Last Wednesday afternoon, March 10th, the Senate passed H.R. 4213, a bill to extend certain tax policies and stimulate job growth, by a vote of 62-36.  The bill includes provisions that would further extend current Medicare physician payment rates until October 1, 2010.  The legislation will now be sent to the House, where amendments are possible.  Consequently, it is not certain if this extension of Medicare payment rates can be signed into law before the current Medicare physician payment freeze expires on April 1.

This Wednesday, March 17th, is the deadline for choosing Medicare participation or non-participation status.  Physicians who wish to select or change their Medicare status may do so until the deadline.

The AMA has created an informational document about your contractual relationship with the Medicare program titled "Medicare Participation Options for Physicians."  The intent of the materials is to educate physicians on all available options so they can make a fully informed decision based on their unique situations.

Click Here to view and download the document and materials.

The AMA and MSDC are continuing their advocacy for a permanent repeal of the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula, and we encourage our members to maintain pressure on their legislators.  The AMA Grassroots Hotline is available for your use:  1-800-833-6354.

Medicare Update courtesy: American Medical Association

     Under the "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009," financial incentives were allocated to physicians for implementing electronic health records (EHRs) in their practices.  As passed, the phrase "meaningful use" is used to describe the criteria for qualifying for these incentives, yet it remained undefined in the bill.  The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services were given the responsibility of defining "meaningful use" and reconciling it within a certain time frame.
    MSDC, the American Medical Association and many other state and speciality societies believe the CMS definition is too ambitious and unrealistic.  As a response, MSDC is a signatory to a letter commenting on the CMS definition of meaningful use.

     The letter is 34 pages long.  Click here to view the full document.  Many issues and topics addressed in the issue include:

• Proper Payment in Payment Years 1, 2 and 3
• Need for Reasonable Timelines and Criteria for Stage 1
• Need for Small Physician Practice Representation on Health IT Policy Committee
• Need for Feedback Loop on Performance
• Staged Approach to Achieving Meaningful Use
• Health IT Functionality and Quality Measures
• Evaluation Needed Prior to Moving from One Stage to the Next
• Education and Outreach Plan is Critical to Ensure Success of the Incentive Programs
• Participation Requirements for EPs 
• Definition for a Hospital-Based EP (§495.4)

https://www.highmarkmedicareservices.com/calendar/partb/ws-smallprov.html

PECOS Enrollment Deadline Delayed until January 3, 2011
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have delayed the implementation of a new Medicare enrollment policy titled, PECOS, the Provider, Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System.  The enrollment deadline has been extended to Jan. 3, 2011.  The original deadline had been April 5, 2010, until this most recent change.  CMS had said physicians and group practices -- with few exceptions -- must be enrolled through PECOS by January 3, 2011 to continue having their Medicare claims accepted.  The agency said its new enrollment system speeds up the application process, reduces paperwork, and helps cut down on fraud and abuse.

Due to scheduled maintenance, Internet-based PECOS will be unavailable from Monday, March 29, 2010 through Monday, April 5, 2010.  Internet-based PECOS allows physicians, non-physician practitioners, providers, and other suppliers (except suppliers of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies [DMEPOS]) to enroll or make a change to their existing Medicare enrollment information over the Internet.

Click here for more information or to enroll in PECOS.

     One of the best ways to ensure receipt of your patients' payment responsibility is to offer the option of credit and debit card transactions.  Learn how to maximize the benefits of accepting credit and debit card payments by contracting with a payment processor that suits your practice's specific needs and by recognizing how you can save on fees with your current processor. 
     The AMA's Practice Management Center has developed the educational resource, "Shopping for a credit or debit card merchant agreement: Guidelines for physicians," (PDF) to help you improve your practice's bottom line.

     MSDC has recently switched payment processors for credit and debit card payments to Solveras Payment Solutions.  Solveras is also a corporate partner.  Each member that contacts Solveras is eligible for a free revenue stream consultation.  Please click here for more information.

     Join Hispanic physicians, medical students, nurses, policymakers, and health care industry representatives at our annual conference.
     This year, National Hispanic Medical Association celebrates its 14th Conference with partners from the Federal and State governments and the private sector. The conference brings together experts from across the nation to share their experience in eliminating health disparities for Hispanics.  CME accreditation will be provided.