MLN Matters Articles are a series of national articles designed to inform the physician, provider and supplier community about the latest changes to the Medicare Program. Please use the links below to review the articles realeased by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) throughout 2008.

The following MLN Matters articles issued in 2008 are relevant to our regions only.  Visit the CMS MLN Matters page for a complete listing of all MLNs issued nationwide. 

A, B, or A/B	Date	Subject	Provider Audience
	November 2008
	11/18/2008	MM6258 – Update to Medicare Deductible, Coinsurance and Premium Rates for 2009	A/B MAC, DME and FI Providers
	11/18/2008	MM6123 – Payment of Assistant at Surgery Services in a Method II Critical Access Hospital (CAH)	MAC and FI Providers
	11/18/2008	MM6191 – Compendia as Authoritative Sources for Use in the Determination of a "Medically Accepted Indication" of Drugs and Biologicals Used Off-Label in an Anti-Cancer Chemotherapeutic Regimen	A/B MAC, DME and FI Providers
	11/18/2008	MM6133 – Discarded Erythropoietin Stimulating Agents (ESAs) for Method I Home Dialysis	A/B MAC and FI Providers
	11/18/2008	MM6270 – Fee Schedule Update for 2009 for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS)	A/B MAC, DME and FI Providers
	11/18/2008	SE0840 – Changes in Medicare Payment for Oxygen and Oxygen Equipment	A/B MAC, DME and FI Providers
	11/18/2008	SE0816 – Medicare Payments for Part B Mental Health Services (Revised)	Physicians, Providers, and Suppliers
	11/13/2008	MM6072 – Application of the Hospital Outpatient Quality Data Reporting Program under the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS)	MAC and FI Providers
	11/13/2008	MM6268 – New Hemophilia Clotting Factor and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Code and Terminated Hemophilia Clotting Factor HCPCS Code	MAC and FI Providers
	11/13/2008	MM6223 – Update to the Initial Preventive Physical Examination (IPPE) Benefit	A/B MAC and FI Providers
	11/13/2008	MM6262 – Annual Update of Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Codes Used for Home Health Consolidated Billing Enforcement	Physicians, Providers, and Suppliers
	11/13/2008	SE0837 – Preparing for a Transition from an FI/Carrier to a Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC)	Physicians, Providers, and Suppliers
	11/13/2008	SE0838 – 2008 - 2009 Influenza (Flu) Season Resources for Health Care Professionals
	11/13/2008	MM6050 – Payment for Implanted Prosthetic Devices for Medicare Part B Inpatients (Revised)	MAC and FI Providers
	11/13/2008	MM6153 – Influenza Vaccine and the Pneumococcal Vaccine Payment Allowances Based on 95 Percent of the Average Wholesale Price (AWP) (Revised)	A/B MAC and FI Providers
	11/06/2008	MM6177 – Archiving and Retrieving of the Integrated Outpatient Code Editor (IOCE) and the Medicare Code Editor (MCE) for Processing Claims	MAC and  Providers
	11/06/2008	MM6153 – Influenza Vaccine and the Pneumococcal Vaccine Payment Allowances Based on 95 Percent of the Average Wholesale Price (AWP)	Physicians, Providers, and Suppliers
	11/06/2008	MM6254 – 2009 Annual Update to the Therapy Code List	MAC and  Providers
	11/06/2008	MM6218 – Announcement of Medicare Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) Payment Rate Increases	MAC and FI Providers
	11/06/2008	MM6250 – Claim Adjustments to Correct Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS) Payment Errors	HHAs and RHHIs Providers
	11/06/2008	MM6237 – Reporting National Provider Identifiers (NPI) on claims for Out-of-Jurisdiction Purchased Mammography Preventive Screening and Diagnostic Services	Physicians, Providers, and Suppliers
	October 2008		Return to Top
	10/31/2008	MM6212 – New 2008 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) Payment Rates Effective for Dates of Service July 1, 2008, through December 31, 2008	Physicians, Providers, and Suppliers
	10/31/2008	MM6233 – Revision to the Reporting Requirements of Qualifying Hospital Stays on Inpatient Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) and Swing Bed (SB) Claims	SNFs
	10/31/2008	SE0836 – Influenza Pandemic Emergency -- The Medicare Program Prepares	Physicians and providers
	10/31/2008	MM6213 - Laboratory National Coverage Determination (NCD) Edit Software for October 2008	Physicians and providers
	10/23/08	SE0836 – Influenza Pandemic Emergency -- The Medicare Program Prepares	Physicians and providers
	10/23/08	MM6214 – Medicare Payment for Air Ambulance Services Under Section 146(b)(1) of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA)	Ambulance providers and suppliers
	10/23/08	MM6093 – National Provider Identifier (NPI) for Secondary Providers (REVISED)	All providers
	10/23/08	MM5740 – Reasonable Charge Update for 2008 for Splints, Casts, Dialysis Supplies, Dialysis Equipment, and Certain Intraocular Lenses (REVISED)	Physicians, providers, and suppliers
	10/23/08	MM6164 – Influenza Pandemic Emergency -- Policies Concerning the Medicare Program (RESCINDED)	Article rescinded 10.20.08
	10/14/08	MM6189 - Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS), Long Term Care Hospital (LTCH) PPS, and Inpatient Psychiatric Facility (IPF) PPS Changes	MAC and  Providers
	10/07/08	MM6221 – Reasonable Charge Update for 2009 for Splints, Casts, Dialysis Supplies, Dialysis Equipment, and Certain Intraocular Lenses	Physicians, Providers, and Suppliers
	10/07/08	MM6205 – October 2008 Update to the Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System; Summary of Payment Policy Changes	Physicians and ASCs
	10/07/08	MM6210 – Competitive Acquisition Program (CAP) for Part B Drugs and Biologicals Vendor Identification Number, Physician Election, and Iron Dextran Payment Update	MAC and  Providers
	10/07/08	MM6113 – Ambulance Inflation Factor (AIF) for CY 2009	Providers, suppliers (ambulance services)
	10/07/08	MM6220 – 2009 Annual Update of Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Codes for Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Consolidated Billing (CB) for the Common Working File (CWF), Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs), Medicare Carriers and Fiscal Intermediaries (FIs)	Physicians, Providers, and Suppliers
	10/07/08	MM6213 – Laboratory National Coverage Determination (NCD) Edit Software for October 2008	Physicians, Providers, and Suppliers
	10/07/08	MM6164 – Influenza Pandemic Emergency -- Policies Concerning the Medicare Program (RESCINDED)	Article rescinded 10.20.08
	10/07/08	SE0832 – The ICD-10 Clinical Modification/Procedure Coding System (CM/PCS)—The Next Generation of Coding (REVISED)	Physicians, Providers, and Suppliers
	10/01/08	SE0832 – The ICD-10 Clinical Modification/Procedure Coding System (CM/PCS)—The Next Generation of Coding	Physicians, Providers, and Suppliers
	10/01/08	MM6052 – Physician Payment Amounts When Physicians Furnish Excluded Procedures in Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs)	Physicians and ASCs
	September 2008		Return to Top
	09/30/08	SE0822 – Clarification of Medicare Payment for Routine Costs in a Clinical Trial	Providers and suppliers
	09/30/08	MM6062 – 2008 Jurisdiction List for Durable Medical Equipment Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supply (DMEPOS) Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Codes	Providers and suppliers
	09.26.08	MM6196 – October 2008 Update of the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS)	Providers and suppliers
	09.26.08	MM6193 – Medicare Part A Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Prospective Payment System (PPS) Pricer Update FY 2009	Skilled nursing facilities
	09.26.08	MM6183 – Limitation on Recoupment (935) for Provider, Physicians and Suppliers Overpayments (Revised)	All providers
	09.26.08	MM6178 – Incorporation of Recent Regulatory Revisions into Chapter 10 of the Program Integrity Manual (PIM)	All providers
	09.26.08	MM6169 – Quarterly Update to Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) Edits, Version 14.3, Effective October 1, 2008	Physicians
	09.26.08	MM6129 – New Requirement for Ordering/Referring Information on Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Claims for Diagnostic Services (Revised)	Providers and carriers
	09.19.08	MM6050 - Payment for Implanted Prosthetic Devices for Medicare Part B Inpatients	Providers
	09.19.08	SE0833 - Medicare Part B Drug Competitive Acquisition Program (CAP) Postponed for 2009	Physicians
	09.17.08	MM6093 – National Provider Identifier (NPI) for Secondary Providers (REVISED)	MAC and FI Providers
	09.17.08	MM6179 – New Waived Tests	Physicians, Providers, and Suppliers
	09.16.08	MM6183 – Limitation on Recoupment (935) for Provider, Physicians and Suppliers Overpayments	Physicians, Providers, and Suppliers
	09.16.08	MM6163 – Smoking and Tobacco Use Cessation Counseling Billing Update for Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (CORFs) and Outpatient Physical Therapy Providers (OPTs)	MAC and FI Providers
	09.16.08	MM6175 – October 2008 Quarterly Average Sales Price (ASP) Medicare Part B Drug Pricing Files and Revisions to Prior Quarterly Pricing Files	Physicians, Providers, and Suppliers
	09.16.08	MM6185 –Medicare Coverage of Artificial Hearts (REVISED)	Physicians, Providers, and Suppliers
	09.12.08 & 09.16.08	MM6012 – Revision to the Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Post Acute Transfer Policy for Discharges/Transfers to Home Under Care of an Organized Home Health Service Organization in Anticipation of Covered Skilled Care (RESCINDED)	Article rescinded 05.20.08
	09.12.08	MM6186 – October 2008 Integrated Outpatient Code Editor (I/OCE) Specifications Version 9.3	Providers who submit institutional outpatient claims
	09.12.08	MM6122 – Indicator for the Technical Component of Purchased Diagnostic Services	Physicians and suppliers
	09.11.08	MM6203 – Delay of the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program	DME MACs
	09.11.08	MM6166 – Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) Annual Update: Prospective Payment System (PPS) Pricer Changes for FY 2009	MAC and FI Providers
	09.11.08	MM6166 – Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) Annual Update: Prospective Payment System (PPS) Pricer Changes for FY 2009	MAC and FI Providers
	09.11.08	MM6195 – Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule—Medicare Travel Allowance Fees for Collection of Specimens	MAC and FI Providers
	09.11.08	MM6079 – Pneumococcal Pneumonia, Influenza Virus, and Hepatitis B Vaccines	MAC and FI Providers
	09.11.08	MM6136 – Revised Form CMS-R-131 Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage	MAC and FI Providers
	09.11.08	MM6185 – Medicare Coverage of Artificial Hearts	Physicians, Providers, and Suppliers
	09.04.08	MM6180 – October Update to the 2008 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Database (MPFSDB)	All Providers
	09.04.08	MM6099 – Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Imaging for Infection and Inflammation	Physicians, Providers, and Suppliers
	09.04.08	MM6176 – Update of the Intern-to-Bed Ratio for Method II Teaching Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs)	MAC and FI Providers
	09.04.08	MM6150 – 2009 Annual Update for the Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) Bonus Payments	A/B MAC and FI Providers
	09.04.08	MM6100 – Physician Signature Requirements for Diagnostic Tests	A/B MAC and FI Providers
	09.04.08	MM5849 – Transition of Responsibility for Medical Review from Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) (Revised)	Hospitals under IPPS & LTCH
	09.04.08	MM6125 – Reporting Withholding Due to IRS Federal Payment Levy Program (FPLP) on the Remittance Advice (Revised)	A/B MAC and FI Providers
	09.04.08	MM6048 – Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) (Revised)	Physicians, Providers, and Suppliers
	09.04.08	MM6145 – Screening DNA Stool Test for Colorectal Cancer (Revised)	Physicians, Providers, and Suppliers
	August 2008		Return to Top
	08.27.08	MM6121 - 2008 Reminder for Roster Billing and Centralized Billing for Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccinations	Physicians, Providers, and Suppliers
	08.26.08	MM6125 – Reporting Withholding Due to IRS Federal Payment Levy Program (FPLP) on the Remittance Advice (Revised)	All Providers
	08.26.08	MM5849 – Transition of Responsibility for Medical Review from Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) (Revised)	Hopital providers
	08.20.08	MM6129 – New Requirement for Ordering/Referring Information on Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Claims for Diagnostic Services	ASCs and MAC Proviers
	08.20.08	MM6124 – Revisions to the Competitive Acquisition Program (CAP) for Part B Drugs and Biologicals	MAC and Part B Drug Providers
	08.20.08	MM6121 – 2008 Reminder for Roster Billing and Centralized Billing for Influenza and Pneumococcal Vaccinations	Physicians, Providers, and Suppliers
	08.20.08	MM6158 – Part B Drug Competitive Acquisition Program (CAP) Quarterly Drug Update	MAC and Part B Drug Providers
	08.20.08	MM6139 – Implementation of New Provider Authentication Requirements for Medicare Contractor Provider Telephone and Written Inquiries (Revised)	Physicians, Providers, and Suppliers
	08.20.08	MM6131 – Implementation of a New Claim Adjustment Reason Code (CARC) No.213. "Non-compliance with the physician self-referral prohibition legislation or payer policy"	Physicians, Providers, and Suppliers
	08.20.08	MM6126 – Fiscal Year (FY) 2006 Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Data	MAC and FI Providers
	08.20.08	MM6125 – Reporting Withholding Due to IRS Federal Payment Levy Program (FPLP) on the Remittance Advice	Providers
	08.20.08	MM6109 – Remittance Advice Remark Code and Claim Adjustment Reason Code Update	Physicians, Providers, and Suppliers
	08.20.08	MM5849 – Transition of Responsibility for Medical Review from Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs)	IPPS and (LTCH) providers
	08.12.08	MM5683 – Beneficiary Submitted Claims	Physicians, Providers, and Suppliers
	08.12.08	MM5993 – Critical Care Visits and Neonatal Intensive Care (Codes 99291 - 99292) (Revised)	Physicians and Qualified Non-Physician Practitioners, MAC
	08.12.08	MM6002 – Clarification on the Correct Condition Code to Report on Provider Adjustment Requests to Indicate a Health Insurance Prospective Payment System (HIPPS) Code Change	SNFs
	08.12.08	MM6006 – New Hemophilia Clotting Factor and HCPCS Code	Hopital providers
	08.12.08	MM6107 – Medicare Contractor Annual Update of the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM)	Physicians, Providers, and Suppliers
	08.12.08	MM6132 – Requirement to Educate Providers Regarding Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Use of Medicare Cost Report Data	All providers
	08.12.08	MM6155 – Update to Hospice Payment Rates, Hospice Cap, Hospice Wage Index, and the Hospice Pricer for FY 2009	Hospice providers
	08.12.08	MM6145 – Screening DNA Stool Test for Colorectal Cancer	Physicians, Providers, and Suppliers
	08.12.08	MM6036 – Revisions to the Chapter 14 of the Medicare Program Integrity Manual	Physicians, Providers, and Suppliers
	08.12.08	MM6138 – Prothrombin Time (PT/INR) Monitoring for Home Anticoagulation Management	All providers
	08.12.08	MM6007 – Manual Revisions to Reflect Special Billing Instructions for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Items as a Result of the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program (Revised)	All providers
	08.12.08	MM6042 – Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 - Legislative Change to Independent Laboratory Billing for the Technical Component (TC) of Physician Pathology Services	MAC
	08.12.08	MM6048 – Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) (Revised)	All providers
	08.12.08	SE0816 – Medicare Payments for Part B Mental Health Services	Providers
	08.12.08	SE0829 – CR 5971 Clarification - Signature Requirements	Providers
	08.12.08	SE0830 – Steps for Individual Eligible Professionals to Access Their 2007 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) Feedback Reports Personally	Providers
	08.12.08	SE0831 – Steps for Organizations to Access Their 2007 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) Feedback Reports	Providers
	08.12.08	SE0747 – Individuals Authorized Access to CMS Computer Services (IACS)- Provider/Supplier Community (IACS-PC): THE FIRST IN A SERIES OF ARTICLES (Revised)	All providers
	08.12.08	SE0753 – Individuals Authorized Access to CMS Computer Services – Provider/Supplier Community (IACS-PC): THE SECOND IN A SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THE IACS (Revised)	All providers
	08.12.08	SE0754 – Individuals Authorized Access to CMS Computer Services – Provider/Supplier Community (IACS-PC): THE THIRD IN A SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THE IACS-PC (Revised)	All providers
	July 2008		Return to Top
	07.23.08	SE0826 – Important Information on the New Medicare Law – The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008	All providers
	07.23.08	MM6115 – Hospice Discharge for Cause	Hospice providers
	07.23.08	MM6116 – Revision of the Requirements for Denial of Payment for New Admissions (DPNA) for Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Billing	SNFs
	07.23.08	MM6080 –July 2008 Integrated Outpatient Code Editor (I/OCE) Specifications Version 9.2 (Revised)	Providers
	07.23.08	MM6128 – Revision to Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Common Working File (CWF) Editing	Therapy professionals and providers
	07.23.08	MM6061 – Clarifications to Audiology Update Transmittal 1470	Audiologists
	07.23.08	SE0815 –Reminder that Exceptions to Therapy Caps are Restricted as of July 1, 2008	Article rescinded 07.17.08
	07.23.08	MM6088 – Pathology Services: Notification of the Sunset for the Payment of Physician Pathology Services for Independent Laboratories	Article rescinded 07.17.08
	07.18.08	MM6048 – Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) (Revised)	All providers
	07.18.08	MM6114 – Update-Long Term Care Hospital (LTCH) Prospective Payment System (PPS) for Rate Year (RY) 2009	Long term care hospitals
	07.18.08	MM6137 – Intracranial Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty (PTA) with Stenting	Physicians and providers
	07.18.08	MM5993 – Critical Care Visits and Neonatal Intensive Care (Codes 99291 - 99292) (Revised)	Physicians and Qualified Non-Physician Practitioners (NPP)
	07.18.08	MM6007 – Manual Revisions to Reflect Special Billing Instructions for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Items as a Result of the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program (Revised)	All providers
	07.03.08	SE0824 – Clarification of Medicare Bad Debt Policy Related to Accounts at a Collection Agency	All fee for service Hospital and Non-Hospital Providers
	07.03.08	MM6077 – Update-Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Prospective Payment System (IPF PPS) Rate Year 2009	Providers
	07.03.08	MM6081 – Private Contracting/Opting out of Medicare	Physicians and practitioners
	07.03.08	MM6098 – Cardiac Computed Tomographic Angiography (CTA)	All providers
	07.03.08	MM6001 – Medicare Acute Care Episode (ACE) Demonstration. CR 6001 rescinds and fully replaces CR 5767	Hospitals
	07.03.08	MM5792 – Payment for Inpatient Hospital Visits - General (Codes 99221 – 99239) (Revised)	Physicians and non physician practitioners (NPPs)
	07.03.08	MM6084 – Changes to the Laboratory National Coverage Determination (NCD) Edit Software for July 2008 (Revised)	Clinical diagnostic laboratories
	June 2008		Return to Top
	06.26.08	MM6090 – Claim Status Category Code and Claim Status Code Update	All providers
	06.26.08	MM6094 – July 2008 Update of the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS)	Providers
	06.26.08	MM6095 – July 2008 Update to the Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System; Summary of Payment Policy Changes	Providers
	06.26.08	MM6085 – Screening Pelvic Examination	Physicians and providers
	06.26.08	MM6111 – October Quarterly Update to 2008 Annual Update of HCPCS Codes Used for Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Consolidated Billing (CB) Enforcement	All providers
	06.26.08	MM6060 – New Waived Tests	Providers and suppliers
	06.23.08	MM6104 – 2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) Establishment of Alternative Reporting Periods and Reporting Criteria (Revised)	Physicians
	06.20.08	MM6119 – Phase 2 Manual Revisions for the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program (Revised)	DMEPOS suppliers
	06.20.08	MM6046 – Inappropriate Denials of Claims for Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty (PTA) of Carotid Arteries Concurrent with Stenting Based on Facility Recertification Due Dates	Physicians and hospitals
	06.20.08	MM6112 – Payment for Complex Rehabilitative Power Mobility Device (PMD) Services that Span the Implementation Date of DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Programs in Competitive Bidding Areas (Revised)	Suppliers
	06.20.08	MM6091 – Notification of New Quarterly Updates to the Ambulance Fee Schedule Public Use File (PUF)	Ambulance providers and suppliers
	06.20.08	MM6101 – July 2008 Quarterly Update for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program (Revised)	Providers and suppliers
	06.20.08	MM6075 – New "K" Code for Replacement Interface Material	Providers
	06.20.08	MM6086 – Hospitals Exempt from Present on Admission (POA) Reporting (i.e. non-Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Hospitals) and the Grouper	IPPS exempt hospitals
	06.20.08	SE0821 – Reminder – Medicare Provides Coverage of Diabetes Screening Tests	All providers
	06.20.08	SE0806 – Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program: Grandfathering, Repair and Replacement, Mail Order Diabetic Supplies and Advance Beneficiary Notices (ABNs) – The second in a series of articles on the new DMEPOS competitive bidding program. (Revised)	Fee-for-Service providers
	06.20.08	SE0807 – Important Exceptions and Special Circumstances that Occur under the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program: – The third in a series of articles on the new DMEPOS competitive bidding program. (Revised)	All providers
	06.20.08	MM5978 – Phase 1 of Manual Revisions to Reflect Payment Changes for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) Items as a Result of the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program and the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (Revised)	DMEPOS suppliers
	06.16.08	MM5993 – Critical Care Visits and Neonatal Intensive Care (Codes 99291 - 99292) (Revised)	Physicians and qualified non-physician practitioners
	06.16.08	MM6049 – July 2008 Quarterly Average Sales Price (ASP) Medicare Part B Drug Pricing Files and Revisions to Prior Quarterly Pricing Files	All providers
	06.16.08	MM6084 – Changes to the Laboratory National Coverage Determination (NCD) Edit Software for July 2008 (Revised)	Clinical diagnostic laboratories
	06.16.08	MM6087 – July Update to the 2008 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Database (MPFSDB) (Revised)	Physicians and providers
	06.16.08	MM5288 – Incident to Policy Update	Article rescinded 05.30.08
	06.10.08	SE0820 – Marketing Rules Reminders for DME Suppliers Including Contract Suppliers under the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program (Revised)	Durable equipment suppliers
	06.10.08	MM6080 – July 2008 Integrated Outpatient Code Editor (I/OCE) Specifications Version 9.2 (Revised)	All providers
	06.10.08	MM5996 – Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule - Medicare Travel Allowance Fees for Collection of Specimens	Clinical laboratories
	06.10.08	MM6023 – Instructions for Institutional Providers and Suppliers Billing Self-Referred Mammography Claims Regarding the Attending/Referring Physician National Provider Identifier (NPI)	Institutional providers and suppliers
	06.10.08	MM6030 – Charges to Hold a Bed during Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Absence	Skilled nursing facilities
	06.10.08	MM6022 – July Quarterly Update for 2008 Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) Fee Schedule (Revised)	Providers and suppliers
	06.09.08	MM6021 – Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule - New Waived Tests	Clinical diangostic laboratories
	06.09.08	MM6053 – Part B Drug Competitive Acquisition Program (CAP) Quarterly Drug Update	Physicians
	06.09.08	MM6087 – July Update to the 2008 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Database (MPFSDB)	Physicians and providers
	06.09.08	SE0805 – Overview of New Medicare Competitive Bidding Program for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) – The first in a series of articles on the implementation of this program (Revised)	Fee-for-Service providers
	06.09.08	SE0806 – Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program: Grandfathering, Repair and Replacement, Mail Order Diabetic Supplies and Advanced Beneficiary Notices (ABNs) – The second in a series of articles on the new DMEPOS competitive bidding program (Revised)	Fee-for-Service providers
	06.09.08	SE0807 – Important Exceptions and Special Circumstances that Occur under the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program: – The third in a series of articles on the new DMEPOS competitive bidding program (Revised)	All providers
	06.03.08	MM6018 – Date of Service (DOS) for Clinical Laboratory and Pathology Specimens	Providers
	06.03.08	MM5798 – Average Sales Price (ASP) Updates	All providers
	06.03.08	MM5978 – Phase 1 of Manual Revisions to Reflect Payment Changes for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) Items as a Result of the DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program and the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (Revised)	Providers and suppliers
	06.03.08	SE0815 – Reminder that Exceptions to Therapy Caps are Restricted as of July 1, 2008	Article rescinded 07.17.08
	06.03.08	MM5890 – Additional Information on Reporting a National Provider Identifier (NPI) for Ordering/Referring and Attending/Operating/Other/Service facility for Medicare Claims	Article rescinded
	06.02.08	MM6045 – Quarterly Update to Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) Edits, Version 14.2, Effective July 1, 2008	Physicians
	06.02.08	MM6026 – VMS Modifications to Implement the Common Electronic Data Interchange (CEDI) System - Part II	Suppliers
	06.02.08	MM6022 – July Quarterly Update for 2008 Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) Fee Schedule	Providers and suppliers
	06.02.08	SE0805 – Overview of New Medicare Competitive Bidding Program for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) – The first in a series of articles on the implementation of this program (Revised)	Fee-for-Service providers
	06.02.08	SE0806 – Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program: Grandfathering, Repair and Replacement, Mail Order Diabetic Supplies and Advanced Beneficiary Notices (ABNs) – The second in a series of articles on the new DMEPOS competitive bidding program. (Revised)	Fee-for-Service providers
	06.02.08	SE0807 – Important Exceptions and Special Circumstances that Occur under the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program: – The third in a series of articles on the new DMEPOS competitive bidding program (Revised)	All providers
	06.02.08	MM6027 – Correction to Determinations of Early Episodes versus Later Episodes under the Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS) (Revised)	Home Health Agencies
	May 2008		Return to Top
	05.28.08	MM5815 – New Chapter in Medicare Claims Processing Manual for Independent Diagnostic Testing Facilities (IDTF)	Independent Diagnostic Testing Facilities
	05.28.08	MM6027 – Correction to Determinations of Early Episodes versus Later Episodes under the Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS)	Home Health Agencies (HHAs)
	05.28.08	MM5991 – Medical and Other Health Services Furnished to SNF Patients	Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs)
	05.28.08	MM6047 – Revisions to the Billing Requirements for ESRD-Related Epotein Alfa (EPO) and Darbepoetin Alfa (Aranesp) Administrations Provided During Unscheduled or Emergency Dialysis Treatments in the Outpatient Hospital Setting	Hospitals
	05.28.08	MM5288 – Incident to Policy Update (Revised)	Article rescinded 05.30.08
	05.28.08	MM5699 – Reporting of Hematocrit or Hemoglobin Levels on All Claims for the Administration of Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agents (ESAs), Implementation of New Modifiers for Non-ESRD ESA Indications, and Reporting of Hematocrit or Hemoglobin Levels on all Non-ESRD, Non-ESA Claims Requesting Payment for Anti-Anemia Drugs (Revised)	All providers
	05.28.08	MM5860 – Adjusting Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Reimbursement for Replaced Devices Offered Without Cost or With a Credit (Revised)	All providers
	05.19.08	MM5979 - Assignment of Providers to Medicare Administrative Contractors	All providers
	05.19.08	MM5950 - Medicare Shared Systems Modifications Necessary to Capture and Crossover Medicaid Drug Rebate Data Submitted on Form UB 04 Paper Claims and Direct Data Entry (DDE) Claims	All providers
	05.19.08	MM6009 - July Quarterly Update to 2008 Annual Update of HCPCS Codes Used for Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Consolidated Billing (CB) Enforcement	All providers
	05.19.08	MM5921 - Therapy Personnel Qualifications and Policies Effective January 1, 2008	Physicians and non physician practitioners
	05.19.08	MM5288 - Incident to Policy Update	Article rescinded 05.30.08
	05.19.08	MM5867 - Billing Blood and Blood Products	All providers who submit claims for blood and blood products
	05.19.08	MM5860 - Adjusting Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Reimbursement for Replaced Devices Offered Without Cost or With a Credit (Revised)	All providers
	05.13.08	MM5288 - Incident to Policy Update	Article rescinded 05.30.08
	05.13.08	MM5867 - Billing Blood and Blood Products	All providers who submit claims for blood and blood products
	05.13.08	MM5860 - Adjusting Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) Reimbursement for Replaced Devices Offered Without Cost or With a Credit	All providers
	05.13.08	MM6043 - Blood-Derived Products for Chronic, Non-Healing Wounds	All providers
	05.13.08	SEO814 - Provider Authentication by Medicare Provider Contact Centers	All providers
	05.13.08	MM5972 - Prolonged Services (Codes 99354 - 99359)	Physicians and non-physician practitioners
	05.13.08	MM6000 - Ambulance Fee Schedule - Conversion Factor File for CY 2009 Ambulance Inflation Factor (Revised)	Ambulance providers and suppliers
	05.12.08	MLN Matters Special Edition # SE0805 "Overview of New Medicare Competitive Bidding Program for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) (Revised)	Medicare Fee-for-Serve providers
	05.12.08	MLN Matters Special Edition Article #SE0806 "Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program: Grandfathering, Repair and Replacement, Mail Order Diabetic Supplies and Advanced Beneficiary Notices (ABNs) (Revised)	Medicare Fee-for-Serve providers
	05.12.08	MLN Matters Special Edition Article # SE0807 "Important Exceptions and Special Circumstances that Occur Under the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program (Revised)	All providers
	April 2008		Return to Top
	04.24.08	MM5929 – Establish Pre-Payment Auto-denial Edits in Applicable States for DMEPOS Suppliers of Oxygen and Oxygen Equipment (DME MACs only)	Medicare Durable Medical Equipment Prosthetic, Orthotics & Supplies (DMEPOS) suppliers
	04.24.08	MM5981 – New HCPCS Codes for the April 2008 Update	All providers
	04.22.08	SE0807 – Important Exceptions and Special Circumstances that Occur under the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program: – The third in a series of articles on the new DMEPOS competitive bidding program.	All providers
	04.22.08	MM5987 – Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule - Implementation of Section 113 Medicare, Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Program (MMSCHIP) Legislation	Clinical laboratories
	04.22.08	MM5835 – Medicare Shared Systems Modifications Necessary to Accept and Crossover to Medicaid National Drug Codes (NDC) and Corresponding Quantities Submitted on CMS-1500 Paper Claims	All providers
	04.22.08	MM5985 – Exception to 60-Day Limit on Substitute Physician Billing Arrangements for Physicians Called to Active Duty in the Armed Forces Reserves	Physician members of a reserve component of the Armed Forces
	04.22.08	MM5968 – Nursing Facility Services (Codes 99304 - 99318)	Physicians and qualified non-physician practitioners
	04.16.08	MM5999 – April 2008 Update of the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS)	Providers and suppliers
	04.16.08	MM5994 – April 2008 Update to the Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System; Summary of Payment Policy Changes	All providers
	04.16.08	MM5971 – CR 5550 Clarification - Signature Requirements	Physicians
	04.16.08	SE0812 – Use of Professional Society Practice Parameters in Properly Providing Allergen Immunotherapy to Medicare Beneficiaries	Physicians and providers
	04.15.08	SE0805 – Overview of New Medicare Competitive Bidding Program for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) – The first in a series of articles on the implementation of this program.	Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) provider
	04.15.08	SE0806 – Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program: Grandfathering, Repair and Replacement, Mail Order Diabetic Supplies and Advanced Beneficiary Notices (ABNs) – The second in a series of articles on the new DMEPOS competitive bidding program.	Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) provider supplying DMEPOS
	04.15.08	SE0811 – Pre-Bidding Activities for the Medicare Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Competitive Bidding Program	Suppliers of Durable Medical Equipment
	04.11.08	MM5961 – Extension of Reasonable Cost Payment for Clinical Laboratory Tests Furnished by Hospitals with Fewer Than 50 Beds in Qualified Rural Areas	Hospitals with fewer than 50 beds
	04.03.08	SE0810 – Announcing the Release of the Revised CMS-855 Medicare Enrollment Applications	All providers
	04.01.08	MM5969 – April 2008 Integrated Outpatient Code Editor (I/OCE) Specifications Version 9.1	All providers
	04.01.08	MM5982 –April 2008 Quarterly Average Sales Price (ASP) Medicare Part B Drug Pricing Files and Revisions to Prior Quarterly Pricing Files	All providers
	March 2008		Return to Top
	03.26.08	MM5901 – New Contractor Numbers for the States of California, Nevada, Hawaii Including American Samoa, Guam and Northern Marianna Islands -Jurisdiction 1 Part A Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) Workload	Providers in the States of California, Nevada, and Hawaii, as well as in the American Samoa, Guam and Northern Marianna Islands
	03.26.08	MM5904 – New Contractor Numbers for the States of Nevada and Hawaii and also American Samoa, Guam and Northern Marianna Islands -Jurisdiction 1 Part B Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) Workload	All providers
	03.26.08	MM5905 – New Contractor Numbers for the State of California -Jurisdiction 1 Part B Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) Workload	All providers
	03.26.08	MM5923 – Additional Clarification to Chapter 17, Section 40, Regarding Processing of Drug Claims with the JW Modifier	All providers
	03.26.08	MM5965 – April 2008 Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) Prospective Payment System (PPS) Pricer Changes	Inpatient rehabilitation facilities
	03.26.08	MM5970 – Website for Additions and Deletions of ZIP Codes Requiring a Plus Four ZIP Code Extension	Physicians and providers
	03.26.08	MM5980 – April Update to the 2008 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Database (MPFSDB)	Physicians and providers
	03.26.08	MM5913 – New Waived Tests	All providers
	03.26.08	MM5655 – Clarification on Billing for the Oral Three Drug Combination Anti-Emetic (Aprepitant) (Revised)	Providers and suppliers
	03.26.08	MM5818 – Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agents (ESAs) in Cancer and Related Neoplastic Conditions (Revised)	Providers and suppliers
	03.17.08	MM5655 – Clarification on Billing for the Oral Three Drug Combination Anti-Emetic (Aprepitant) (Revised)	Providers and suppliers
	03.17.08	SE0804 – Opportunity to Participate in Third Annual Medicare Contractor Provider Satisfaction Survey (MCPSS) Ends in April	All providers
	03.17.08	MM5792 – Payment for Inpatient Hospital Visits - General (Codes 99221 – 99239)	Physicians and non physician practitioners (NPPs)
	03.17.08	MM5942 – Remittance Advice Remark Code (RARC) and Claim Adjustment Reason Code (CARC) Update	All providers
	03.17.08	MM5955 – Changes to the Long Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System (LTCH PPS) Pricer based on the Medicare, Medicaid and Stat	Long Term Care Hospitals
	03.17.08	MM5840 – Manual Updates to Chapter 6, Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Inpatient Part A Billing, for No-Payment and Medicare Advantage (MA) Claims	Skilled nursing facilities
	03.17.08	MM5910 – Clarification to CR 5744 - Payment Allowance Update for the Influenza Virus Vaccine CPT 90660 and further instruction regarding the Pneumococcal Vaccine Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) 90669 (Revised)	All providers
	03.17.08	SE0529 – Importance of Supplying Correct Provider Identification Information Required in Items 17, 17a, 24K, and 33 of the Form CMS-1500 (12-90), and the Electronic Equivalent (Revised)	All providers
	03.17.08	MM5877 – Correction to Low Utilization Payment Adjustment Add-on Payments under the Refined Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS) (Revised)	Home Health Agencies
	03.11.08	MM5931 – Manualization of Payment for Outpatient End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Related Services	Physicians
	03.06.08	MM5655 – Clarification on Billing for the Oral Three Drug Combination Anti-Emetic (Aprepitant)	Providers and suppliers
	03.06.08	MM5906 – Collapsing Medicare Provider Transaction Access Numbers (PTANs) to Ensure a One-to-One National Provider Identifier (NPI) Match	Providers and suppliers
	03.06.08	MM5717 – Update to Audiology Policies	Physicians, non-physician practitioners, audiologists, and speech-language pathologists
	03.06.08	MM5926 – Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Codes Subject to and Excluded from Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) Edits	Clinical diagnostic laboratories
	03.06.08	MM5947 – Claim Status Category Code and Claim Status Code Update	All providers
	03.06.08	MM5204 – Psychological and Neuropsychological Tests (Revised)	All providers
	03.06.08	MM5890 – Additional Information on Reporting a National Provider Identifier (NPI) for Ordering/Referring and Attending/Operating/Other/Service facility for Medicare Claims (Revised)	Article rescinded 05.30.07
	February 2008		Return to Top
	02.29.08	MM5943 – Medicare, Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Extension Act of 2007 (MMSEA) Changes to Independent Laboratory Billing for the Technical Component (TC) of Physician Pathology Services (Revised)	Independent laboratories
	02.28.08	MM5946 - January 2008 Update of the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) - Manualization	All providers
	02.26.08	MM5936 – Quarterly Update to Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) Edits, Version 14.1, Effective April 1, 2008	Physicians
	02.26.08	MM5791 – Payment for Hospital Observation Services (Codes 99217 - 99220) and Observation or Inpatient Care Services (Including Admission and Discharge Services - Codes 99234 - 99236)	Physicians and qualified nonphysician practitioners
	02.26.08	MM5794 – Subsequent Hospital Visits and Hospital Discharge Day Management Services (Codes 99231 - 99239)	Physicians and qualified nonphysician practitioners
	02.26.08	MM5948 – Part B Drug Competitive Acquisition Program (CAP) Quarterly Drug List Update	Physicians
	02.26.08	MM5793 – Payment for Initial Hospital Care Services (Codes 99221 – 99223) and Observation or Inpatient Care Services (Including Admission and Discharge Services) (Codes 99234 – 99236)	Physicians and qualified nonphysician practitioners
	02.26.08	MM5932 – Teaching Physician Requirements for End Stage Renal Disease Monthly Capitation Payment (ESRD MCP)	Physicians
	02.26.08	MM5847 – Clarification of Bone Mass Measurement (BMM) Billing Requirements Issued in CR 5521	All providers
	02.26.08	MM5897 – Change in the Amount in Controversy Requirement for Administrative Law Judge Hearings and Federal District Court Appeals	All providers
	02.26.08	MM5868 – Update to the Implementation Date for Home Health Agencies (HHAs) Providing Durable Medical Equipment (DME) in Competitive Bidding Areas	HHAs
	02.26.08	MM5898 – Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facility (CORF) Billing Requirement Updates for FY 2008	CORFs
	02.26.08	MM5910 – Clarification to CR 5744 - Payment Allowance Update for the Influenza Virus Vaccine CPT 90660 and further instruction regarding the Pneumococcal Vaccine Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) 90669	All providers
	02.26.08	MM5855 – Systems Changes for Prescription Order Numbers for the Competitive Acquisition Program (CAP) for Part B Drugs and Biologicals	Physicians
	02.21.08	MM5772 – Implementation of the Medicare Clinical Laboratory Services Competitive Bidding Demonstration	Providers and suppliers
	02.21.08	MM5870 – Process for Amending the List of Compendia for Determination of Medically-Accepted Indications for Off-Label Uses of Drugs and Biologicals in an Anti-Cancer Chemotherapeutic Regimen	All providers
	02.21.08	MM5943 – Medicare, Medicaid and State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Extension Act of 2007 (MMSEA) Changes to Independent Laboratory Billing for the Technical Component (TC) of Physician Pathology Services	Independent laboratories
	02.21.08	MM5879 – Home Health Prospective Payment System (HH PPS) Refinement and Rate Update for CY 2008	Home Health Agencies
	02.21.08	MM5907 – Update to Common Working File (CWF) Edits 7284 and 7548	Indian Health Services or Tribal Hospitals
	02.21.08	MM5872 – Update to the Common Working File (CWF) to Allow the Posting of Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) and Swing Bed (SB) Claims to the Beneficiary’s Spell of Illness When Qualifying Stay Criteria are Not Met	All providers
	02.21.08	MM5874 – Clinical Lab: New Automated Test for the Automated Multi-channel Chemistry Code (AMCC) Panel Payment Algorithm	Physicians and providers
	02.21.08	MM5818 – Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agents (ESAs) in Cancer and Related Neoplastic Conditions	Physicians