CGI Federal, RAC for region B, has recently added a new issue to its CMS-approved issue list for providers in all region B states. Pharmacy Supply Dispensing Fee. Medicare pays pharmacy supply/dispensing fees for immunosuppressive, oral anti-cancer, chemotherapeutic, and oral anti-emetic drugs as well as drugs used as part of…
On October 20, 2011, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its final rule for Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) participation in the Medicare Shared Savings Program. With this rule, in response to concerns related to start up costs associated with ACOs, CMS has also announced the creation of…
On October 20, 2011, CMS released the much awaited final rule for implementation of the Medicare Shared Savings Program for providers and suppliers participating in Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). The following are 20 notable aspects of the final rule: •1. While the proposed rule would have required all ACOs to…
Today, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its final rule for Medicare’s Accountable Care Organizations (ACO). The program is designed to encourage health care providers to coordinate care in order to achieve cost-savings and improve the quality of care for Medicare patients. Due to substantial criticism from…
On October 3, 2011, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued an unfavorable advisory opinion regarding a proposed arrangement under which physicians would invest in a company that would provide pathology laboratory management services to a third party. Under the proposed arrangement, a physician…
On October 7, 2011, the United States District Court of New Jersey, made a ruling denying an ambulance services’ request for a preliminary injunction against a Medicare program safeguard contractor (PSC). National Ambulance Services, Inc. (“Nationwide”) sought a preliminary injunction to restrain SafeGuard Services, LLC (“Safeguard”) from continuing its pre-payment…
According to a breaking news article by HealthData Management, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has sent a Shared Saving/Accountable Care Organizations final rule to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. A review by OMB is one of the last stages before a rule becomes…
Today, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) released the fiscal year 2012 Work Plan. The plan describes the activities the OIG plans to continue, as well as activities it plans to initiate. The 2012 fiscal year, and the programs described, runs from October 1, 2011 through September 30, 2012. Below…
DCS Healthcare, the RAC for Region A, posted four new issues to its CMS-approved issues list for providers in Maryland. Medical Necessity Review (MNR)- MDC 5 conditions of the circulatory system (medical) MS-DRGs: 286-293, 299-305, and 308- 316. Medicare pays for inpatient hospital services that are medically necessary for the…
CGI Federal, the RAC for Region B, added two new issues to its CMS-approved issues list. In addition, two more issues were added to the CMS-approved issues list for DME suppliers who bill CIGNA Government Services. CGI Federal New Issues Leuprolide 3.75mg incorrect code reported (Region B). The purpose of…