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 - Posted 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 - Posted 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 - Posted 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 >>

CMS Offers New E-mail Service - NEW 07/10/07

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services ( CMS ) will soon offer a new email update service that delivers the latest healthcare information to citizens' inboxes. Visitors to the www.cms.hhs.gov and www.medicare.gov websites can sign up to receive updates on Medicare and Medicaid related topics throughout the site including Medicare Coverage Updates, Medicare Guidance to Providers, Open Door Forum Announcements, Press Releases, Prescription Drug Coverage, Nursing Home Quality, Medicare publications, claims forms, and much more. With a subscription profile, you automatically receive notices when information is updated rather than having to frequently visit the website for changes. If you subscribe to more than one listserv from CMS , you may receive messages and updates more than once. This is a free service provided by CMS . Your email address will only be used to deliver the information you request, or to give you access to your profile of subscriptions. You can change your profile at any time.

In order to ensure that you receive your subscription emails and announcements from www.cms.hhs.gov and www.medicare.gov, please add cmslists@subscriptions.cms.hhs.gov to your contact list, adjust your spam settings, or follow the instructions from your email provider on how to prevent our emails from being marked "Spam" or "Junk Mail."

Charges for Missed Appointments - NEW 07/10/07

Provider Types Affected: Physicians, providers, and suppliers who submit claims to Medicare contractors (carriers, fiscal intermediaries (FIs), or Part A/B Medicare administrative contractors (A/B MACs)).

According to Chapter 12, section 30.3.13 of the Medicare Claims Processing Manual, which is attached to CR5613, CMS policy allows physicians, providers, and suppliers to charge Medicare beneficiaries for missed appointments, provided that they do not discriminate against Medicare beneficiaries but also charge non-Medicare patients for missed appointments and the charges for Medicare and non-Medicare patient are the same.

Read the MLNMatters notification >>

CMS Proposes Policy and Payment Reforms for Physicians' Services in 2008- NEW 07/10/07

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today issued a proposed rule that would revise payment rates and policies under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) for 2008. This proposed rule would result in decreased payments to physicians of 9.9%.

The proposed rule would revise the methodology for determining Average Sales Price (ASP) for Part B drugs by defining bundled arrangements and requiring that drug manufacturers allocate bundled price concessions proportionately to the dollar value of units of each drug sold under the bundled arrangement when reporting ASPs.

Comments on the proposed rule will be accepted until August 31, 2007. A final rule, which will be effective January 1, 2008, will be published in the fall.

A press release on the proposed rule is attached. The proposed rule (CMS-1385-P) can be viewed on the CMS Website.

New Drug for Renal Cell Carcinoma - NEW 07/10/07

MOASC Members Receive Complimentary or Discounted Rates to Attend Oncology Conferences - NEW 07/10/07

Intended to bridge the current gaps in the dissemination of treatment information to practicing oncologists, the Oncology Congress presents comprehensive, practical information focused on patient care. Developed by a diverse board of advisors representing centers of excellence, the content focuses on current research findings and their impact on clinical practice and strategies for treating a wide range of cancers. This program encourages peer-to-peer interaction and debate. September 6-9 at the Hilton San Francisco . The first 50 members to register for Oncology Congress will receive complimentary registration, after that the rate is $695 for doctors and $295 for nurses – enter priority code VIP4 when registering to receive this discount.

While the Oncology Congress focuses primarily on curative therapies, with a handful of sessions available for discussion of the essential supportive care measures, the Chicago Supportive Oncology Conference concentrates on providing oncologists and clinicians an overview of state-of-the-art symptom and side-effect management, communication issues, and end-of-life care for patients with cancer. September 27-29 at the Hyatt Regency Chicago . Our discounts for this meeting are $295 for MDs, $195 for nurses and physician assistants, and free for fellows. Use priority code SP5 when registering at www.chicagosupportiveoncology.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 >>

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