"Legacy Free" Day - May 7th. Check your NPI Readiness!
WPS Medicare Part B e-News 5-5-08
Through it's monthly NPI messages, CMS has been requesting providers to being testing NPI-only by sending a group of claims with NPI alone in the primary provider fields. This "exercise" will result in feedback from your Medicare contractor on your readiness as it pertains to your National Provider Identifiers.
On May 7, 2008, participating clearinghouses will send Medicare claims with NPI-only in provider fields, which originally contain NPI/legacy pairs from the provider. In other words, clearinghouses will strip the legacy identifiers when they are submitted as part of an NPI/legacy pair. Of course, fields already containing NPI-only will be sent to Medicare, as usual, and secondary provider identifier fields containing legacy-only will be sent to Medicare, as usual. This exercise will help Medicare providers evaluate their NPI readiness prior to the May 23, 2008 deadline. Need more information? Visit the CMS NPI page by clicking here.
Genetic non-discrimination bill goes to White House
Matthew DoBias - Modern Healthcare
5-1-08
The House passed on a 414-1 vote a bill that makes it illegal for employers and insurers to deny coverage to a person based on their genetic make-up. The legislation, called the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, or GINA, now goes to President Bush, who is expected to sign it into law. At the outset, federal lawmakers and scientists lauded the bill, saying that it would allow individuals to take fuller advantage of preventive healthcare programs and participate in medical trials without the fear that their genetic test results would make it impossible to obtain or keep their health coverage. The Senate passed the bill last week on a 95-0 vote.
PQRI Provider Call 4-30-08 - Powerpoint now available
Posted 4-30-08
The Powerpoint presentation used for today's National Provider Call and the Q&A session from the call are now available on the CMS website. This presentation will provide an overview of the establishmentof alternative reporting periods and alternative criteria for satisfactorily reporting quality measures for the 2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI).
Click here for the CMS Sponsored Calls web page, scroll down to "downloads" and make your selection.
Anthem BCBS introduces transparency initiative to Wisconsin
PRNewswire 4-30-08
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin announced today the launch of its industry-leading
transparency initiative in northeastern Wisconsin. With the addition of Wisconsin, now nearly 3 million Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield members will have access to Anthem's Care Comparison, an online tool that provides total estimated costs associated with all aspects of 39 specific medical procedures performed at local area hospitals.
Read the entire article by clicking here.
DHFS Secretary Hayden to leave post April 15, 2008.
Posted 4-14-08
In a press release issued April 8, Governor Doyle announced that Secretary Kevin Hayden is leaving the Department of Health and Family Services and returning to the private sector.
Click here for the press release and more information:
Wisconsin Act 108 removes barriers to health information exchange among providers
Posted 4-3-08
DHFS Secretary Kevin Hayden has provided WMGMA with an an overview of 2007 Wisconsin Act 108. Act 108 amends requirements in current law (Wisconsin Statutes 51.30 and 146) to remove certain barriers to health information exchange among providers. Click here for more information.
The Department worked for more than 18 months with privacy advocates, health information officers, providers, technology experts and consumers on how to maintain appropriate privacy protections while breaking down barriers to electronic health information exchange.
Please direct any questions or comments regarding implementation of Act108 to eHealthBoard@dhfs.state.wi.us .
CMS issues final Medicare e-prescribing rule
Courtesy of Modern Healthcare 4-2-08
A final rule issued by the CMS that establishes new electronic prescribing standards under Medicare Part D is expected to save money for beneficiaries and improve their healthcare, the agency announced. The CMS expects that the conversion from a paper-based system to e-prescribing will help reduce the number of adverse drug events, which have been estimated at 530,000 a year for Medicare beneficiaries. The new e-prescribing standards will take effect on April 1, 2009.
