On August 23, 2013, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a memorandum to state survey agency directors about MDS 3.0 discharge assessments that have not been completed and/or submitted. The memo is intended to help surveyors understand both (a) what nursing homes should do to address inactive residents remaining on their resident roster due to incomplete and/or unsubmitted discharge assessments and (b) how nursing homes can ensure compliance with discharge assessment requirements. CMS is providing this information in order to promote nursing home completion of discharge assessments for inactive residents by September 30, 2013. Beginning October 1,

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing to change the way it reimburses hospitals for facility fees for  emergency department visits. CMS officials want to replace five escalating price codes hospitals can choose from in billing facility fees with one flat rate, starting next year. The 2013 rates for ED facility fees start at $51.82 for a Level 1 patient visit and move up to $344.71 at the top range. For 2014, the CMS is proposing a new flat rate of $212.90 for ED visits, regardless of how intensive the treatment is. To read the full story

On September 5, 2013, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a five-page document clarifying the types of practitioners who may furnish orders for inpatient services and the types of information that must be included in those orders. In the document, the CMS discusses the physician certification and practitioner orders.

Wisconsin Physician Services (WPS), Medicare Administrative Contractor for the states of Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, and Indiana, has add 12 new outpatient therapy FAQs to their website for practices in the above mentioned states. Topics include billing and coding, documentation, functional reporting, modifiers, and general FAQs. To access the FAQs, click

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will make available free provider-specific comparative data reports for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) nationwide. The Program for Evaluating Payment Patterns Electronic Report (PEPPER) provides SNF-specific data statistics for Medicare services that may be at risk for improper Medicare payments. SNFs can use the data to support internal auditing and monitoring activities. PEPPER is a free report comparing a SNF’s Medicare billing practices with other SNFs in the state, Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) or Fiscal Intermediary (FI) jurisdiction and nation.