Governor Vetoes Breast Density Legislation  

Yesterday the Governor vetoed SB 791 ( Simitian) the later version of the Senator's SB 173.  SB 791 was amended on the last day of the Legislative session to insert the provisions of SB 173, which had been held in the Assembly Appropriations Committee several weeks earlier due to concerns over the cost impact of the bill to the Medi-Cal and EWC programs.  It was the last day for the Governor to take action on bills passed by the Legislature this year.

The CRS had moved to a neutral position on the bill in early August. We have printed below the Governor's veto message. We assume that Senator Simitian will introduce a similar bill next year.

Governor's Message:

To the Members of the California State Senate:

While I wholeheartedly support everyone's right to information about their own health, the notice in this bill gave me pause. I talked to many people, including doctors I respect, about the effects of the notice -- both its risks and benefits -- and struggled over the words. Were they a path to greater knowledge or unnecessary anxiety?

My conclusion was this: every patient needs health information they can use. For women, that likely includes information about breast density. But the notice contained in this bill goes beyond information about breast density.  It advises that additional screening may be beneficial.  If the state must mandate a notice about breast density -- and I am not certain it should -- such a notice must be more carefully crafted, with words that educate more than they prescribe.

I am returning Senate Bill 791 without my signature.

Sincerely,

Edmund G. Brown Jr.

ACR Webinar on Imaging Payment Reductions  

The ACR is providing this webinar principally to educate plans and payers on the impact of imaging payment reductions.

The American College of Radiology (ACR) Managed Care Committee and Radiology Business Management Association (RBMA) Payor Relations Committee invite you to attend an educational webinar, the third of its kind, in an effort in assisting health plans in understanding complex radiology procedures and reimbursement. The upcoming webinar will be titled Payment Reductions in Radiology 2006-2013: Consequences of a Continued Pattern. It will include an overview of the various reimbursement reductions radiologists have seen since 2006 and will continue to see at least until 2013 and the impacts that these payment reductions have on different types of radiology practices.  The Webinar is free of charge, and there will be an opportunity to ask questions at the end of the presentation.

Date/Time:

Wednesday, October 26th, 2011

2:00 PM Eastern Time

Register:

To RSVP to attend the Webinar, please contact ACR via e-mail to kkeysor@acr.org or telephone (800) 227-5463 extension 4950.

Medicare Over-Payments and Immediate Offset Requests  

"Do I send Medicare a check to repay an overpayment, or is it best to ask for an Immediate Offset?"  This question has plagued many.  There are advantages to requesting an Immediate Offset.

Advantages in requesting an Immediate Offset include: 

• Avoiding the possibility of checks crossing in the mail and subsequent duplicate collection
• Saving costs associated with check fees and postage
• Avoiding chance of interest accrual due to late receipt

The completion of a "form" is not required.  However, we ask that you follow the step-by-step instructions outlined for you below.

To request an immediate offset, fax your request to "Immediate Offset" at the appropriate fax number below:

J1 Part B - (803) 462-3916  

 
To ensure your request is handled appropriately, all requests must include:

• A copy of the first page of the overpayment demand letter you received, as well as the detail pagesshowing the Account Receivable(s)/Invoice Number(s)
• Indicate 'Immediate Offset' on the fax cover sheet
• A copy of the spreadsheet identifying the claims included in the overpayment (if one was received)
• The printed contact name and signature of the person requesting the immediate offset should also be included on the fax cover sheet
• The contact person should be authorized to make the financial decision to request an immediate offset from future Medicare funds due to your office
• Please include the authorized person's telephone number should there be questions that require follow up

Providers can choose to indicate "Permanent Immediate Offset" on the fax cover, along with the contact name, signature and telephone number mentioned above, if they would like to authorize re-coupment of all existing and any future over-payments through claim payment offset.  If this option is made, a formal demand letter will continue to be mailed to the provider for future over-payments, but an additional offset request will not be required for future over-payments.

Please keep in mind that immediate offset requests can only be honored if there are pending payments in the Medicare claims processing system from which to offset. If there is an insufficient amount of pending payments to satisfy the overpayment, interest may accrue.

This option is NOT available for voluntary/self-disclosed over-payments.  

NOTE: The above fax number is only for immediate offsets. Any other financial concerns should be sent in writing to the appropriate address below.

J1 Medicare Part B - HI/NV  Palmetto GBA
J1 Part B Over-payments
P.O. Box 1416
Augusta, GA 30903-1416

Northern California Providers
Palmetto GBA
J1 Part B Over-payments
P.O. Box 250
Augusta, GA 30903-0250

Southern California
Providers
Palmetto GBA
J1 Part B Overpayments
P.O. Box 550
Augusta, GA 30903-0550