Resource MLN Connects Newsletter

MLN Connects® Newsletter​

Get the Latest Info from CMS GOV

Subscribe to our weekly email newsletter for health care providers. Our staff compiles news from across CMS into your single source for:

• Program and policy details
• News and announcements
• Press releases
• Upcoming educational event registration and reminders
• Claim, pricer, and code information
• Updates on new and revised MLN Matters Articles® and publications

MLN Connects® Newsletter | CMS

For Medicare FFS providers: Read the MLN Connects newsletter to learn about Medicare payment, policy, coding, compliance, and preventive services.

www.cms.gov

 

[Lori]

This week's news updates are available from MLN Newsletter from CMS GOV.
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Thursday, August 11, 2022

News

• Monkeypox & Smallpox Vaccines: New Product Codes
• Payment Allowance Update for COVID-19 Monoclonal Antibody Therapy Q0222 Injection, Bebtelovimab, 175 mg
• CMS Announces Resources & Flexibilities to Assist Kentucky Due to Recent Storms
• Hospice Quality Reporting Program: Measure Change

Compliance

• What’s the Comprehensive Error Rate Testing Program?

Claims, Pricers, & Codes

• Quarterly Update to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Database (MPFSDB) - October 2022
• Integrated Outpatient Code Editor: Java Beta File Release

MLN Matters® Articles

• Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Prospective Payment System (IPF PPS) Updates for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023
• Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) Annual Update: Prospective Payment System (PPS) Pricer Changes for FY 2023
• New Waived Tests
• Implementation of the Capital Related Assets (CRA) Adjustment for the Transitional Add-on Payment Adjustment for New and Innovative Equipment and Supplies (TPNIES) Under the End-Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment System (ESRD PPS) — Revised

Publications

• Skilled Nursing Facility Billing Reference — Revised

Multimedia

• Hospice Quality Reporting Program Videos

2022-08-11-MLNC | CMS

Thursday, August 11, 2022 News

www.cms.gov

 

[Lori]

Thursday, January 19, 2023​

News​ Additional Steps to Strengthen Nursing Home Safety and Transparency Increase in 2023 in Organizations and Beneficiaries Benefiting from Coordinated Care in Accountable Care Relationship DMEPOS: Updates to Face-to-Face Encounter & Written Order Prior to Delivery List Skilled Nursing Facility Provider Preview Reports: Review by February 16 Value-Based Insurance Design Model: Learn about the Hospice Benefit Component Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System: 5 Top Tips for Reporting Glaucoma Awareness Month: Act to Prevent Vision Loss Compliance​ Home Health Rural Add-On Policy Claims, Pricers, & Codes​ ICD-10 Code Files & MS-DRGs Version 40.1: April Update Integrated Outpatient Code Editor: Version 24.R1 Publications​ Post-Acute Care Quality Reporting Programs: COVID-19 Public Reporting

 

[Lori]

Thursday, February 9, 2023​

News

• DMEPOS: Get Benefit Category Determinations
• Nurse Practitioners & Clinical Nurse Specialists: Update to List of National Certifying Bodies
• Help Address Heart Health Disparities

Compliance

• What’s the Comprehensive Error Rate Testing Program?

Claims, Pricers, & Codes

• Home Health: Revised Editing of Telehealth Claims
• HCPCS Application Summaries & Coding Decisions: Drugs & Biologicals

MLN Matters® Articles

• Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule & Laboratory Services Subject to Reasonable Charge Payment: Quarterly Update
• New Payment Adjustments for Domestic N95 Respirators
• Removal of a National Coverage Determination & Expansion of Coverage of Colorectal Cancer Screening
• Rural Health Clinic & Federally Qualified Health Center Medicare Benefit Policy Manual Update

 

[Lori]

Thursday, February 9, 2023​

News​ Medicare Part B Drug Inflation Rebates HHS Releases Initial Guidance for Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program

 

[Lori]

Thursday, February 23, 2023​

News​ Hospital Price Transparency: Progress & Commitment to Achieving Its Potential Home Infusion Therapy Services Monitoring Report Immunosuppressive Drugs: Comparative Billing Report in February Expanded Home Health Value-Based Purchasing Model Resources: Submit Feedback through March 31 Claims, Pricers, & Codes​ HCPCS Level II Coding: FAQs for Single Source Drugs & Biologicals National Correct Coding Initiative: No April Update Publications​ DMEPOS Quality Standards — Revised View the full edition​

 

[Lori]

Thursday, February 23, 2023​

News​ Public Health Emergency (PHE) 1135 Waivers: Updated Guidance for Providers​

 

[Lori]

Monday, February 27, 2023​

News​ COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) New Overview Fact Sheet​

 

[Lori]

Thursday, March 2, 2023​

News​ The Future of Medicare Enrollment: Save Time with PECOS's Consolidated Application Voluntary Prior Authorization Process for Certain Power Mobility Device Accessory Items Expanded Home Health Value-Based Purchasing Model: February Newsletter Events​ ICD-10 Coordination & Maintenance Committee Meeting — March 7–8 Medicare Home Health Prospective Payment System CY 2023 Webinar — March 29 Medicare Cost Report E-Filing System Webinar — March 30 Multimedia​ Shared Savings Program & Community-Based Organization Collaboration Webinar Materials From Our Federal Partners​ Cannabidiol: Discuss Potential Harms with Your Patients Increase in Extensively Drug-Resistant Shigellosis in the U.S.

 

[Lori]

Thursday, March 9, 2023​

News​ Nutrition-Related Health Conditions: Recommend Medicare Preventive Services Compliance​ Advance Care Planning: Bill Correctly for Services Claims, Pricers, & Codes​ Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Database: April Update Home Health Prospective Payment System Grouper: April Update Events​ Ambulance Open Door Forum: Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System — March 16 MLN Matters® Articles​ Extension of Changes to the Low-Volume Hospital Payment Adjustment & the Medicare Dependent Hospital Program National Coverage Determination: Cochlear Implantation Patient Driven Payment Model: Claim Edit Enhancements — Revised Publications​ Medicare Part B Inflation Rebate Guidance: Use of the 340B Modifier — Revised Information for Patients​ New Inflation Reduction Act Resources

 

[Lori]

Wednesday, March 15, 2023​

News​ Inflation Reduction Act Tamps Down on Prescription Drug Price Increases Above Inflation​

 

[Lori]

Thursday, March 16, 2023​

News​ HHS Releases Initial Guidance for Historic Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program for Price Applicability Year 2026 Quality Payment Program: 2021 Care Compare Performance Information Short-Term Acute Care Hospitals: Program for Evaluating Payment Patterns Electronic Reports Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing Program: March Feedback Report Audiologists Can Furnish Certain Diagnostic Tests Without a Physician Order Colorectal Cancer: Screening Saves Lives Claims, Pricers, & Codes​ COVID-19: Don’t Report CR Modifier & DR Condition Code After Public Health Emergency Split (or Shared) Critical Care Visits: Billing Correction ICD-10 Coordination & Maintenance Committee: Meeting Materials & Deadlines HCPCS Application Summaries & Coding Decisions: Non-Drug & Non-Biological Items & Services Events​ Home Health Value-Based Purchasing Model Webinar: Strategies for Success Self-Assessment Tool — March 30 Publications​ Medicare Secondary Payer: Don’t Deny Services & Bill Correctly Behavioral Health Integration Services — Revised Medicare Preventive Services — Revised

 

[Lori]

Thursday, March 23, 2023​

News​ Additional Residency Positions: Apply by March 31 Laboratory Testing Urinalysis: Comparative Billing Report in March Long-Term Care Hospital Provider Preview Reports: Review by April 14 Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Provider Preview Reports: Review by April 14 Make Your Voice Heard Summary: Reducing Burden & Increasing Efficiencies Promote Kidney Health During National Kidney Month Compliance​ Critical Access Hospitals: Bill Correctly Claims, Pricers, & Codes​ Integrated Outpatient Code Editor: Version 24.1 Events​ Medicare Home Health Prospective Payment System CY 2023 Webinar — March 29 MLN Matters® Articles​ Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System: April 2023 Update DMEPOS Fee Schedule: April 2023 Update

 

[Lori]

Thursday, March 30, 2023​

News​ COVID-19: Booster Dose for Children 6 months – 4 years Identity & Access Management System: Easier for Surrogates Medicare Advantage Value-Based Insurance Design Model Extended Supplemental Security Income & Medicare Beneficiary Data: FY 2021 DMEPOS for Skilled Nursing Facility: Pre-Discharge Delivery for Fitting & Training Claims, Pricers, & Codes​ COVID-19: Reporting CR Modifier & DR Condition Code After Public Health Emergency April 2023 Quarterly Pricing File Revisions MLN Matters® Articles​ Medicare Part B Coverage of Pneumococcal Vaccinations Supervision Requirements for Diagnostic Tests: Manual Update Publications & Multimedia​ Post-Acute Care Quality Reporting Program: Videos & Patient Cue Cards Expanded Home Health Value-Based Purchasing Model: March Newsletter, FAQs, & Recordings Information for Patients​ States Are Restarting Medicaid & CHIP Eligibility Reviews: Tell Your Patients to Prepare Now

 

[Lori]

Tuesday, April 4, 2023​

Proposed Rules​ FY 2024 Hospice Payment Rate Update Proposed Rule (CMS-1787-P) FY 2024 Medicare Inpatient Psychiatric Facility Prospective Payment System (IPF PPS) and Quality Reporting (IPFQR) Updates Proposed Rule (CMS-1783-P) FY 2024 Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule (CMS-1781-P) FY 2024 Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule (CMS 1779-P)

 

[Lori]

Thursday, April 6, 2023​

News​ Resources & Flexibilities to Assist with Public Health Emergency in Mississippi Due to Recent Storms Program for Evaluating Payment Patterns Electronic Reports Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage: Form Renewal New Recovery Audit Contractor for Region 2 Starting Spring 2023 Comprehensive Error Rate Testing Review Contractor Company Changed Name Help Improve the Health of Minority Populations Claims, Pricers, & Codes​ RARCs, CARCs, Medicare Remit Easy Print, & PC Print: April Update Events​ PCG Provider Compliance Focus Group: Provider Compliance Activities Post-PHE — May 9 MLN Matters® Articles​ Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System: April 2023 Update — Revised

 

[Lori]

For the Week of April 10, 2023​

CARDIOLOGY​

When do we report 0620T?
READ THE ANSWER

LABORATORY​

What does CMS state about the CLFS data reporting period?
READ THE ANSWER

RADIOLOGY​

How many times can the contrast-enhanced ultrasound codes (76978 –76979) be reported at the same encounter?
READ THE ANSWER

RESPIRATORY​

Do you have information on the OPPS status indicators that impact respiratory therapy services?
READ THE ANSWER

GENERAL​

What is the difference between concurrent and sequential infusions?

 

[Lori]

Thursday, April 13, 2023​

News​ COVID-19: End of Public Health Emergency CMS Roundup (Apr. 07, 2023) Medicare Shared Savings Program: Application Toolkit Materials Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Interdisciplinary Team Meetings After the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Hospital Outpatient Departments: Prior Authorization for Facet Joint Interventions Starts July 1 Opioid Treatment Program Webpage Updates Claims, Pricers, & Codes​ Home Health Original Claims: Don’t Include Cross-Reference Document Control Numbers Outpatient Rehabilitation Claims with Reason Code W7072: You Might Need to Resubmit Claims Events​ IRIS: XML Format & Duplicate Interns and Residents Full-Time Equivalents Review — May 3 MLN Matters® Articles​ New Waived Tests Publications​ Intravenous Immune Globulin Demonstration — Revised Medicare Modernization of Payment Software — Revised Multimedia​ Expanded Home Health Value-Based Purchasing Model: Self-Assessment Tool Webinar Materials

 

[Lori]

Thursday, April 20, 2023​

News​ Billing Medicare Part B for Insulin with New Limits on Patient Monthly Coinsurance Medical Review & Compliance: Respond to Additional Documentation Requests Hospice: Comparative Billing Report in April Compliance​ Home Health Rural Add-On Policy Claims, Pricers, & Codes​ Grandfathered Tribal Federally Qualified Health Centers: CY 2023 Rate Events​ Medicare Ground Ambulance Data Collection System: Office Hours Session — April 27 Medicare Shared Savings Program: Navigating the Application Webinar — May 8 Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule: Present or Speak at Upcoming Meetings Multimedia​ Medicare Home Health Prospective Payment System CY 2023: Materials from March Webinar View the full edition​

 

[Lori]

Thursday, April 27, 2023​

News​ Hospital Price Transparency Enforcement Updates For the First Time, HHS Is Making Ownership Data for All Medicare-Certified Hospice and Home Health Agencies Publicly Available Behavioral Health Integration Services: Find Out What Medicare Covers & Who’s Eligible Claims, Pricers, & Codes​ HCPCS Application Summaries & Coding Decisions: Drugs & Biologicals Events​ 2023 Quality Conference — May 1–3 MLN Matters® Articles​ Home Health Claims: Telehealth Reporting Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System: Updates to Current Claims Editing Information for Patients​ States Are Restarting Medicaid & CHIP Eligibility Reviews: Tell Your Patients to Prepare Now View the full edition​