The website and software for State Medicaid registration and attestation is undergoing “user acceptance testing” over the next two weeks. We will know by the end of February if it passes this internal testing phase and will be ready for production by March 5, 2012. Look for our blogs the first week of March with more information.
Remember to update your CMS EHR incentive registration soon if you plan on attesting for Medicaid. You can choose both Medicaid and Medicare if you are a CAH; our clinic providers should choose the incentive they believe they will qualify and attest to in 2012.
RHCs who plan on attesting for their Nurse Practitioners under Medicaid must have a State Medicaid (HCPF) participating ID number assigned. If you do not have these assigned for your Nurse Practitioners you will not be able to attest for them. If this is your situation we advise you to immediately apply for the appropriate Medicaid ID for your Nurse Practitioner(s).
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
CMS Webinar: Version 5010 – Where Are We Now?
DATE: March 6, 2012
TIME: 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm MST
Please join the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Regional Offices for an informative webinar on Version 5010 for healthcare providers, clearing houses, vendors and others.
Version 5010 refers to the standards that HIPAA-covered entities must use when electronically conducting certain health care administrative transactions, such as claims, remittance, eligibility, and claims status requests and responses.
Health care organizations that submit transactions electronically are required to upgrade from Version 4010/4010A to Version 5010 transaction standards.
To be compliant, organizations must use Version 5010 to send and receive claims and all other HIPPA adopted electronic transactions starting January 1; however, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has implemented an enforcement discretionary period which is in effect now until March 31, 2012.
This event will allow you to learn more about:
• Current conversion statistics
• Top 10 concerns impacting the 5010 transition
• Status of current Version 5010 Standard System Maintainer fixes
• Top 10 Version 5010 edits
• Medicaid update
• Resources and contact information
To register go to http://registration.intercall.com/go/cms2
TIME: 2:00 pm – 3:00 pm MST
Please join the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Regional Offices for an informative webinar on Version 5010 for healthcare providers, clearing houses, vendors and others.
Version 5010 refers to the standards that HIPAA-covered entities must use when electronically conducting certain health care administrative transactions, such as claims, remittance, eligibility, and claims status requests and responses.
Health care organizations that submit transactions electronically are required to upgrade from Version 4010/4010A to Version 5010 transaction standards.
To be compliant, organizations must use Version 5010 to send and receive claims and all other HIPPA adopted electronic transactions starting January 1; however, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has implemented an enforcement discretionary period which is in effect now until March 31, 2012.
This event will allow you to learn more about:
• Current conversion statistics
• Top 10 concerns impacting the 5010 transition
• Status of current Version 5010 Standard System Maintainer fixes
• Top 10 Version 5010 edits
• Medicaid update
• Resources and contact information
To register go to http://registration.intercall.com/go/cms2
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
HHS Secretary Sebelius Announces Major Progress in Doctors and Hospital Use of Health IT
On Fri Feb 17, US Department of Health and Human Services’ Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the number of hospitals using health information technology (IT) has more than doubled in the last two years. She also announced new data showing nearly 2000 hospitals and more than 41,000 doctors have received $3.1 billion in incentive payments for ensuring meaningful use of health IT, particularly certified Electronic Health Records (EHR).
The announcement details information from a new survey conducted by the American Hospital Association and reported by the HHS Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT, which found that the percentage of US hospitals that had adopted EHRs has more than doubled from 16 to 35 percent between 2009 and 2011. Additionally, 85 percent of hospitals now report that by 2015 they intend to take advantage of the incentive payments made available through the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs.
To read the entire press release, click here.
The announcement details information from a new survey conducted by the American Hospital Association and reported by the HHS Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT, which found that the percentage of US hospitals that had adopted EHRs has more than doubled from 16 to 35 percent between 2009 and 2011. Additionally, 85 percent of hospitals now report that by 2015 they intend to take advantage of the incentive payments made available through the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs.
To read the entire press release, click here.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
HHS Announces Intent to Delay ICD-10 Compliance Date
In a new press release from HHS, Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that HHS will initiate a process to postpone the compliance date by which certain health entities have to comply with ICD-10.
As part of President Obama’s commitment to reducing regulatory burden, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen G. Sebelius today announced that HHS will initiate a process to postpone the date by which certain health care entities have to comply with International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition diagnosis and procedure codes (ICD-10).
The final rule adopting ICD-10 as a standard was published in January 2009 and set a compliance date of October 1, 2013 – a delay of two years from the compliance date initially specified in the 2008 proposed rule. HHS will announce a new compliance date moving forward.
ICD-10 codes provide more robust and specific data that will help improve patient care and enable the exchange of our health care data with that of the rest of the world that has long been using ICD-10. Entities covered under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) will be required to use the ICD-10 diagnostic and procedure codes.
Please visit the ICD-10 website for the latest news and resources to help you prepare, and to download and share the implementation widget today!
As part of President Obama’s commitment to reducing regulatory burden, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen G. Sebelius today announced that HHS will initiate a process to postpone the date by which certain health care entities have to comply with International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition diagnosis and procedure codes (ICD-10).
The final rule adopting ICD-10 as a standard was published in January 2009 and set a compliance date of October 1, 2013 – a delay of two years from the compliance date initially specified in the 2008 proposed rule. HHS will announce a new compliance date moving forward.
ICD-10 codes provide more robust and specific data that will help improve patient care and enable the exchange of our health care data with that of the rest of the world that has long been using ICD-10. Entities covered under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) will be required to use the ICD-10 diagnostic and procedure codes.
Please visit the ICD-10 website for the latest news and resources to help you prepare, and to download and share the implementation widget today!
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Save the Date!! Version 5010 – Where Are We Now?
WHEN: March 6, 2012
WHO: Hosted by your Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Regional Office.
WHAT: Please join CMS staff for an informative webinar for healthcare providers, clearinghouses and vendors on Version 5010.
Version 5010 refers to the standards that HIPAA-covered entities (health plans, health care clearinghouses, and certain health care providers) must use when electronically conducting certain health care administrative transactions, such as claims, remittance, eligibility, and claims status requests and responses.
All covered entities should have been fully compliant with Version 5010 by January 1, 2012.
This webinar will cover:
• Current conversion statistics
• Top 10 concerns impacting the 5010 transition
• Status of current Version 5010 Standard System Maintainer fixes
• Top 10 Version 5010 edits
• Medicaid update
• Resources and contact information
Further details, including registration information will be posted here soon.
WHO: Hosted by your Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Regional Office.
WHAT: Please join CMS staff for an informative webinar for healthcare providers, clearinghouses and vendors on Version 5010.
Version 5010 refers to the standards that HIPAA-covered entities (health plans, health care clearinghouses, and certain health care providers) must use when electronically conducting certain health care administrative transactions, such as claims, remittance, eligibility, and claims status requests and responses.
All covered entities should have been fully compliant with Version 5010 by January 1, 2012.
This webinar will cover:
• Current conversion statistics
• Top 10 concerns impacting the 5010 transition
• Status of current Version 5010 Standard System Maintainer fixes
• Top 10 Version 5010 edits
• Medicaid update
• Resources and contact information
Further details, including registration information will be posted here soon.
CMS has Added a New Webpage on CQMs to the EHR Website
CMS has created a new page of the EHR website dedicated to the clinical quality measures (CQMs) and their role in the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs. The page intends to help providers better understand the purpose of CQMs and how to report on the measures.
The new CQM page of the website includes information on the following topics:
General program definitions, like “Reporting Period”
Eligible professional (EP) CQM reporting requirements
Eligible hospital and critical access hospital (CAH) CQM reporting requirements
Information on the CQM Pilot Program
Resources and additional information on CQMs
You can also find helpful CQM resources on the new page, including the Guide to CQMs and a webinar video that provides an overview of the measures.
Also be sure to review the CQM EP Reporting Table and the CQM Eligible Hospital and CAH Reporting Table. Each document lists the CQMs for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs for 2011-2012.
The new CQM page of the website includes information on the following topics:
General program definitions, like “Reporting Period”
Eligible professional (EP) CQM reporting requirements
Eligible hospital and critical access hospital (CAH) CQM reporting requirements
Information on the CQM Pilot Program
Resources and additional information on CQMs
You can also find helpful CQM resources on the new page, including the Guide to CQMs and a webinar video that provides an overview of the measures.
Also be sure to review the CQM EP Reporting Table and the CQM Eligible Hospital and CAH Reporting Table. Each document lists the CQMs for the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs for 2011-2012.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Webinar: Tips for Preventing Scope Creep and Cost Over Runs When Implementing a Health IT System
Friday, February 17, 2012 - 12:00-1:30 pm MST
This webinar focuses on how safety net providers can tackle cost over runs and scope creep during a health information technology (IT) implementation or upgrade. Leadership and project teams constantly struggle how to balance the competing demands of the project’s scope, schedule and cost. While, it is understood that scope creep should be avoided and deliverables should be clearly defined, it is common for health IT professionals to still struggle to find practical strategies to effectively plan and execute their implementation projects.
This webinar’s presenters come from healthcenter and critical access hospital backgrounds. The speakers presentations will focus on the following questions: What project management tools should you utilize to keep your project within costs and scope? How do you use workflow analysis to control costs and keep your implementation within scope? How do you involve staff and work with them in maintaining the project’s scope during implementation?
Presenters include:
· J. Brett Tracy, MHA, CPC. Research Director.
Community Health Centers of Arkansas, Inc.
· Mark Chustz, PhD, Chief Executive Officer
Greene County Hospital of Alabama
· Salliann Alborn, CEO.
Community Health Integrated Partnership of Maryland
Registration link: http://webcast.streamlogics.com/audience/index.asp?eventid=64657228
Please email questions or comments to HRSA’s Health IT mailbox at: healthit@hrsa.gov
Previous HRSA Health and Quality Webinars are available at: http://www.hrsa.gov/healthit
This webinar focuses on how safety net providers can tackle cost over runs and scope creep during a health information technology (IT) implementation or upgrade. Leadership and project teams constantly struggle how to balance the competing demands of the project’s scope, schedule and cost. While, it is understood that scope creep should be avoided and deliverables should be clearly defined, it is common for health IT professionals to still struggle to find practical strategies to effectively plan and execute their implementation projects.
This webinar’s presenters come from healthcenter and critical access hospital backgrounds. The speakers presentations will focus on the following questions: What project management tools should you utilize to keep your project within costs and scope? How do you use workflow analysis to control costs and keep your implementation within scope? How do you involve staff and work with them in maintaining the project’s scope during implementation?
Presenters include:
· J. Brett Tracy, MHA, CPC. Research Director.
Community Health Centers of Arkansas, Inc.
· Mark Chustz, PhD, Chief Executive Officer
Greene County Hospital of Alabama
· Salliann Alborn, CEO.
Community Health Integrated Partnership of Maryland
Registration link: http://webcast.streamlogics.com/audience/index.asp?eventid=64657228
Please email questions or comments to HRSA’s Health IT mailbox at: healthit@hrsa.gov
Previous HRSA Health and Quality Webinars are available at: http://www.hrsa.gov/healthit
RAC Launches New Online Health Information Technology Toolkit
Providing health information technology (HIT) resources to rural health care providers is the purpose of a new online toolkit from the Rural Assistance Center (RAC). A pilot program developed through RAC and the National Rural Health Resource Center (The Center), the toolkit is designed to help rural providers find HIT resources directed at them.
To read more about the toolkit, click here.
To read more about the toolkit, click here.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Canceled: THE Consortium February Webinar
THE Consortium Webinar on February 23, 2012 has been canceled - we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Please join us in March for the next webinar where we'll talk about the Medicaid Registration and Attestation system scheduled to go online March 5, 2012 and other relevant topics.
To register for the March webinar, click here.
Please join us in March for the next webinar where we'll talk about the Medicaid Registration and Attestation system scheduled to go online March 5, 2012 and other relevant topics.
To register for the March webinar, click here.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Colorado Medical Society Evening Seminar Series
HIPAA Privacy and Security - What physician practices must do for Meaningful Use
Evening Seminar Series
Grand Junction - February 27th
Longmont - February 28th
Denver metro - February 29th
Colorado Springs - March 1st
The drive for meaningful use of electronic health records can mean big things for your practice, including privacy and security issues surrounding HIPAA. Plan on attending an interactive seminar with David Ginsberg, a leading authority in HIPAA privacy and security compliance and meaningful use.
To learn more and register, click here.
Evening Seminar Series
Grand Junction - February 27th
Longmont - February 28th
Denver metro - February 29th
Colorado Springs - March 1st
The drive for meaningful use of electronic health records can mean big things for your practice, including privacy and security issues surrounding HIPAA. Plan on attending an interactive seminar with David Ginsberg, a leading authority in HIPAA privacy and security compliance and meaningful use.
To learn more and register, click here.
CMS Has Updated the EHR Information Center with New Self-Service Options
Following months of review and collective input, the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Information Center Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system has been enhanced to provide users with an increased number of options and services to make accessing and reviewing data easier than ever before.
For eligible professionals (EPs), eligible hospitals or critical access hospitals (CAHs), the revised functionality vastly improves the efficiency in obtaining the desired information, while also offering a more varied amount of information and options for callers.
CMS is proud to announce that providers can now obtain information through an extensive IVR Self-Service option. Included in this option is a reinforced privacy protection module that requires your individual National Provider Identifier (NPI), the last five digits of your Tax Identification Number (TIN) and your EHR registration ID. Once accepted, this newly enhanced Self-Service tool allows you to:
Obtain registration status
Acquire attestation status
Review payment information
Check progress towards meeting the $24,000 threshold amount
Users may access these new options by following the steps outlined below:
Begin by dialing (888) 734 6433
Press 3 for Self Service
Enter the authentication elements
These options will be available on the IVR effective February 16, 2012.
For eligible professionals (EPs), eligible hospitals or critical access hospitals (CAHs), the revised functionality vastly improves the efficiency in obtaining the desired information, while also offering a more varied amount of information and options for callers.
CMS is proud to announce that providers can now obtain information through an extensive IVR Self-Service option. Included in this option is a reinforced privacy protection module that requires your individual National Provider Identifier (NPI), the last five digits of your Tax Identification Number (TIN) and your EHR registration ID. Once accepted, this newly enhanced Self-Service tool allows you to:
Obtain registration status
Acquire attestation status
Review payment information
Check progress towards meeting the $24,000 threshold amount
Users may access these new options by following the steps outlined below:
Begin by dialing (888) 734 6433
Press 3 for Self Service
Enter the authentication elements
These options will be available on the IVR effective February 16, 2012.
Monday, February 6, 2012
CMS Has New FAQS for You!
CMS wants to help keep you updated with information on the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs. CMS has recently updated previously-posted FAQs and added new FAQs on several incentive program topics, including reporting periods and incentive payments. Take a minute and review these FAQs:
1. For the 2011 payment year, how and when will incentive payments for the Medicare EHR Incentive Programs be made? Read the answer.
2. What are the EHR reporting periods for eligible hospitals participating in both the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs, as well as the requirements for receiving an EHR incentive payment? Read the answer.
3. For the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs, how will non-standard (or irregular) cost reporting periods be taken into account in determining the appropriate cost reporting periods to employ during the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Hospital Calculations? Read the answer.
4. In order to qualify for payment under the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program for having adopted, implemented, or upgraded to (AIU) certified EHR technology, an eligible professional (EP) working at an Indian Health Services (IHS) clinic may be asked to submit to their State Medicaid Agency an official letter containing information about the clinic's electronic health record from IHS (which is an Operating Division of the United States Department of Health and Human Services). The information in this letter identifies the EHR vendor, the ONC Certified Heath IT Product List (CHPL) number of the EHR, as well as other information regarding the EHR product version and licensure. Does this letter meet states' documentation requirements for AIU? Read the answer.
5. For the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program, how do we determine Medicaid patient volume for procedures that are billed globally, such as obstetrician (OB) visits or some surgeries? Such procedures are billed to Medicaid at a global rate where one global rate might cover several visits. Read the answer.
1. For the 2011 payment year, how and when will incentive payments for the Medicare EHR Incentive Programs be made? Read the answer.
2. What are the EHR reporting periods for eligible hospitals participating in both the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs, as well as the requirements for receiving an EHR incentive payment? Read the answer.
3. For the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs, how will non-standard (or irregular) cost reporting periods be taken into account in determining the appropriate cost reporting periods to employ during the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Hospital Calculations? Read the answer.
4. In order to qualify for payment under the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program for having adopted, implemented, or upgraded to (AIU) certified EHR technology, an eligible professional (EP) working at an Indian Health Services (IHS) clinic may be asked to submit to their State Medicaid Agency an official letter containing information about the clinic's electronic health record from IHS (which is an Operating Division of the United States Department of Health and Human Services). The information in this letter identifies the EHR vendor, the ONC Certified Heath IT Product List (CHPL) number of the EHR, as well as other information regarding the EHR product version and licensure. Does this letter meet states' documentation requirements for AIU? Read the answer.
5. For the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program, how do we determine Medicaid patient volume for procedures that are billed globally, such as obstetrician (OB) visits or some surgeries? Such procedures are billed to Medicaid at a global rate where one global rate might cover several visits. Read the answer.
Stay Informed Via the CMS’ EHR Incentive Programs Listserv
CMS wants to invite you to join a free email service to receive CMS' latest news on the EHR Incentive Programs. The CMS EHR Incentive Program listserv provides timely information on program requirements and changes in the EHR Incentive Programs.
By subscribing to this listserv, you will receive early notification of new program developments, the availability of new resources, and the addition of any new Frequently Asked Questions that are published on the CMS EHR Incentive Programs' website.
Click here to join the listserv and visit the listserv section of the EHR Incentive Programs website to take a look at some of the recent messages we have sent. We encourage you to let others know about the CMS EHR Incentive Program listserv, and to share its messages.
By subscribing to this listserv, you will receive early notification of new program developments, the availability of new resources, and the addition of any new Frequently Asked Questions that are published on the CMS EHR Incentive Programs' website.
Click here to join the listserv and visit the listserv section of the EHR Incentive Programs website to take a look at some of the recent messages we have sent. We encourage you to let others know about the CMS EHR Incentive Program listserv, and to share its messages.
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