August 2015
Encourage your practice's physicians to attend free CME seminar on ICD-10 documentation
In a little more than one month the United States will transition from the ICD-9 code set for medical diagnoses to ICD-10. No doubt your practice has already begun preparations for the transition; however it is important for physicians to understand how the ICD-10 documentation requirements differ from those of ICD-9.

Encourage your practice's physicians to attend "Documentation Excellence: ICD-10 from a Physician's Perspective," with speaker James M. Taylor, MD, of Colorado Access. This free 90-minute program is accredited for 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ and will be presented at locations along the Front Range. Light refreshments will be served. Practice managers are welcome to attend with one of their practice's physicians. Click the links above to register for the programs or check this webpage on CMS.org for more information. A webinar (not for CME credit) will be available in mid-September for those who can't attend a live program.
Mergers in the works
AMA expresses great concern
On June 20, Anthem announced a proposal to acquire Cigna and on July 3, Aetna announced a definitive agreement to acquire Humana.

"AMA analysis shows that based on federal guidelines, the proposed Anthem-Cigna merger would be presumed to be anticompetitive in the commercial, combined (HMO+PPO+POS) markets in nine of the 14 states (NH, ME, IN, CT, VA, CO, GA, NV, KY) in which Anthem is licensed to provide coverage," said AMA President Steven J. Stack, MD, in a July 28 press statement.

"The lack of a competitive health insurance market allows the few remaining companies to exploit their market power, dictate premium increases and pursue corporate policies that are contrary to patient interests. Health insurers have been unable to demonstrate that mergers create efficiency and lower health insurance premiums. An AMA study of the 2008 merger involving UnitedHealth Group and Sierra Health Services found that premiums increased after the merger by almost 14 percent relative to a control group."

Click here to read the full AMA statement.
Select 2014 quality measures to be publicly reported on Physician Compare this year
Did you know some 2014 PQRS quality measures will be publicly reported on Physician Compare later this year? Learn more about how your measures may be publicly reported on Physician Compare at the upcoming Public Reporting information sessions.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will host a series of one-hour webinars about public reporting and the Physician Compare website. Each webinar will offer stakeholders an opportunity to ask questions about public reporting on Physician Compare and this year's measure preview period. Webinars will be conducted via WebEx at the following times:
  • Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015 at 11 a.m. MT
  • Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015 at 2 p.m. MT
  • Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015 at 9 a.m. MT
All sessions will present the same information: the Physician Compare Support Team will present information about public reporting of 2014 quality measures and the 30-day preview period and address any questions. Follow this link to register.
Medicaid providers who submit prior authorization requests (PARs): Access to CAREWEBQI ending Aug. 31, 2015
eQHealth Solutions was selected by the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing to provide utilization management services beginning Sept. 1, 2015. eQHealth Solutions will review and authorize prior authorization requests (PARs) for the ColoradoPAR Program.

Providers must register and create a new log on with eQHealth's PAR Portal, eQSuite. Please visit http://co.eqhs.org/ for information, instructions and to register for Web trainings on the new portal.

For additional questions, please refer to the following:
  • For questions regarding the vendor transition, the new online PAR submission process scheduled to begin on Sept. 1, 2015, online PAR trainings, or eQHealth Solutions provider customer service contact information, please visit http://co.eqhs.org/.
  • For questions regarding PAR submissions prior to Sept. 1, 2015, please contact the ColoradoPAR Program Provider helpline at 1-888-454-7686.
Attend workers' comp seminars
Sept. 10 and 11 in Grand Junction, Sept. 14 in Loveland, Sept. 24 in Colorado Springs, Oct. 9 and 15 in Denver
The Colorado Division of Workers' Compensation Medical Policy Unit presents the 2015 Workers' Compensation Educational and Listening Seminar to update the workers' compensation billing and payer community on changes to Rule 16 "Utilization Standards" and Rule 18 "Medical Fee Schedule" that will be effective Jan. 1, 2016. The seminars will be held Sept. 10 in Grand Junction, Sept. 14 in Loveland, Sept. 24 in Colorado Springs, and Oct. 9 and 15 in Denver. Follow this link to view the agenda and registration form.

Additionally, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment Division of Workers' Compensation will hold a medical treatment guidelines seminar on Sept. 11 in Grand Junction. The one-day seminar will focus on Colorado's treatment guidelines for low back pain and shoulder injuries, two of the most common types of workers' compensation claims. Presenters will demonstrate how to apply the guidelines as a reference tool using clinical case scenarios. Other topics include how to navigate the dispute resolution process, the role of the claims adjuster and concepts of medical/legal causation. Follow this link to download the agenda and registration form.
Colorado Hospital Association presents ICD-10 CM by Specialty series
The Colorado Hospital Association, in partnership with New Jersey Hospital Association - Healthcare Business Solutions, presents a webinar workshop series titled: "Ready.Set.Code! ICD-10-CM by Specialty."

This series is specifically designed for physicians and their practices to prepare them for ICD-10 compliance. These coding webinar workshops will help participants master ICD-10-CM and the documentation requirements associated with coding by specialty. Participants will gain an understanding of the format and structure of ICD-10 and have the ability to successfully assign diagnosis codes. Each 2-hour webinar workshop is approved for 2 AAPC CEUs and all workshops led by AHIMA Certified ICD-10 Trainers.

Available workshops (all 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. MDT):
  • Orthopedic/podiatry/spine - Aug. 26
  • OB-GYN/pediatrics/urology - Sept. 9
  • Internal medicine/family medicine - Sept. 16
  • General surgery/gastro/ENT/plastic reconstructive/colon - Sept. 23
  • Mental health/neurology/neuro surgery/ophthalmology - Sept. 30
Follow this link for the agenda and registration form.
Increase your bottom line with Medicare Part B tips from Novitas
Novitas continues with their series of "Increasing Your Bottom Line" articles, geared specifically to help Medicare Part B providers to submit Medicare Part B claims accurately the first time so they can not only eliminate the rework within their organizations and save time and money for other opportunities, but also receive their Medicare payment faster. The articles focus on the top administrative errors submitted on Medicare Part B claims that they most often hear from providers about to correct via the Clerical Error Reopening (CER) process.

Novitas has two new articles that were recently been published: "Modifier 25" and "Modifiers GV and GW." Follow this link to access the articles.
In This Issue
Sponsors

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Take Credit Cards? Is Your Practice Ready for the Oct. 15 EMV Deadline?

Important! What your practice needs to know about switching to EMV: Click here.
 


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ICD-10 clarifications from the federal CMS
There have been questions regarding what the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services meant by "family of codes." Find the answer in this document.


Events
2015 Workers' Compensation Educational and Listening Seminar
  • Grand Junction - Sept. 10
  • Loveland - Sept. 14
  • Colorado Springs - Sept. 24
  • Denver - Oct. 9 and 15
Click here for more information.


Ready.Set.Code! ICD-10-CM by Specialty webinar series
  • Orthopedic/podiatry/spine - Aug. 26
  • OB-GYN/pediatrics/urology - Sept. 9
  • Internal medicine/family medicine - Sept. 16
  • General surgery/gastro/ENT/plastic reconstructive/colon - Sept. 23
  • Mental health/neurology/neuro surgery/ophthalmology - Sept. 30
Click here for more information.


Submit your event by e-mailing [email protected].

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