MGMA Washington Connexion 2013 Archive

MGMA Washington Connexion alerts MGMA-ACMPE members to regulatory and health legislation issues affecting medical group practices. This e-newsletter is sent as news breaks from Washington, D.C. Subscribe  

2013 Issues

June 12, 2013 – MGMA comments to OIG, CMS on extending hospital EHR donations

• MGMA comments to OIG, CMS on extending hospital EHR donations
• EHR Association releases "code of conduct" for vendors
• CMS releases more information on July 1 DME face-to-face requirement

June 5, 2013 – Member resource: Insurance Exchange Essentials for Practice Executives

• Member resource: Insurance Exchange Essentials for Practice Executives  
• MGMA submits comments to Senate Finance Committee on SGR repeal  
• Report reveals high rates of inaccurate provider data in PECOS and NPPES
• New Stage 2 Meaningful Use resource from ONC

May 22, 2014 – CMMI announces new funding opportunity, extends application deadline for Model 1 Bundled Payments initiative

• CMMI announces new funding opportunity, extends application deadline for Model 1 Bundled Payments initiative
• ASCs must report on two 2012 quality measures in 2013
• HHS OIG allows matching funds for Medicaid data mining
• Tavenner confirmed as CMS administrator

May 15, 2013 – Sample Notice of Privacy Practices for members

• Sample Notice of Privacy Practices for members
• Medicare Meaningful Use penalties: Which providers are exempt
• Medicare therapy claims without new codes will be denied beginning

May 8, 2013 – Medicare Meaningful Use penalties begin soon, prepare your providers now

• Medicare Meaningful Use penalties begin soon, prepare your providers now
• MGMA continues work to improve PECOS
• Don't miss the June 30 e-prescribing penalty deadline
• OIG updates Self-Disclosure Protocol, alert on exclusions

May 1, 2013 – CMS delays Medicare Phase 2 ordering/referring requirement

• CMS delays Medicare Phase 2 ordering/referring requirement
• Member memo: Sunshine rule
• HHS revokes meaningful use EHR certification

April 24, 2013 – Ten new healthcare entities achieve operating rules certification

• Ten new healthcare entities achieve operating rules certification
• MGMA submits comments to House leadership on SGR repeal framework
• OIG special fraud alert: Physician-owned distributorships suspect under anti-kickback statute

April 17, 2013 – Medicare ordering/referring deadline May 1 – what you need to know

• Medicare ordering/referring deadline May 1 – what you need to know
• CMS releases new FAQs on ACO exclusivity requirements
• Meaningful Use EHR incentive payments near $13 billion

April 10, 2013 – Sample HIPAA business associate agreement for MGMA-ACMPE members

• Sample HIPAA business associate agreement for MGMA-ACMPE members  
• President releases FY 2014 budget
• MGMA submits comments urging relief from government regulations  

April 3, 2013 – Contractors release FAQs on Medicare sequestration cuts

• Contractors release FAQs on Medicare sequestration cuts  
• Medicare new place of service policy effective; more guidance expected  
• New member benefit webinar explains administrative simplification government mandates

March 23, 2013 – Enforcement discretion ending for operating rules; MGMA webinar to explain benefits

• Enforcement discretion ending for operating rules; MGMA webinar to explain benefits
• New alerts for therapy claims without required G-codes and modifiers
• Five weeks until ordering/referring Phase 2 goes into effect

March 20, 2013 – CMS changes Part A to Part B rebilling policy

• CMS changes Part A to Part B rebilling policy
• New FAQs on Medicare transitional care management services
• CMS revises claims policy for name mismatch

March 8, 2013 – CMS announces details on implementing sequestration cuts to Medicare claims

• CMS announces details on implementing sequestration cuts to Medicare claims

March 7, 2013 – CMS opens web portal to accept hardship exemption requests for 2014 e-prescribing penalty

• CMS opens web portal to accept hardship exemption requests for 2014 e-prescribing penalty

March 6, 2013 – Sequester begins countdown to 2 percent Medicare cut

• Sequester begins countdown to 2 percent Medicare cut
• First HIPAA breach settlement involving less than 500 patients announced
• CMS ordering/referring Phase 2 could mean claim denials beginning May 1
• New MGMA tip sheet for avoiding the 2014 e-prescribing penalty

Feb. 27, 2013 – Sequestration cuts closing in

• Sequestration cuts closing in
• MGMA asks OIG to extend EHR safe harbor

Feb. 20, 2013 – HHS letter to Senate Appropriations details sequester impact on Medicare

• HHS letter to Senate Appropriations details sequester impact on Medicare
• HHS releases final rule on essential health benefits
• Bipartisan report released on HIT and patient safety
• CMS releases new and updated Meaningful Use FAQs

Feb. 13, 2013 – Sequestration: What practice executives need to know

• Sequestration: What practice executives need to know
• CMS releases RAC report to Congress
• MGMA calls for streamlined Medicaid primary care payment parity implementation

Feb. 6, 2013 – MGMA releases Interactive PQRS Impact Assessment tool for members

• MGMA releases Interactive PQRS Impact Assessment tool for members
• CMS releases final "sunshine" rule
• CMS announces bundled payment pilot initiative participants
• EFT module available to speed up enrollment

Jan. 30, 2013 – Last chance to avoid the 2013 e-prescribing penalty; sign up for 2013 e-prescribing GPRO

• Last chance to avoid the 2013 e-prescribing penalty; sign up for 2013 e-prescribing GPRO
• RACs collect $744M in overpayments first quarter of FY2013
• IPAB repeal legislation introduced in the House

Jan. 23, 2013 – MGMA comments on Stage 3 Meaningful Use

• MGMA comments on Stage 3 Meaningful Use
• New law affects collection of overpayments
• PQRS GPRO self nomination deadline approaches
• Countdown to healthcare reform changes in 2014

Jan. 18, 2013 – HHS releases new omnibus privacy and security rule

• HHS releases new omnibus privacy and security rule

Jan. 16, 2013 – ACA administrative simplification requirements debut

• ACA administrative simplification requirements debut
• Member tool helps practices navigate RAC audits
• MGMA provides feedback on Medicare Physician Compare redesign
• CMS announces new Medicare ACOs
• Did you miss the Medicare webinar? See our FAQs

Jan. 9, 2013 – Top 13 things to watch in 2013

• Top 13 things to watch in 2013

Jan. 3, 2013 – CMS announcement on claims processing impact of fiscal cliff legislation

• CMS announcement on claims processing impact of fiscal cliff legislation

Jan. 1, 2013 – Congress passes one-year SGR fix as part of fiscal cliff legislation

• Congress passes one-year SGR fix as part of fiscal cliff legislation