) will no longer be payable for Medicare.

In its place, the following HCPCS codes will be payable, effective July 1, 2007:

• Q4087 Octagam Injection, intravenous, non-lyophilized (e.g. liquid), 500 mg
• Q4088 Gammagard Liquid Injection, intravenous, non-lyophilized (e.g. liquid), 500 mg
• Q4090 HepaGam B Injection, intramuscular, 0.5 ml when given intravenously bill using an appropriate Not Otherwise Classified (NOC) code in the absence of a specific HCPCS code.
• Q4091 Flebogamma Injection, intravenous, non-lyophilized (e.g. liquid), 500mg
• Q4092 Gamunex Injection, intravenous, non-lyophilized (e.g. liquid), 500 mg
• Q4089 Rhophylac injection, intramuscular or intravenous, 100iu

Remember: These changes are specific to Medicare.

Resources:
CMS Transmittal 1261 Change Request 5635
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/transmittals/downloads/R1261CP.pdf
MLN Matters Article
MM5635.pdf

MOASC Submits Comments to Medicare Regarding ESA Policy - Posted 06/19/07

Dr. Cary Presant, MOASC Chairman of the Board, responds to the new ESA policy.

Special J-Code Review Offer for MOASC Members - Posted 06/19/07

Leaverage the expertise of an oncology consultant pharmacist and enhance your practice performance. By working with Oncology Pharmaceutical Services, you can benefit from an on-site consultant pharmacist, powerful network drug contracting and related services.

To make arrangements for this J-Code Review offer please call Randy Harken at (310)-694-6871 or email at randy.harken@usoncology.com

MOASC Partners With RemitData - Posted 06/20/07

Using just a few of RemitDATA’s management tools you too will be able to answer the key questions of successful practices, such as:

-How often am I being denied – for what reasons – on which procedures – by which payers?
-How do my reimbursement metrics above compare to my peers?
-Are we leaving any money on the table and if so where?
-How can I maximize my cash flow, and decrease my costs of collections?

Help MOASC set the standard of successful practices by utilizing this exciting new partnership with RemitDATA. And, for a limited time, MOASC members can try RemitDATA for 30 days at NO CHARGE to see if it would be a great resource for your practice.

Please call 866-885-2974 x 2011, or email mtrogdon@remitdata.com, or click www.remitdata.com for more info. RemitDATA – helping you ‘Get What’s Coming To You!’

See what practices have to say >>