Medical Oncology Association of
Southern California
P.O. Box 161
Upland, CA 91785
Phone: (909) 985-9061
Fax: (909) 985-8581
email: moasc@moasc.org
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MOASC would like to recognize and thank the following sponsors for their continued support of MOASC:
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Posted Aug 21, 2005 |
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“ONS Chemotherapy & Biotherapy Course”
Sponsored in part by:
Novartis, Abraxis, Amgen,
Ortho Biotech, Pfizer, MGI Pharma,
OSI Pharmaceuticals, Schering Plough.
ACCC 22nd National Oncology Economics Conference
Partnering to Shape the Future of Cancer Care
September 1316, 2005
The Doubletree Hotel & Executive Meeting Center,
Portland Lloyd Center,
Portland, Oregon
Click here to learn how to register and get further conference details >>
Los Angeles County Medical Association (LACMA) Open House
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
707 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 3800
Los Angeles, California
Come tour our new headquarters location! Join your
fellow physicians and the medical community in celebrating
and toasting a new era in medical leadership! Your staff is
welcomed to attend.
Download the announcement here >>
Please R.S.V.P. by Monday, Sept. 12, 2005
@ (213) 683-9900
or e-mail: openhouse@lacmanet.org
What Happens When 27 Oncology Thought Leaders From 15 Leading Cancer Centers Work Together?
The Oncology World Congress provides US-based community oncologists with essential knowledge in all aspects of the "world" of oncology, identifying commonalities and best practices across the multiple disciplines within oncology, and focusing on opportunities to improve clinical practice with medical innovations and new technologies. Attendance to the event will be capacity controlled, providing an environment that encourages dialog and the exchange of ideas.
You are invited to attend "The First Annual Oncology World Congress" scheduled for November 17-19, 2005, at the New York Marriott Marquis.
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CMS Announces Proposed Payment Update and Policy Changes for Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) expects to pay approximately $56.5 billion to 875,000 physicians and other health care professionals in 2006, according to a proposed rule released August 1, 2005, that would update payment rates and revise payment policies under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. The proposed rule indicates that payment rates per service for physicians’ services would be reduced by 4.3 percent for 2006, a reduction required by a statutory formula that takes into account substantial growth in overall Medicare spending in 2004.
Read the Full Story>>
The proposed rule will be published in the August 8, 2005 Federal Register. CMS will accept comments on the proposals until September 30, and publish a final rule later this year.
To view the proposed rule, go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/physicians/ on the CMS website. Click on: Medicare Program; Revisions to Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule for Calendar Year 2006 (CMS-1502-P) in the "Highlights" section.
CMA Physicians Mount Grassroots Effort to Halt 26% Medicare Cut
Medicare rate cuts scheduled to begin in 2006 will make it more difficult for seniors to find a physician and further jeopardize access to care for older Californians, according to CMA’s recent Medicare survey. CMA physicians throughout the state have been carrying that message to their federal lawmakers as they meet with U.S. Senators and Representatives in their home districts during Congress’s summer recess.
Read the Full Article Here >>
ASCO Analyzes the New Fee Schedule Rule
ASCO is in the process of analyzing the very complex fee schedule rule and preparing formal comments to CMS. However, we wanted to share some comments on items related to oncology practice based on a preliminary review of the rule.
Read the Full Medicare & Quality Care Alert here >>
CAP Vendor Bidding Suspended -
Comments from CMS Office of External Affairs August 1, 2005
Effective August 3, 2005, CMS is suspending the current CAP vendor bidding process for which bids were previously due August 5, 2005. Any bids received by CMS will be returned to the bidder without review. At a later time, the CAP website http://www.cms.hhs.gov/providers/drugs/compbid/default.asp will provide updates on revised bidding deadlines and additional information about implementation of CAP.
CMS is suspending the bidding at this time to allow us to more fully review public comments to the CAP IFC (CMS-1325-IFC) as well as to implement further clarifications to the bidding process before we proceed to accept bids from vendors. We will be publishing a notice of the suspension in the Federal Register in the near future.
Please note that the CAP IFC comment period has not been suspended and CMS will continue to accept comments until no later than 5PM on September 6, 2005 as stated in the IFC. A link to the interim final rule is available at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/providers/drugs/compbid/default.asp . The process for submitting comments by mail and e-mail is described at the beginning of the rule. We encourage all interested parties to submit comments.
After we are able to analyze the comments and determine how we can best improve the efficiency and attractiveness of the CAP, we anticipate publishing a final rule in late 2005.
We intend to open the bidding for vendors after the publication of this rule. Although we have not yet set a definite timeline, we anticipate that bids would be due to CMS no earlier than 30 days following the publication of the final rule. After the vendors are announced, we will conduct an election period, during which physicians can voluntarily choose to participate in the CAP program and enroll with a particular vendor. At present, we expect that drugs will first be delivered through the CAP by July 2006.
We will continue to provide updates regarding the implementation of CAP through the CAP website and our pharmacy and physician ODF listservs.
ASCO Reports H.R. 261 Builds Momentum
Rep. Hall addressed ASCO members during the Legislative Conference and pledged his continued support and commitment to move House Resolution 261 to a full vote in the Congress in the coming months. Rep. Hall, who introduced House Resolution 261, calling on CMS to extend the demonstration project beyond 2005, has been working closing with ASCO to secure Congressional support. Rep. Hall provided a candid and positive update to ASCO members on the status and outlook for the resolution over the coming months.The unanimous passage of House Res. 261 out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee on July 20 marked a significant milestone. Rep. Hall pledged to work with Congressional leadership to bring this resolution to a full vote when Congress returns from its August recess. ASCO policy team will continue to work with Rep. Hall and other Congressional leaders during August to leverage the momentum and support the resolution has seen in the past few weeks.
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Important Notice: In November 2005, the 2006 Medicare Participation Enrollment Agreement and Fee Schedule information will be sent in CD format. No internet access is required to access the CD information.
Special Notice - 2006 Participation Enrollment and Fee Schedule
National Heritage Insurance Company will once again be sending providers CD's. In November of 2005 the 2006 Participation Enrollment and Fee Schedule information will be sent to providers on CD instead of the usual paper format. No internet access is required to access the information.
There are many advantages to having the participation enrollment material on CD. For example:
* Physician's won’t have to remove the paper participation enrollment form from a booklet. The physician can complete the application on the computer and then print it for mailing.
* A CD is space saving and provides easy access to information. The "search and find" command enables you to skip right to the fee you want. The CD will include the fee schedules for all of California, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Massachusetts.
* You will have more information at your fingertips. Guides for topics such as CMS 1500 Claim Form Completion, EDI, and Provider Enrollment, as well as useful internet links, will be included on the CD.
Providers who have billed Medicare in the past year will be mailed a CD automatically. If, after receiving the CD, they find that they cannot access the data properly or cannot download the information from our website, a paper copy of the fee schedule for their area can be mailed to their office. Further information on ordering a paper copy will be published in our Medicare B Resource Preview in September.
HIPAA Contingency Plans Terminiated
Effective 10/1/05, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will terminate the HIPAA contingency plan for incoming claims. Medicare claims processing contractors will return incoming claims submitted in a non-HIPAA compliant format. Provider instructions will be included in a future Medlearn Matters article. A CMS Press Release has been posted at
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/media/press/release.asp?Counter=1528 on the CMS website.
MM3984 - New Waived Tests Approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Under Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) of 1988
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medlearn/matters/mmarticles/2005/MM3984.pdf
MM4010 - October 2005 Quarterly Update to Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Consolidated Billing (CB)
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medlearn/matters/mmarticles/2005/MM4010.pdf
MM3972 - Medicare Part A Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Prospective Payment System (PPS) Pricer Update FY 2006
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medlearn/matters/mmarticles/2005/MM3972.pdf
MM3897 - Nature and Effect of Assignment on Carrier Claims
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medlearn/matters/mmarticles/2005/MM3897.pdf
SE0418 - Non-Physician Practitioner Questions and Answers Revised: 8/16/2005
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medlearn/matters/mmarticles/2004/SE0418.pdf
CMS is pleased to announce that the "Guide to Medicare Preventive Services for Physicians, Providers, Suppliers, and Other Health Care Professionals" is now available to order. This comprehensive guide to Medicare-covered preventive services and screenings is intended to give physicians, providers, suppliers, and other health care professionals that bill Medicare fee-for-service contractors information on coverage, coding, billing, and reimbursement to help them file claims effectively, while also giving providers information that will enable them to encourage utilization of these benefits as appropriate.
A downloadable PDF version of the guide is available at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medlearn/preventiveservices.asp on the CMS website.
The Guide is also one of the resources included in the Medicare Preventive Services Resources CD ROM for health care professionals. Copies of both the Guide and the CD ROM may be ordered, free of charge, through the Medicare Learning Network's Medlearn home page at www.cms.hhs.gov/medlearn on the web. Order your copies today!
Care Plan Oversight Seminar
On September 14, 2005 NHIC will be holding a Webinar on the topic of Care Plan Oversight & Related Service. Registrations are now being accepted.
The CERT documentation contractor needs help obtaining provider phone numbers.
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CMA Reminder - Don’t Miss the Health Net Claim Deadline, September 21
Even physicians who didn’t treat Health Net patients are eligible
CMA has published a two-page, step-by-step guide to help physicians navigate the Health Net settlement claim-filing process.
Physicians have until Wednesday, September 21, to file a claim for their share of the $39 million settlement. Even physicians who did not treat Health Net patients are still likely eligible for a pro rata share of the $39 million. To be eligible, you need only have provided covered services between August 4, 1990, and May 10, 2005, to any patients covered by any of the defendants in this case—CIGNA, Aetna, Anthem, Coventry, Health Net, Humana, PacifiCare, Prudential, United Healthcare, and Wellpoint.
Physicians who wish to opt out of the settlement must do so by August 22.
Click here for more information.
Contact: CMA’s legal information line, 415/882-5144 or legalinfo@cmanet.org.
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