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07/21/13

Revised CMS 1500 Paper Claim Form

On June 10, 2013, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved the revised CMS 1500 claim form, version 02/12, OMB control number, 0938-1197. The CMS 1500 claim form is the required format for submitting claims to Medicare on paper.

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07/19/13

CMS Issues 2014 Proposed Rule

On July 19, 2013, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released “Medicare Program; Revisions to Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule, Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule & Other Revisions to Part B for CY 2014; Proposed Rule”. This is the yearly proposed rule that sets payment and regulatory policies for services reimbursed under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule that does include outpatient physical, occupational, and speech therapy services. Highlights of the proposed rule include: physician fee schedule update, significant changes to the PQRS program, incident to physician therapy services, off-campus hospital-based therapy departments, and implementing the therapy cap

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07/02/13

Mandated Health Insurance Requirement Delayed

The White House announced on July 2, 2013, they were delaying the Accountable Care Organizations mandate of employers with more than 51 full-time workers to offer qualifying health insurance coverage to their employees or face a penalty was being delayed until 2015. The delay does not change the individual mandate, which requires most Americans to purchase insurance. Some consumers may receive subsidies to help them pay for the insurance depending o their incomes.

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06/22/13

WPS To Host SNF Onsite Seminars

Wisconsin Physician Services (WPS), Medicare Administrative Contractor for the states of Indiana and Michigan, will be hosting 2 live onsite seminars discussing skilled nursing facility consolidated billing on July 16, 2013 in Indianapolis, IN and July 17, 2013 in East Lansing, MI. To register for the SNF consolidated billing seminars, click HERE.

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06/22/13

WPS to Host Outpatient Therapy Seminar

Wisconsin Physician Services (WPS), Medicare Administrative Contractor for private practices in the states of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska, will be hosting 2 seminars on outpatient therapy. The first is on July 16, 2013 in Iowa City, IA (registration now open) and the second will be on August 27, 2013 in Omaha, NE (registration opens July 2, 2013). Each seminar is 3 hours in length and seating is limited to the first 50 registrants. For additional information and to register for the outpatient therapy seminar, click HERE. If you are a private practice in Indiana or Michigan, WPS will be

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06/22/13

MedPAC Issues June Report to Congress

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) issued their June 2013 report to Congress. The report is 303 pages in length and consists of 9 chapters. Chapter 9 is titled “Mandated report: Improving Medicare’s payment system for outpatient therapy services” and consists of Medicare payment policy for outpatient therapy services, Medicare spending on outpatient therapy services, and significant recommendations to reform Medicare policy and payment for outpatient therapy services. Recommendations include changing the certification period, a drastic reduction in the therapy cap dollar amount for all 3 disciplines, and changes to the use of V codes for outpatient therapy services, just

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06/21/13

Cahaba Releases Recorded Events

Cahaba Government Services, Medicare Administrative Contractor in Kentucky and Ohio, has released recorded events on “How to Complete the CMS 1500 Claim Form”, “How To Submit an Appeal: The Redetermination Level”, and “CMS Signature Requirements”, just to name 3. To access the recorded events, click HERE.

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06/21/13

Novitas Solutions Releases Revised PT&OT LCD

Novitas Solutions, Medicare Administrative Contractor in the states of Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, has released an updated Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Services, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy local coverage determination. The revision effective date is

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