January 

Flu Shot
Reminder

It's a Busy Time of Year.

Make each office visit an opportunity to talk with your patients about the importance of getting the seasonal flu vaccination and a one-time pneumococcal vaccination. Remember, Medicare pays for these vaccinations for all beneficiaries with no co-pay or deductible. The seasonal flu and invasive pneumococcal disease kill thousands of people in the United States each year, most of them 65 years of age or older. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommends that health care workers and caregivers be vaccinated against the seasonal flu. Protect your patients. Protect your family. Protect yourself.
Get Your Flu Vaccine - Not the Flu. 

HHS & Wallgreens Announce New Effort
Aimed at Addressing Health Disparities
in Flu Vaccination

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced on December 17, 2010 that Walgreens has agreed to donate $10 million in vouchers for free flu shots to 350,000 eligible uninsured and underserved people in 15 markets across the country. read more... 

Updates from the Medicare Learning Network:

"Quick Reference Information, Medicare
Immunization Billing" Chart
 

The "Quick Reference Information, Medicare Immunization Billing" chart, which includes coding, coverage, and billing information for the seasonal influenza, pneumococcal, and hepatitis B vaccines, has been updated and is now available for download, free of charge, from the Medicare Learning Network^® at:

http://www.cms.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/qr_immun_bill.pdf.
Additionally, hard copies will be available at a later date.

"Physician Quality Reporting Initiative and Electronic
Prescribing and Medicare Advantage Plans" Fact Sheet

A new Medicare Learning Network^® publication titled "Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) and Electronic Prescribing (eRx) and Medicare Advantage (MA) Plans" is now available in downloadable format at:
http://www.cms.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/wPQRIMAPlansTS.pdf. This fact sheet provides PQRI and eRx Incentive Program payment information to eligible professionals (physicians/non-physicians) who provide Medicare services to beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. 

"Physician Quality Reporting Initiative Reporting
Periods for 2010" Fact Sheet

A new Medicare Learning Network^® publication titled "Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) Reporting periods for 2010" is now available in downloadable format at:

http://www.cms.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/PQRI904323.pdf. This fact sheet is designed to provide information for 2010 eligible professionals who satisfactorily report PQRI measures for the two reporting periods. This sheet also describes the incentive for eligible professionals who meet the requirements for the 6-month reporting period.

"Annual Wellness Visit, Including Personalized Prevention Plan Services" MLN Matters Article

The Medicare Learning Network^® (MLN) has released "Annual Wellness Visit (AWV), Including Personalized Prevention Plan Services (PPPS)" (MLN Matters Article #MM7079) to summarize the coverage and billing requirements of the Annual Wellness Visit with Personalized Prevention Plan Services, as outlined in section 4103 of the Affordable Care Act of 2010. Effective on or after Saturday, January 1, 2011, the AWV will cover several screening and preventive services to help promote a healthy lifestyle and coordinate those services that may already be covered and paid for under Medicare Part B. This article is based on Change Request 7079 and is available at:

http://www.cms.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM7079.pdf.

Regional Extension Center News

The small to mid-size practices of today need to identify and acquire health information technology tools to adapt and grow in our changing times.

Help and Support is Available

If you see Medicare or Medicaid patients and have adopted or plan to adopt a "certified" EHR by 2015, you could be eligible for federal incentives dollars, provided you can demonstrate "meaningful use." 

Look for the Regional Extension Center (REC) in your area to provide assistance. It is their responsibility to help small to mid-size practices adopt, implement, and use their EHRs according to the definitions of meaningful use. 

There are four regional extension centers in Florida. To learn more and find the REC in your area, click here  to check on the HIT Extension Program. 

Special Notice to physicians and practices in Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, Collier, Glades and Hendry counties:

The Center for the Advancement of Health IT (AHIT) is your Regional Extension Center. Registration for the REC services is now in progress. Don't delay! Sign up today. Space is limited.