CMS End-Stage-Renal-Disease (ESRD) Network External Stakeholder Meetings

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will be hosting a series of End-Stage-Renal-Disease Stakeholder Meetings to discuss the End-Stage-Renal-Disease (ESRD) Network (NW) Program.

HHS Proposes Adoption of ICD-10 Code Sets and Updated Electronic Transaction Standards - Proposed Changes Would Improve Disease Tracking and Speed Transition to an Electronic Health Care Environment

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Friday a long-awaited proposed regulation that would replace the ICD-9-CM code sets now used to report health care diagnoses and procedures with greatly expanded ICD-10 code sets, effective October 1, 2011.

LOWER MEDICARE PART D COSTS THAN EXPECTED IN 2009 - Beneficiary Satisfaction Remains High

The Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services (CMS) recently announced that as Medicare’s Part D prescription drug program enters its fourth year, beneficiary satisfaction rates remain high, program costs remain lower than originally expected and Medicare prescription drug plan bids reflect nationwide drug price trends.

Pricer Updates

The provider data distributed with the IPF PPS PC Pricer has been updated as of July 2008. Download the latest version posted 08/12/2008.

Due to receiving updated quarterly provider data, the SNF PPS PC Pricer has been revised. Download the latest version posted 08/11/2008.

SNF Claims Receiving Reason Code 38305

Skilled Nursing Facilities are receiving reason code 38305 when trying to submit claims for their patients that have gone from skilled care to non-skilled and then back to skilled care, often within the same month. We are working diligently to get this problem resolved as quickly as possible.

CMS End-Stage-Renal-Disease (ESRD) Network External Stakeholder Meetings

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will be hosting a series of End-Stage-Renal-Disease Stakeholder Meetings to discuss the End-Stage-Renal-Disease (ESRD) Network (NW) Program.

HHS Proposes Adoption of ICD-10 Code Sets and Updated Electronic Transaction Standards - Proposed Changes Would Improve Disease Tracking and Speed Transition to an Electronic Health Care Environment

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Friday a long-awaited proposed regulation that would replace the ICD-9-CM code sets now used to report health care diagnoses and procedures with greatly expanded ICD-10 code sets, effective October 1, 2011.

LOWER MEDICARE PART D COSTS THAN EXPECTED IN 2009 - Beneficiary Satisfaction Remains High

The Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services (CMS) recently announced that as Medicare’s Part D prescription drug program enters its fourth year, beneficiary satisfaction rates remain high, program costs remain lower than originally expected and Medicare prescription drug plan bids reflect nationwide drug price trends.

Ask-the-Contractor Teleconference for Medicare Providers in Delaware, Maryland and the District of Columbia Metropolitan Area

Join us for our next Ask the Contractor Teleconference (ACT) on August 27, 2008 at 9:30 am.  During this teleconference we will discuss the most current Medicare changes and allow you to interact directly with representatives from various departments within Highmark Medicare Services.

Ask-the-Contractor Teleconference for Medicare Providers in Pennsylvania

Join us for our next Ask the Contractor Teleconference (ACT) on August 26, 2008 at 9:30 am.  During this teleconference we will discuss the most current Medicare changes and allow you to interact directly with representatives from various departments within Highmark Medicare Services.