September 2015

ICD-10 news round up - One week remains

With just one week remaining until the ICD-10 implementation date on Oct. 1, 2015, a host of organizations including the Colorado Medical Society and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have released tools for physicians and their practice staff.

Highlights include:

A webinar version of the Colorado Medical Society's "Documentation Excellence: ICD-10 from a Physician's Perspective" seminar.
A federal CMS infographic
An MLN Matters bulletin on claims submission alternatives for providers who have difficulties submitting ICD-10 claims
Private payer information
Workers' comp direction

Read more on CMS.org.

2016 PQRS payment adjustment and informal review process

On Sept. 11, the federal CMS began distributing letters to Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) individual Eligible Professionals (EPs), EPs providing services at Critical Access Hospitals billing under method II, and group practices about the 2016 PQRS negative payment adjustment. The letter indicates that an individual or group did not satisfactorily report 2014 PQRS quality measures in order to avoid the 2.0 percent 2016 negative PQRS payment adjustment.

If you received the payment adjustment letter and believe you have been incorrectly assessed, you can submit an informal review through Nov. 9. Requests must be submitted electronically via the Communication Support Page under the Related Links section of the Physician and Other Health Care Professionals Quality Reporting Portal. See the fact sheet and Analysis and Payment webpage for more information.

For additional questions, contact the QualityNet Help Desk at 866-288-8912 (TTY 1-877-715-6222) or via [email protected] from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. MT Monday through Friday.

The 2014 quality measures preview for Physician Compare opens Oct. 5

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will be publicly reporting a sub-set of the 2014 Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) measures on Physician Compare.

Starting Oct. 5, 2015, CMS is facilitating a 30-day preview period for select quality measures through the PQRS portal-Provider Quality Information Portal (PQIP). This preview period provides an opportunity for group practices and individual eligible professionals to review their measures before they are publicly reported on Physician Compare. To learn more about which measures will be publicly reported and how to preview measures, visit the Physician Compare Initiative page.

If you have any questions about Physician Compare, public reporting, or the 2014 quality measure preview period, please email [email protected].

Attend workers' comp seminars

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. Some seminars have already passed. Remaining programs will be held Sept. 24 in Colorado Springs, and Oct. 9 and 15 in Denver. Follow this link to view 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.

Remaining workshop:

Mental health/neurology/neuro surgery/ophthalmology - Sept. 30, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. MDT

Follow this link for the agenda and registration form.

In This Issue

ICD-10 news round up

Insurer mergers

Physician Compare info

Workers' comp seminars

ICD-10 webinars by specialty

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