The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services are accepting applications for the final ICD-10 testing week, July 20-24, during which a sample group of providers will have the opportunity to participate in end-to-end testing with Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) and the Common Electronic Data Interchange (CEDI) contractor. Applications are due by May 22. Don't miss your chance to participate in end-to-end testing with Medicare prior to the Oct. 1, 2015, implementation date.

Approximately 850 volunteer submitters will be selected to participate in the July end-to-end testing. This nationwide sample will represent a broad cross-section of provider, claim, and submitter types, including claims clearinghouses that submit claims for large numbers of providers. Note: Testers who participated in the January and April end-to-end testing weeks are able to test again in July without re-applying.

To volunteer as a testing submitter, complete a volunteer form (found on the Novitas Solutions website or through direct link here: www.surveymonkey.com/s/Q5BC3DV) by May 22. The federal CMS will review applications and select testers. The MACs and CEDI will notify the volunteers selected to test and provide them with the information needed for the testing by June 12.

Click here to read more on CMS.org.

Spring has sprung and so have the Novitas Solutions' 2015 Medicare Symposiums. Attend a live session as Novitas' provider outreach and education team discusses what is new with Medicare. Participants will learn how to bill Medicare correctly, gain knowledge on documentation and coding, and explore the latest Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services initiatives. Each session is dedicated to help providers avoid the pitfalls and remain compliant with the Medicare program. Attend as many of the events as you would like.

The next symposium will be held June 10 in Denver. The conference is free for all providers to attend.

Register today to attend an upcoming symposium by visiting www.novitas-solutionslearning.com and selecting the Novitas Solutions 2015 Medicare Symposiums tab. Registration closes two business days prior to the event. Click here for more information.

Robin Linker and Associations are holding two ICD-10 coding workshops in June. The first, on June 5, will be held at Springhill Suites Denver at Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora. The second, on June 13, will be held at Parker Adventist Hospital in Parker.

Both will be held 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and will include a mock ICD-10 exam with answers and rationales to take home and practice. The workshop is heavy hands-on for practical application and will assist in preparation for the required online AAPC exam for credential holders.

Click here to download the agenda and registration form for the June 5 event and click here to download the agenda and registration form for the June 13 event.

The Physician Quality Reporting Programs Strategic Vision describes a long-term vision for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services quality measurement for physicians, professionals, and public reporting programs, and how they can be optimized and aligned to support better decision-making from doctors, consumers, and every part of the health care system. These programs support incentives to providers, encourage improvements in care delivery, and deliver information to consumers.

Click here to read more on CMS.gov.

Healthy Transitions Colorado presents a multi-month learning series on effective care transitions. The dates of the series are June 26, Oct. 16 and Jan. 15, and each program runs 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. A free one-hour kick-off webinar will be held June 19 at 11 a.m. Click here to register for the kick-off webinar.

By participating in the learning series, "Cultivating the Network of Care," health care organizations and communities can learn how to streamline internal processes, enhance communication with community partners, and foster patient and family engagement.

The single event fee is $65; $150 for all three programs. Click here for more information.

Novitas has launched a series of provider education articles, starting with "Increasing Your Bottom Line: How Much Does Rework Cost Your Organization." It covers the proper use of Modifier 59, which is used to identify procedures or services that are not normally reported together but are appropriate under the circumstances.

The series aims to help Medicare Part B providers submit Medicare Part B claims accurately the first time so they not only eliminate the rework within their organizations and save time and money for other opportunities, but also receive their Medicare payment faster.

Subsequent articles in the series will focus on the top administrative errors submitted on Medicare Part B claims that Novitas most often hears from providers through the Clerical Error Reopening (CER) process. Watch for these articles in future issues of Livewire.