From CMA Capitol Insight 

Last month, Covered California announced the 13 commercial health plans offering coverage through their shopping network. On a purely logistical basis, that's a pretty impressive accomplishment so many months before the Affordable Care Act's January 1 kickoff. Relative to the progress or lack thereof by other states, it's even more impressive. However, some "issues of concern remain unresolved," to use the time-honored political euphemism. For the better part of a year, the California Medical Association (CMA) has sought the end of a loophole that could leave contracting doctors holding the bag for care given to patients who don't pay their insurance premium. The Affordable Care Act permits a three-month "grace period" for non-payment of premiums. A well-intentioned allowance, but insurers only have to pay claims through the first of those three months. A doctor can be left holding a pretty heavy bag depending on the level of care being given to a patient, CMA notes. In response, Covered California added a provision to the model contract the 13 health plans must follow, which improves the situation. A plan is now required to give 15-day advance notice to physicians when a patient begins the second month of the grace period. That's helpful, but a doctor isn't simply going to end care on day one of month two, so the warning merely alerts the doctor they'll potentially be bearing the price of 60 days in unpaid claims. Needless to say, talks continue.

Thursday, June 27; 2:30-3:45pm ET

CMS and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) will provide an overview of the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs, including the use of certified EHR technology to meet meaningful use. Learn about the different types of certification and what certification actually tests.

Agenda:

• Overview of the EHR Incentive Programs
• ONC Health Information Technology (HIT) Certification Program
• 2014 Edition Testing and Certification
• Resources
• Question and answer with CMS and ONC experts

Target Audience: Eligible Professionals and Eligible Hospitals as defined by the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs. 

Registration Information:  In order to receive call-in information, you must register for the call on the CMS Upcoming National Provider Calls registration website. Registration will close at 12pm on the day of the call or when available space has been filled; no exceptions will be made, so please register early.

Presentation:  The presentation for this call will be posted on the FFS National Provider Calls web page. In addition, a link to the slide presentation will be emailed to all registrants on the day of the call.

Continuing education credit may be awarded for participation in certain CMS National Provider Calls. Visit the Continuing Education Credit Information web page to learn more.