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Emergency Adoption of Amendment and Proposed Amendment to 12 NYCRR 441.2 to Update the New York Workers' Compensation Drug Formulary
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The New York State Department of Health issued a special edition of the Medicaid Update today, March 10, 2020, featuring New York State Medicaid Coverage and Reimbursement Policy for Services Related to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19). This Medicaid Update can be found at: https://health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid/program/update/2020/2020-03-10_covid-19.htm.
In order to increase health care provider participation in the workers' compensation system and improve injured workers' access to timely, quality medical care, the Workers' Compensation Board (Board) is supporting electronic submission of CMS-1500 forms, along with a medical narrative. The CMS-1500 streamlines medical billing and may reduce the paperwork requirements currently in the workers' compensation system.
Free webinar to address your questions
The Board is hosting two free online Q&A webinars to give you an update on the initiative and answer your questions about CMS-1500. Each one-hour session will provide a brief overview of the CMS-1500 initiative as well as the most frequently asked questions we’ve received. We will use the remaining time to answer any additional questions you have. Each webinar will cover identical material.
Registration is required. You can register for either session at: http://www.wcb.ny.gov/webinars/
April 7, 2020: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
April 8, 2020: 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
More information
We encourage you to review the CMS-1500 training video (recorded from the first CMS-1500 webinars held in September 2019) and make note of any questions you have prior to attending one of the webinars.
You can also visit CMS-1500 Initiative and CMS-1500 FAQ for more information. The Board will post responses to questions received during the webinars in the FAQ section of the website.
To stay informed of Board news, sign up to get WCB notifications.
Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) for Advanced Diagnostic Imaging – Educational and Operations Testing Period - Claims Processing Requirements
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is hosting a webinar on Wednesday, February 12 at 2:30 p.m. ET to provide an overview of the MIPS Value Pathways (also referred to as MVPs) participation framework, which was outlined in the 2020 Quality Payment Program Final Rule. CMS is committed to co-developing the MIPS Value Pathways with stakeholders and the public, and will be using this webinar to answer questions from organizations interested in providing input on MVPs.
During the webinar, CMS subject matter experts will:
Please note that this webinar will only cover existing information about the MIPS Value Pathways, as found within the 2020 Final Rule, MVPs webpage, and accompanying materials such as the MVPs fact sheet and illustrative diagrams. No new information about the MVPs will be presented during this time.
Webinar Details
Title: MIPS Value Pathways Webinar
Date: Wednesday, February 12, 2020
Time: 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. ET
Registration Link: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/7531766105167712011
Please note: The audio portion of this webinar will be broadcast through the web. You can listen to the presentation through your computer speakers. CMS will open the phone line for the feedback portion. If you cannot hear audio through your computer speakers, please contact CMSQualityTeam@ketchum.com.
CMS has posted the following new Quality Payment Program (QPP) resources to the QPP Resource Library to help eligible clinicians submit their 2019 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) data until the submission period closes at 8:00 p.m. EDT on March 31, 2020.
For More Information
Today, January 17, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) updated the Open Payments dataset to reflect changes to the data that took place since the last publication in June 2019. The updated dataset is now available for viewing at https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov/.
CMS updates the Open Payments data at least once annually to include updates from disputes and other data corrections made since the initial publication of the data. The refreshed Open Payments Data Set includes:
The following is not included in the data refresh:
Note: Updates not included in the refresh are due to the requirement that covered recipients must be provided an opportunity to review data attributed to them for accuracy. For more information about the Open Payments Program timeline, visit www.cms.gov/openpayments
This financial data was submitted by applicable manufacturers and group purchasing organizations (GPOs).
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CMS is pleased to announce that the Open Payments search tool (https://openpaymentsdata.cms.gov/) was updated with the following features:
Entity Profile Updates
Query Builder Renamed “Advanced Search”
Submit questions to the Help Desk via email at openpayments@cms.hhs.gov or by calling 1-855-326-8366 (TTY Line: 1-844-649-2766), Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (ET), excluding Federal holidays.
The Help Desk refers media inquiries to CMS’ Press Office for response.
Visit the Resources page on the Open Payments website for many of the above resources.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has sent this update.
To contact CMS go to our Contact Us page.
Due to the opening of the 2019 MIPS data submission period, the Quality Payment Program (QPP) Service Center is projecting an increase in volume of calls and emails between January and March 2020, resulting in longer wait times.
CMS recommends the following to minimize wait times and ensure successful 2019 submission:
Self-Service Pulse: What You Need To Know This Week
As your Medicare Administrative Contractor, National Government Services wants to provide you with a comprehensive source containing the most current information available for our self-service tools.
NGSMedicare.com
The New Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) Effective 1/1/2020, the new Medicare Number, commonly referred to as the MBI, will be required for all Medicare inquiries and transactions. If you would like to learn more about the MBI, we have a section of our website with all the information you need to comply with the CMS initiative. 1. Select “Claims & Appeals” then select “Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI).” Or 2. Click on the MBI scrolling banner on our home page. Or 3. Select “Learn About MBI” on our home page. Avoid your claims being rejected. Use the MBI today.
NGSConnex.com
Final Countdown for the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier Transition Period There are less than 30 days left until the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) transition period comes to an end. Effective, 1/1/2020 Medicare transactions can no longer contain Health Insurance Claim Numbers (HICNs). This includes transactions within the NGSConnex portal. Don't wait; MBIs can be used now. We encourage NGSConnex users to start using the MBI in all your portal transactions, including eligibility and claim status inquiries. Every person with Medicare has been assigned an MBI and beneficiaries can find this number on their new Medicare Card. If you are unable to obtain a copy of the beneficiary's new Medicare card, you can search for their MBI using the MBI Lookup Tool available in NGSConnex. Instructions for using the MBI Lookup Tool can be found in the NGSConnex User Guide:
MedicareUniversity.com
Printing Your Transcript
Do you need to show your manager the education you received for your end-of-year review? You can generate and print your Medicare University transcript. On the “My Courses” tab, click the “Transcript” tab, then click the “Print Report” button. Show your manager the quality education you have received from National Government Services.
Interactive Voice Response
Eligibility Submenus When you utilize the interactive voice response (IVR) system, you have the ability to access a Medicare beneficiary's eligibility information via submenus. These submenus allow you to choose the specific eligibility elements you want to hear. After the provider and beneficiary information is authenticated, you will hear the following upfront eligibility elements as applicable: • Entitlement dates • Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) status • Inactive dates • Corrected Medicare number • Date of death You can say "Repeat that" to hear the upfront eligibility elements again. You may then choose one of the submenu options to continue through the other eligibility elements as applicable. Part A Eligibility Submenu Options • Full Eligibility (Touchtone 1) • Basic Eligibility (Touchtone 2) • Hospital and SNF Billing (Touchtone 3) • Other Insurance (Touchtone 4) • ESRD (Touchtone 5) • Home Health and Hospice (Touchtone 6) • Special Services (Touchtone 7) Part B Eligibility Submenu Options • Full Eligibility (Touchtone 1) • Basic Eligibility (Touchtone 2) • Other Insurance (Touchtone 3) • ESRD (Touchtone 4) • Home Health and Hospice (Touchtone 5) • Special Services (Touchtone 6) After you select a submenu and listen to the elements available, you can say "Repeat that" to hear the specific submenu elements again. Or, you can say simply say another submenu option to listen to other elements. Refer to the IVR User Guide for all available features in the IVR: • Part A Provider Interactive Voice Response User Guide • Part B Provider Interactive Voice Response User Guide
YouTube
MBI Lookup Tool in NGSConnex If you are currently registered with NGSConnex, our free, secure internet portal you will be able to login and use the MBI Lookup Tool to obtain your patient's MBI, if CMS has mailed them their new Medicare card. Watch this three-minute video to learn how to use the MBI LookUp Tool in our secure self-service portal, NGSConnex.
Fun Fact National Cocoa Day A cold winter day is the perfect time to make yourself a cup of hot cocoa and enjoy National Cocoa Day. Each year on December 13, people across the country celebrate their favorite cold weather comfort drink. Hot cocoa is a warm beverage made with cocoa powder, heated milk or water and sugar. The terms hot chocolate and hot cocoa are often used interchangeably by Americans. To make hot chocolate, we use ground chocolate which contains cocoa butter. It’s mixed with hot milk and is also called drinking chocolate. Did You Know? Did you know you can search for a participating physician on our website by using the Medicare Participating Physicians Directory?
