Hello Everyone,
Please enjoy the information contained in this edition of Frontier Focus. Please be sure to share it with your members, colleagues, providers and office billing staff. Thank you for your continued efforts to broadcast Medicare information to the providers in Region VIII.
Table of Contents
1. Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program Bidders’ Conference: Open Call
2. Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS-C) National Provider Call with Question & Answer Session
3. Upcoming Meetings Regarding ESRD Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule
4. Nursing Home Quality Measure Development Technical Expert Panel (TEP)
5. New from the Medicare Learning Network®
6. Revised October 2009 Average Sales Price (ASP) File Is Now Available
7. Health Information Technology News -- A Message from Dr. Blumenthal on Meaningful Use
8. October Flu Message
9. October is Healthy Lung Month
10. Extra Help for Beneficiaries Paying for Prescription Drugs
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1. Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program Bidders’ Conference: Open Call
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Special Open Door Forum:
Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program Bidders’ Conference:
Open Call
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
3:30 pm-4:30 pm Eastern Time
Conference Call Only
Please join us for the seventh in a series of eight Special Open Door Forum (ODF) bidders’ conferences for the Round 1 Rebid of the Medicare durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS) competitive bidding program. At this Special ODF, we will respond to prospective bidders’ questions about the competitive bidding process. If you have not done so already, please submit your questions to CMS at cbic.teleconference@PalmettoGBA.com.
Reminder: Time is running out to register for user IDs and passwords. The registration deadline for Authorized Officials (AOs) was September 14, 2009. If your AO has not yet registered, we cannot guarantee that he or she will be able to complete the registration process before registration closes on November 4, 2009 at 9 p.m. EST. This is especially a concern if the National Supplier Clearinghouse (NSC) record for your company is not current and accurate. AOs should register now to allow Backup Authorized Officials and End Users time to register. In addition, suppliers whose AOs do not register now run the risk of experiencing delays in accessing the on-line bidding system to get a bidder number and thereby missing the opportunity to submit financial documents by the Covered Document Review Date (CDRD). Register now at www.dmecompetitivebid.com.
Background:
On August 3, 2009, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service (CMS) issued the bidding timeline for the Round 1 Rebid of the DMEPOS competitive bidding program and initiated a comprehensive bidder education campaign. CMS’ Competitive Bidding Implementation Contractor (CBIC) is the focal point for bidder education. Please visit the CBIC's dedicated website, www.dmecompetitivebid.com, for important information, including bidding rules, user guides, frequently asked questions, policy fact sheets, checklists, and bidding information charts. The CBIC toll-free help desk, 1‑877‑577‑5331, is open to help bidders with all of their questions and concerns. All suppliers interested in bidding are urged to sign up for e-mail updates on the home page of the CBIC website.
We look forward to your participation.
Special Open Door Participation Instructions:
Dial: 1-800-837-1935 & Reference Conference ID: 35206461
Note: TTY Communications Relay Services are available for the Hearing Impaired. For TTY services dial 7-1-1 or 1-800-855-2880. A Relay Communications Assistant will help.
An audio recording of this Special Forum will be posted to the Special Open Door Forum website at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/OpenDoorForums/05_ODF_SpecialODF.asp and will be accessible for downloading beginning Monday, October 26, 2009.
For Open Door Forum schedule updates, E-Mailing list subscriptions, and to view Frequently Asked Questions please visit our website at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/opendoorforums/ .
Thank you for your interest in CMS Open Door Forums.
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2. Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS-C) National Provider Call with Question & Answer Session
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Provider Communications Group will host a national provider conference call on the Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS-C). This toll-free call will take place from 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., EDT, on Thursday, October 22, 2009.
OASIS-C is a modification to the Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) that Home Health Agencies (HHAs) must collect in order to participate in the Medicare program. OASIS-C is the first major update of the OASIS dataset since it was introduced in 1999. Changes to the OASIS include significant revisions to existing items and the addition of items that measure the processes of care. Transition to OASIS-C is scheduled to occur January 1st, 2010.
This call will provide attendees with background on why OASIS is changing and tips on preparing for the transition. Presenters include members of the team of clinical consultants that has assisted CMS with the development of the new OASIS-C dataset.
Following the presentation, the lines will be opened to allow participants to ask questions of CMS OASIS-C subject matter experts.
A PowerPoint slide presentation will be posted to the OASIS-C webpage at, http://www.cms.hhs.gov/HomeHealthQualityInits/02_CMSSponsoredCalls.asp#TopOfPage, on the CMS website for you to download prior to the call so that you can follow along with the presenter.
In order to maximize learning opportunities, attendees are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the new OASIS instrument prior to the calls and begin planning how their agency will prepare for the transition to OASIS-C. To learn more about OASIS-C and download the new OASIS-C dataset, visit:
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/HomeHealthQualityInits/06_OASISC.asp#TopOfPage
Conference call details:
Date: October 22, 2009
Conference Title: Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS-C) National Provider Call
Time: 2:30 p.m. EDT
In order to receive the call-in information, you must register for the call. It is important to note that if you are planning to sit in with a group, only one person needs to register to receive the call-in data. This registration is solely to reserve a phone line, NOT to allow participation. Registration will close at 2:30 p.m. EDT on October 21, 2009, or when available space has been filled. No exceptions will be made, so please be sure to register prior to this time.
1. To register for the call participants need to go to:
http://www.eventsvc.com/palmettogba/102209
2. Fill in all required data.
3. Verify your time zone is displayed correctly the drop down box.
4. Click "Register".
5. You will be taken to the “Thank you for registering” page and will receive a confirmation e-mail shortly thereafter. Note: Please print and save this page, in the event that your server blocks the confirmation e-mails. If you do not receive the confirmation e-mail, please check your spam/junk mail filter as it may have been directed there.
For those of you who will be unable to attend, a transcript of the call will be available at least one week after the call at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/HomeHealthQualityInits, on the CMS website.
If you require services for the hearing impaired please send an email to: Medicare.TTT@PalmettoGBA.com.
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3. Upcoming Meetings Regarding ESRD Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services - Special Open Door Forum:
End Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule Overview
Thursday October 15, 2009
3:30PM – 5:00PM EDT
Conference Call Only
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will hold a Special Open Door Forum (ODF) to discuss the End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System (PPS) proposed rule that went on display at the Federal Register on September 15, 2009. The primary audiences for this Special ODF are ESRD facilities and provider, supplier, laboratory and beneficiary groups.
The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA) was enacted on July 15, 2008. Section 153(b) of MIPPA amended section 1881(b) of the Social Security Act to require the implementation of an end-stage renal disease (ESRD) bundled payment system effective January 1, 2011 (herein referred to as the “ESRD PPS”).
In the September 29, 2009 Federal Register (74 FR 49922), we published a proposed rule outlining the proposed ESRD PPS. This ESRD PPS proposed rule would implement a case-mix adjusted bundled prospective payment system (PPS) for Medicare outpatient ESRD facilities beginning January 1, 2011, in compliance with section 153(b) of MIPPA. The proposed ESRD PPS would replace the current basic case-mix adjusted composite payment system and the methodologies for the reimbursement of separately billable outpatient ESRD services.
During this ODF, CMS staff will highlight the key features of the proposed ESRD PPS including the:
• composition of the bundle and basis for the proposed unit of payment;
• data sources used in developing the system;
• proposed patient-level and facility-level case mix adjusters;
• proposed outlier policy; and
• proposed market basket.
CMS will also discuss implementation issues associated with the proposed system, highlight key findings reflected in the impact analysis, provide a brief overview of the quality incentive program that CMS discusses as a conceptual model with the proposal of three quality measures for 2012, and summarize issues that have been identified for further analysis within the final rule.
Afterwards, there will be an opportunity for the public to ask questions.
Discussion materials for this Special ODF will be available to download at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ESRDPayment/ by October 14, 2009.
We look forward to your participation.
Special Open Door Forum Participation Instructions:
Dial: 1-800-837-1935
Reference Conference ID#: 26811397
Note: TTY Communications Relay Services are available for the Hearing Impaired.
For TTY services dial 7-1-1 or 1-800-855-2880. A Relay Communications Assistant will help.
An audio recording and transcript of this Special Open Door Forum will be posted to the Special Open Door Forum website: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/OpenDoorForums/05_ODF_SpecialODF.asp and will be accessible for downloading beginning October 25, 2009 and will be available for 30 days.
For automatic emails of Open Door Forum schedule updates (E-Mailing list subscriptions) and to view Frequently Asked Questions please visit our website at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/opendoorforums/ .
Thank you for your interest in CMS Open Door Forums.
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Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services - Town Hall Meeting:
End Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule
Friday October 23, 2009 - 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT
CMS Central Office Auditorium and Conference Call
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requests your participation in a Town Hall meeting on Friday, October 23, 2009, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM (Eastern Daylight Time). The meeting will be held in the auditorium at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, 7500 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Maryland 21244, with the opportunity to listen via conference call.
The purpose of this meeting is to allow interested parties to make oral statements in response to the End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Prospective Payment System (PPS) proposed rule that was published in the Federal Register on September 29, 2009. This ESRD PPS proposed rule would implement a case-mix adjusted bundled prospective payment system for Medicare outpatient ESRD dialysis facilities beginning January 1, 2011, in compliance with section 153(b) of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA). The proposed ESRD PPS would replace the current basic case-mix adjusted composite payment system and the methodologies for the reimbursement of separately billable outpatient ESRD related services.
The Town Hall meeting is open to the public. Primary audiences for this meeting include ESRD facilities and beneficiary, provider, supplier and laboratory groups. Individuals interested in attending the event on-site at the CMS complex must register in advance. We are extending registration until Friday, October 9, 2009 or until seating capacity has been reached, whichever occurs first.
Please note: Registration is required only for on-site participation. Individuals interested in listening to the event via conference call should not register.
Registration Details for On-Site Attendance
Registration instructions for attending the Town Hall meeting on-site are located at the following web site: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ESRDPayment/PAY/itemdetail.asp?filterType=none&filterByDID=-99&sortByDID=4&sortOrder=descending&itemID=CMS1228519&intNumPerPage=10
We request that individuals interested in providing oral statements attend the event on-site. In addition to registering to attend on-site, these individuals are required to register separately to make an oral statement during the meeting. Speaker registration instructions are located at the following web site: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ESRDPayment/20_town_hall_speaker.asp#TopOfPage
In general, speaker registration will be accepted on a first come, first served basis. However, in the event the number of speaker requests exceeds the allotted timeframe for the town hall meeting, we reserve the right to select those speakers that will offer the broadest array of topics and viewpoints.
Conference Call Participation
Individuals who are unable to attend on-site may listen in via a toll free conference line by dialing 1-800-837-1935, conference ID number 33239635. This call-in line will be available on a first come first served basis on Friday, October 23, 2009 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM (Eastern Daylight Time).
A recorded audio version of the Town Hall meeting will also be available Monday, October 26, 2009 beginning at 9:00 AM through Thursday, October 29, 2009 at 11:59 PM (Eastern Daylight Time) by dialing 1-800-642-1687, conference ID number 33239635.
We look forward to your participation.
Note: TTY Communications Relay Services are available for the Hearing Impaired.
For TTY services dial 7-1-1 or 1-800-855-2880. A Relay Communications Assistant will help.
Thank you for your interest in CMS Town Hall Meetings.
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4. Nursing Home Quality Measure Development Technical Expert Panel (TEP)
CMS is seeking nominations for a Nursing Home Quality Measure Development Technical Expert Panel (TEP). This panel will identify post acute and chronic quality measures that will be presented to the National Quality Forum for possible endorsement. Fifteen to twenty individuals will be selected from the nominations received. The TEP will convene in Baltimore, MD on October 26, 2009 - October 27, 2009. In addition to meeting in Baltimore, TEP members will review materials provided in advance, complete voting forms explaining the rationale for each recommendation, must be available to participate in follow-up conference calls, and be available for follow-up communications to clarify their responses or gain additional input. Interested parties should visit the following web page for additional information - http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/QMIS/CallforTEP.asp. All nominations must be submitted by October 12, 2009.
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5. New from the Medicare Learning Network®
The following rural health publications are now available from the Medicare Learning Network:
· The revised Rural Health Bookmark (April 2009), which provides information about educational resources that are available to the rural health community, is available in downloadable and print formats.
· The Rural Health Fact Sheet Series (Summer 2009), which provides information about rural facility types and coverage and payment policies, is available in CD-Rom format. The following publications are included in the fact sheet series:
o Critical Access Hospital;
o Federally Qualified Health Center;
o Medicare Dependent Hospital;
o Medicare Disproportionate Share Hospital;
o Rural Health Clinic;
o Rural Referral Center;
o Sole Community Hospital;
o Swing Bed; and
o Telehealth Services.
To access the downloadable version of the Rural Health Bookmark, visit http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/Ruralbookmark.pdf . To place your order for the print version of the Rural Health Bookmark or the Rural Health Fact Sheet Series CD-Rom, visit http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNGenInfo/ , scroll down to “Related Links Inside CMS” and select “MLN Product Ordering Page.”
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The 2009 – 2010 Seasonal Influenza Educational Products and Resources document, which provides a list of MLN products and other resources with information about Medicare policies regarding seasonal flu, has been newly revised and updated! It is now available on the Medicare Learning Network in a downloadable, printable format at the following address:
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/Downloads/Flu_Products.pdf
For more information about Medicare’s coverage of the seasonal influenza vaccine and its administration as well as the many other preventive services Medicare covers, please go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/35_PreventiveServices.asp on the CMS website.
For information on Medicare policies related to H1N1 influenza, please go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/H1N1 on the CMS website.
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The Medicare Learning Network’s Adult Immunization Brochure has been newly revised and updated!
This brochure provides information about Medicare coverage of the seasonal influenza, pneumococcal, and Hepatitis B vaccines. It is now available on the Medicare Learning Network in a downloadable, printable format at the following address:
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/Adult_Immunization.pdf
Printed hardcopy versions of this brochure will be available at a later date.
For more products related to Medicare-covered preventive services, please visit our preventive services educational products website at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/35_PreventiveServices.asp
Please note: The information in the adult immunizations brochure relates to seasonal influenza only. For information related to Medicare coverage and policy related to H1N1 influenza, also called "swine flu", please visit http://www.cms.hhs.gov/H1N1 on the CMS website.
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The Medicare Learning Network’s Glaucoma Screenings Brochure has been newly revised and updated!
This brochure provides information about Medicare coverage of glaucoma screenings, including dilated eye examinations with an intraocular pressure measurement, direct ophthalmoscopy examinations and slit-lamp biomicroscopic examinations. It is now available on the Medicare Learning Network in a downloadable, printable format at the following address:
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/Glaucoma.pdf
Printed hardcopy versions of this brochure will be available at a later date.
For more products related to Medicare-covered preventive services, please visit our preventive services educational products website at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/35_PreventiveServices.asp
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6. Revised October 2009 Average Sales Price (ASP) File Is Now Available
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has posted the revised October 2009 ASP and NOC pricing files, which are available for download at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/McrPartBDrugAvgSalesPrice/01a1_2009aspfiles.asp.
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7. Health Information Technology News -- A Message from Dr. Blumenthal on Meaningful Use
Health Information Technology News -- A Message from Dr. Blumenthal on Meaningful Use
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) has distributed this message through their communication channels and posted it on their website at the following link: http://healthit.hhs.gov/portal/server.pt?open=512&objID=1350&parentname=CommunityPage&parentid=5&mode=2&in_hi_userid=11113&cached=true# .
"Meaningful" Progress Toward Electronic Health Information Exchange
A Message from Dr. David Blumenthal, National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
I recently reported on our announcement of State Health Information Technology Grants and grants to establish Health Information Technology Regional Extension Centers, as authorized under the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the Recovery Act).
Today I want to discuss the important term “meaningful use” of electronic health records (EHRs) – both as a concept that underlies the movement toward an electronic health care environment and as a practical set of standards that will be issued as a proposed regulation by the end of 2009.
The HITECH Act provisions of the Recovery Act create a truly historic opportunity to transform our health system through unprecedented investments in the development of a nationwide electronic health information system. This system will ultimately help facilitate, inform, measure, and sustain improvements in the quality, efficiency, and safety of health care available to every American. Simply put, health professionals will be able to give better care, and their patients’ experience of care will improve, leading to better health outcomes overall.
As many of you are aware, the HITECH Act provides incentive payments to doctors and hospitals that adopt and meaningfully use health information technology. Eligible physicians, including those in solo or small practices, can receive up to $44,000 over five years under Medicare or $63,750 over six years under Medicaid for being meaningful users of certified electronic health records. Hospitals that become meaningful EHR users could receive up to four years of financial incentive payments under Medicare beginning in 2011, and up to six years of incentive payments under Medicaid beginning in October 2010.
The HITECH Act’s financial incentives demonstrate Congress’ and the Administration’s commitment to help those who want to improve their care delivery, and will serve as a catalyst to accelerate and smooth the path to HIT adoption by more individual providers and organizations. The dollars are tangible evidence of a national determination to bring health care into the 21st century.
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) is charged with coordinating nationwide efforts to implement and use the most advanced health information technology and the electronic exchange of health information. ONC is working with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), through an open and transparent process, on efforts to officially designate what constitutes “meaningful use.”
ONC has already engaged in a broad range of efforts to support the development of a formal definition of meaningful use. The HITECH Act designated a federal advisory committee, the HIT Policy Committee, with broad representation from major health care constituencies, to provide recommendations to ONC on meaningful use. The HIT Policy Committee has provided two sets of recommendations, informed by input from a variety of stakeholders. ONC and CMS have also conducted a series of listening sessions to solicit feedback from more than 200 representatives of various constituent groups and an open comment period where over 800 public comments were submitted and reviewed. The second set of recommendations on meaningful use was issued at a July 16 HIT Policy Committee meeting and details can be found at healthit.hhs.gov/policycommittee.
CMS is expected to publish a formal definition of meaningful use, for the purposes of receiving the Medicare and Medicaid incentive payments, by December 31, 2009. At that time, the public will be able to comment on the definition, and such comments will be considered in reaching any final definition of the term.
By focusing on “meaningful use,” we recognize that better health care does not come solely from the adoption of technology itself, but through the exchange and use of health information to best inform clinical decisions at the point of care. Meaningful use of EHRs, we anticipate, will also enable providers to reduce the amount of time spent on duplicative paperwork and gain more time to spend with their patients throughout the day. It will lead us toward improvements and sustainability of our health care system that can only be attained with the help of a reliable and secure nationwide electronic health information system.
The concept of meaningful use is simple and inspiring, but we recognize that it becomes significantly more complex at a policy and regulatory level. As a result, we expect that any formal definition of “meaningful use” must include specific activities health care providers need to undertake to qualify for incentives from the federal government.
Ultimately, we believe “meaningful use” should embody the goals of a transformed health system. Meaningful use, in the long-term, is when EHRs are used by health care providers to improve patient care, safety, and quality.
What’s next?
As stated above, the next step in our process is a notice of proposed rulemaking in late 2009 with a public comment period in early 2010. As this process unfolds, we will continue to talk and share experiences about transitioning to EHRs, and to help deepen understanding among physicians and hospitals about the use of EHRs. We will also present programs designed to help smooth the transition process, and identify activities physicians and hospitals can engage in now to promote adoption of EHRs. As efforts advance, we will turn our attention to other necessary supporting programs, some of which you will hear more about in the coming weeks, including defining what constitutes a “certified” EHR, which is one of the requirements to qualify for Medicare and Medicaid incentives.
In the meantime, what can providers do to move toward becoming “meaningful users” – even in the absence of a formal definition? Naturally, while understanding that the final definition will be adopted through a formal rulemaking process, it will be helpful to be as familiar as possible with the discussion of meaningful use criteria to date. (You will find that information posted at healthit.hhs.gov/meaningfuluse.)
Armed with an understanding of the discussion of meaningful use as it unfolds, providers can begin to consider how their own practices or organizations might be reshaped to enhance the efficiency and quality of care through the use of an electronic health record system. Be assured you will not be alone as you seek to adopt an EHR system. Through our recently announced collaborative HITECH grants programs and others to be initiated later this year, we will continue to support providers in moving forward. Additional details about the grants are also available in my previous update and at healthit.hhs.gov/HITECHgrants.
To some providers, particularly small or already stretched physician practices or small, rural hospitals, the path toward meaningful use may still seem arduous. To others, who would just prefer to stick with the “status quo,” it may seem like an unwanted intrusion. We believe that the time has come for coordinated action. The price of inaction – in adverse events, lost patient lives, delayed or improper treatments, unnecessary procedures, excessive costs, and so on – is just too high, and will only get worse.
There is much at stake and much to do. We must relieve the crushing burden of health care costs in this country by improving efficiency, and assuring the highest level of patient care and safety regardless of geography or demographics. By using current technologies in a meaningful way, as well as technology to be developed in the future, we will take great strides toward solving some of the most vexing problems facing our health care system and creating a new platform for innovative solutions to health care.
I look forward to providing periodic updates, and to continued interactions with all the communities that have so much to gain from this profound transformation.
Sincerely,
David Blumenthal, M.D., M.P.P.
National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
This letter is part of a series of ongoing updates from the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) encourages you to share this information as we work together to enhance the quality, safety and value of care and the health of all Americans through the use of electronic health records and health information technology.
For more information and to receive regular updates from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, please subscribe to our Health IT News list.
If you have difficulty viewing this message, please view it online. To ensure that you receive future correspondence, please add this email address to your list of secure addresses
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8. October Flu Message
Flu Season is upon us! CMS encourages providers to begin taking advantage of each office visit to encourage your patients with Medicare to get seasonal flu shots. Flu shots are their best defense against combating flu this season. And don’t forget—health care workers also need to protect themselves.
Medicare provides coverage of the flu vaccine without any out-of-pocket costs to the Medicare patient as a part B benefit. No deductible or copayment/coinsurance applies. Note that influenza vaccine is NOT a Part D covered Drug.
For more information about Medicare’s coverage of the seasonal influenza vaccine and its administration, as well as related educational resources for health care professionals, please go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/35_PreventiveServices.asp on the CMS website.
For information on Medicare policies related to H1N1 influenza, please go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/H1N1 on the CMS website. Additional information can also be found in the attached “Weekly H1N1 Influenza Bulletin.”
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9. October is Healthy Lung Month
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is asking the provider community to keep their patients with Medicare healthy by encouraging them to take advantage of Medicare-covered smoking and tobacco-use cessation counseling benefits.
Tobacco use continues to be the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States. Smoking can attribute to and exacerbate heart disease, stroke, lung disease, cancer, diabetes, hypertension, osteoporosis, macular degeneration, abdominal aortic aneurysm, and cataracts. Smoking harms nearly every organ of the body and generally diminishes the health of smokers.
Medicare provides coverage of smoking and tobacco-use cessation counseling for beneficiaries who use tobacco and have a disease or adverse health effect linked to tobacco use, or who take certain therapeutic agents whose metabolism or dosage is affected by tobacco use.
What Can You Do?
As a health care professional who provides care to patients with Medicare, you can help protect the health of your patients by educating them about their risk factors and encourage them to take advantage of Medicare-covered smoking and tobacco-use cessation counseling benefits as appropriate.
For More Information
CMS has developed several educational products related to Medicare-covered smoking and tobacco-use cessation counseling:
o The Guide to Medicare Preventive Services for Physicians, Providers, Suppliers, and Other Health Care Professionals ~ provides coverage and coding information on the array of preventive services and screenings that Medicare covers, including smoking and tobacco-use cessation counseling. http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/mps_guide_web-061305.pdf
o The MLN Preventive Services Educational Products Web Page ~ provides descriptions and ordering information for Medicare Learning Network (MLN) preventive services educational products, including products related to Medicare-covered smoking and tobacco-use cessation counseling. http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/35_PreventiveServices.asp
o Quick Reference Information: Medicare Preventive Services ~ this double-sided chart provides coverage and coding information on Medicare-covered preventive services, including smoking and tobacco-use cessation counseling. http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/MPS_QuickReferenceChart_1.pdf
o Smoking and Tobacco-Use Cessation Counseling brochure~ this brochure provides information on coverage for Medicare-covered smoking and tobacco-use cessation counseling. http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/smoking.pdf
Please visit the Medicare Learning Network for more information on these and other Medicare fee-for-service educational products. For more information about the risks of smoking and resources to help encourage your patients to quit, please visit the American Lung Association’s “Quit Smoking” website at: http://www.lungusa.org/site/c.dvLUK9O0E/b.33484/k.438A/Quit_Smoking.htm.
Thank you for helping CMS improve the health of patients with Medicare by joining in the effort to educate eligible beneficiaries about the importance of taking advantage of smoking and tobacco-use cessation counseling services and other preventive services covered by Medicare.
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10. Extra Help for Beneficiaries Paying for Prescription Drugs
Do You Know Someone Who Is Having Trouble Paying For Prescription Drugs?
Medicare Can Help!
If an individual has limited income and resources, they may qualify for extra help from Medicare. It could be worth over $3,300 in savings on prescription drug costs per year.
Encourage people with Medicare to file for Extra Help online: https://s044a90.ssa.gov/apps6z/i1020/main.html or by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 to apply over the phone.
State Health Insurance Information Program (SHIP) offices can assist with the application. Find contact information for a local SHIP Counselor at http://www.medicare.gov/contacts/static/allStateContacts.asp or by calling
1-800-MEDICARE.
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Lucretia James
Division for Medicare Health Plans Operations
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Region VIII
1600 Broadway, Suite 700
Denver, CO 80202
(303) 844-1568
lucretia.james@cms.hhs.gov
Professor Emeritus -- Dr. Tom Seymour from West Fargo, North Dakota -- Professor, Minot State University, MSU Faculty Regents Award (2015) -- PAST Peer Reviewer (Higher Learning Commission - Chicago); - Author and Presenter Board of Directors, SRT Communications, Inc and Minot City Alderman - Ward 5 (2010-June, 2016) PAST - Editor-in-Chief (North Dakota State Senator (2002-2010) 2017-Cass County Electric Cooperative- Board of Directors
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