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December 27, 2011

Article: CMS Will Not Provide Interim Feedback Reports for Determining if Individual Providers will Incur the 1% 2012 ERx Penalty for Medicare Part B Fee Schedule Services
   Despite CMS indicating in their 9/6/11 final E-Prescribe rules that providers would receive an interim feedback report to know in advance if they would receive the 1% ERx penalty adjustment as of 1/1/2012, CMS announced 12/20/11 these reports were not "technically feasible" for them to provide.
   In addition, CMS has NOT processed the ERx exemption requests which providers could apply for using the Communication Support Page up until 11/8/11. CMS indicates the volume of these requests was too great. The ONLY email notices thus far sent to providers as a result of their exemption request filings, were sent to providers from QualityNet on 12/9/11. The email notified providers they would not be penalized as of 1/1/2012; BUT WAS NOT due to the actual exemption request reason the provider filed. The email was sent to providers whose actual data had been reviewed for the period 1/1/11 thru 6/30/11 based on the Name/NPI/TIN listed in the exemption request; and determined they were already exempt from the penalty (no filing of an exemption request was required). The email sent to providers was VERY confusing. Here is what the email said:
   "Thank you for submitting a request for a significant hardship exemption from the 2012 electronic prescribing (eRx) payment adjustment. Our records indicate that you submitted one or more requests for a significant hardship exemption to the 2012 eRx payment adjustment. This formal notification is to inform you that the 2012 eRx payment adjustment, which will result in a 1.0 percent reduction on an eligible professional’s 2012 Medicare Part B physician fee schedule covered professional services, does NOT apply to you based on the identifying information received in your hardship request. Therefore, your request(s) for a significant hardship exemption to the 2012 eRx payment adjustment will be disregarded.
   If you received the above email...GREAT!! If you did not, then you will NOT receive any notification as to your penalty status that kicks in as of 1/1/2012, although CMS says they contunue to work on a method for notifying providers. At this late date, do not hold your breath.
   Instead, your first indication as to receiving the 1% penalty will occur when you start receiving your 2012 Medicare remittances. On 12/21/11, CMS posted an article describing the remittance and remark codes that will indicate the 1% penalty has been applied. To read the Medlearn article, click here.
   If the exemption request you filed on the Communication Support Page is ultimately approved by CMS after 1/1/2012, any claims where the penalty applied would then need to be re-processed thus creating further chaos to your patient account reconciliation. The MedLearn article also describes the remittance and remark codes you will see when the ERx penalty is subsequently adjusted.

 
 
 


 

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2012 Healthcare Policy & Coding Update Audio Conference 2011-12-14 1PM-2:30PM (Eastern) Sponsored by Physicians First, Inc.
Preventive Strategies to Increase Revenue Caesar's Palace
Las Vegas, Nevada
2011-08-08 1PM-2PM Sponsored by DecisionHealth
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Increase E/M Payments Caesar's Palace
Las Vegas, Nevada
2011-08-08 10:30AM-11:30AM Sponsored by DecisionHealth
Revenue Cycle Management Conference
Clearing the Fog in Confusing Regulations Embassy Suite Hotel
Altamonte Springs, Fl
2011-05-25 12:30PM-5PM Sponsored by Central Florida Chapter of PAHCOM
Understanding ABN Rules & the GZ Modifier Webinar 2011-05-24 1PM-2PM Sponsored by DecisionHealth PartB News
HIPAA 5010 & ICD-10 Caribe Royale
Orlando, Fl
2011-05-09 2:45PM-3:30PM Florida MGMA Annual Conference
Get Up to Speed on Modifier 33 & Preventive Services Webinar 2011-04-27 1PM-2PM (Eastern) Sponsored by DecisionHealth/Multi Coding Pro
Clearing the Air and Lifting the Fog in Confusing Regulations Harry P Leu Gardens
Orlando, Fl
2011-03-09 2PM-4PM Sponsored by Central Florida MGMA
New Advanced Diagnostic Imaging Accreditation Standards Your Practice Must Meet Webinar 2011-02-23 1PM-2PM (Eastern) Sponsored by DecisionHealth
2011 Healthcare Policy & Coding Update Audio Conference 2011-01-11 1PM-2:30PM (Eastern) Sponsored by Physicians First,Inc,
Introduction to HIPAA 5010 & ICD-10 The Sagamore
Lake George, NY
2010-10-24 10AM-11AM 26th Annual Convention
Nurse Practitioner Association of NY State
Proposed PQRI Changes for 2011 Webinar 2010-09-29 1PM-2:30PM Sponsored by DecisionHealth
PartB News
HIPAA 5010 & ICD-10 Implementation
Medicare EHR Program & Defining Meaningful Use
Renaissance Vinoy Resort
St. Petersburg, Fl
2010-09-26 9AM-11AM 2010 BSOF Annual Conference
Sponsored by BONES Society of Florida
Medicare Provider Enrollment & PECOS Caribe Royale Hotel
Orlando, Fl
2010-09-16 8AM-9AM PAHCOM 22nd Annual Conference
Medicare Enrollment Revalidation Audio Conference 2010-07-08 1PM-2:30PM (Eastern) Sponsored by DecisionHealth
PartB News
Updates in the Healthcare Regulatory Environment
Florida MGMA Annual Conference
Caribe Royale Resort
Orlando, Fl
2010-04-21 8:15AM-9:45AM Sponsored by Florida MGMA
Office Manager Lunch Conference South Seminole Hospital
Longwood, Fl
2010-04-20 11:30AM-1PM Sponsored by Seminole County Medical Society
2010 Healthcare Regulatory & Coding Update Audio Conference 2010-01-07 1PM-2:30PM
(Eastern)
Sponsored by Physicians First Inc.
2010 Healthcare Regulatory & Coding Update Audio Conference 2009-12-16 1PM-2:30PM (Eastern) Sponsored by Physicians First Inc
Understanding & Preparing for 2010 PQRI Changes Audio Conference 2009-10-14 1PM-2:30PM (Eastern) Sponsored by Physicians First Inc.
HIPAA 5010 & ICD-10 Diagnosis Coding Audio Conference 2009-10-07 1PM-2:30PM (Eastern) Sponsored by Physicians First Inc.
The Perfect Storm
Reviewing the Numerous Healthcare Initiatives Affecting Your Bottom Line
Harbor Beach Marriott
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl
2009-09-27 9:30AM-10:45AM Sponsored by the BONES Society of Florida
ICD-10 & HIPAA 5010
Understanding the New Systems & Preparing for Implementation
Harbor Beach Marriott
Ft. Lauderdale, Fl
2009-09-26 11:30AM-12:15PM Sponsored by BONES Society of Florida
PQRI for Coders Audio Conference 2009-06-16 1PM-2:30PM Sponsored by DecisionHealth
PQRI Reporting Opportunities Starting 7-1-09 Audio Conference 2009-06-10 1PM-2:30PM Sponsored by DecisionHealth
PartB News
Medicare Provider Enrollment Update Caribe Roylae
Orlando, Fl
2009-04-09 3:30PM-5PM Florida MGMA Annual Meeting
Recovery Audit Contractors
Are You Ready for Implementation?
Audio Conference 2009-04-01 1PM-2:30PM Sponsored by Physicians First Inc.
Physician Quality Reporting Initiative & Electronic Prescribing Vero Beach Fl 2009-02-24 9AM-12N Sponsored by Physicians First and
Indian River County Medical Society
Physician Quality Reporting Initiative & Electronic Prescribing South Lake Hospital - Classroom A
Clermont, Fl
2009-02-11 9AM-12N Sponsored by Physicians First Inc
and Lake-Sumter Medical Society
2009 Healthcare Coding & Policy Update Audio Conference 2009-01-07 1PM-2:30PM Sponsored by Physicians First Inc.
Emergency Update to Medicare Enrollment Rules Audio Conference 2008-12-18 1 PM-2:30 PM Sponsored by DecisionHealth PartB News
Emergency Update to Medicare Enrollment Rules Audio Conference 2008-12-17 1 PM-2:30 PM Sponsored by Physicians First Inc
Achieve Your PQRI Bonus in 2009 Audio Conference 2008-12-16 1 PM-2:30 PM Sponsored by DecisionHealth PartB News
PQRI Changes for 2009 Audio Conference 2008-12-02 1 PM-2:30 PM Sponsored by DecisionHealth PartB News
Medicare Advantage: What you Need to Know Audio Conference 2008-10-22 1 PM-2:30 PM Sponsored by DecisionHealth PartB News
New Medicare Regulations Impacting Your Medical Business Now! Audio Conference 2008-09-30 1 PM-2:30 PM Sponsored by Physicians First Inc.
Medicare Update Hot Topics Now - Proposals for the Future Hilton Walt Disney World Resort
Orlando, Florida
2008-09-28 Sponsored by BONES Society of Florida
Medicare Enrollment
Get it Right the First Time
Audio Conference 2008-09-17 1 PM-2:30PM Sponsored by DecisionHealthPartB News
Medicare Advantage Plans & Florida Prompt Pay Laws
Understanding the Rules for Plans & Providers
Audio Conference 2008-06-19 1PM-3PM Sponsored by Physicians First, Inc
Locum Tenens Billing Rules Audio Conference 2008-06-18 1PM-2:30PM Sponsored by DecisionHealth
Understanding Medicare Advantage Plans & Florida Prompt Pay Laws
What Are the Rules for Plans & Providers?
Florida Hospital Waterman
Tavares, Florida
2008-05-15 9AM-12N Sponsored by Lake-Sumter County Medical Society & Physicians First, Inc.
Perfect Your Peripheral Vascular Coding Webinar 2008-04-23 1PM-2:30PM Sponsored by Cardiology Coders Pink Sheet-DecisionHealth
Final NPI Countdown-Last Chance to Solve NPI Challenges Audio Conference 2008-04-15 1PM-2:30PM Sponsored by PartBNews/DecisionHealth
PQRI Update 2008 Marriott Lake Mary
Lake Mary, Florida
2008-03-28 9AM-10:45AM Sponsored by McKesson Medical-Surgical
PQRI for Coders: Tips & Tactics to Get Your 1.5% Bonus Pay in 2008 Audio Conference 2008-03-04 1PM-2:30PM Sponsored by Multi-Specialty Coding Pro/DecisionHealth
Medicare Advantage Private Fee for Service Plans
How They Work & What It Means to be Deemed
Audio Conference 2008-02-26 1PM-2:30PM Sponsored by PartB News-DecisionHealth
PQRI-Earning Your 1.5% In 2008 Audio Conference 2008-01-15 1PM-2:30PM Sponsored by PartB News, DecisionHealth
2008 Healthcare Coding & Policy Update Audio Conference 2008-01-11 11AM-1:30PM Sponsored by Physicians First
2008 Healthcare Coding & Policy Update United Way Building of Indian River
Vero Beach, Fl
2008-01-10 9AM-12N Sponsored by Physicians First & Indian River County Medical Society
2008 Healthcare Coding & Policy Update Florida Hospital Waterman
Tavares, Florida
2008-01-09 9AM-12N Sponsored by Physicians First & Lake-Sumter Medical Sociaety
2008 Healthcare Coding & Policy Update The Courtyard Marriott
Cocoa Beach, Fl
2008-01-08 9AM-12N Sponsored by Physicians First & Brevard County Medical Society
HIPAA 5010 & ICD-10 Implementation
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