In a press release on August 15, 2012 Congressman Dan Boren, who represents Oklahoma’s second Congressional District, announced that letters have been sent to Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius; U.S. Congressman Dave Camp, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee; and U.S. Congressman Fred Upton, Chairman…
On August 9, 2012, CGS, the MAC for J15, announced that it will begin complex medical review MS-DRG 312, syncope and collapse, based on findings that the claim denial rate for MS-DRG 312 during a probe conducted in Ohio was 79.9%. This means that providers in Ohio could see MS-DRG…
On August 27, 2012 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) began the Recovery Auditor Prepayment Review Demonstration Program. The program includes prepayment reviews of certain types of claims with high rates of improper payments in eleven states. The states included in the program are Florida, California, Michigan, Texas,…
The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a report on July 31, 2012 which indicates that Medicare contractors made overpayments to providers for the breast cancer drug Herceptin. In an audit of Medicare contractor Novitas Solutions, Inc.‘s (Novitas), formerly Highmark Medicare Services, activities from…
According to a posted response to a query in the Frequently Asked Questions section of its website, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have begun Meaningful Use Audits of eligible professionals and eligible hospitals participating in the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Program. CMS indicated on the website…
On August 2, 2012 the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a report on questionable billing by Home Health Agencies (HHAs). The report found that in 2010, Medicare paid home health claims totaling approximately $5 million as a result of questionable billing, with three…
On August 1, 2012 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a Provider Compliance Interactive Map. The map is an interactive online tool that allows users to view state-by-state contact information and websites for contractors and other Medicare resources. The map is intended to simplify access to contact…
In the recently issued Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) Proposed Rule for 2013, CMS is soliciting comments regarding policy changes that could be made on the issue of inpatient versus outpatient admission. (To view the CMS factsheet please click here.) CMS is seeking comments on potential changes which could…
On July 17, 2012 the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York issued a press release announcing the arrest of 48 individuals in what the release calls the largest single prescription drug diversion scheme ever charged at one time. The result of an organized effort by…
CGI has added a new issue to its approved issues list for Region B: Outpatient Bevacizumab (Avastin) services: Bevacizumab (Avastin) represents 10mg per unit and should be billed one (1) unit for every 10mg per patient. Claims for J9035 should be submitted so that the billed units represent the administered…