For Physicians

CMS announces ACO application deadlines

Following publication of a final rule on the Medicare accountable care organization (ACO) program that included a number of significant AMA recommendations for improvement, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced several key application deadlines for the Medicare Shared Savings Program and the Advance Payment Model.

The application deadlines are based on two possible start dates for 2012: April 1 and July 1. Physicians can learn more about each step of the application process, from filing a notice of intent to apply to receiving CMS's decision, by reading the latest issue of the AMA's Health System Reform Insight. This bi-weekly e-newsletter from the AMA helps physicians understand the new direction in the nation's health system and what it means to them and their patients.

CMS redacts physician NPIs on revalidation list

A published list of physicians the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has asked to revalidate their Medicare enrollment has been revised to better protect them from identity theft.

Expressing concerns about publishing the physicians' full national provider identifiers (NPI), the AMA persuaded CMS to implement better safeguards. The list now displays only the last four digits of physicians' NPIs.

Physicians should periodically check this list in case they missed a revalidation letter from their Medicare administrative contractor. If you receive a revalidation letter or you are included in the published list, you should revalidate your Medicare enrollment within 60 days of the date on the letter to prevent CMS from deactivating your enrollment.

CMS has extended its major revalidation effort through 2015, allowing improvements to the Medicare Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS) to become operational before most physicians will be asked to revalidate. However, CMS will continue to contact physicians intermittently and has indicated that the first set of physicians already contacted for revalidation were those who are enrolled but are not yet in PECOS.

Read more in a recent MLN Matters article from CMS.

Enjoy package discount on AMA practice management books

AMA members can receive a 25 percent discount on two AMA titles, Reimbursement Management: Improving the Success and Profitability of Your Practice and Maximizing Billing and Collections in the Medical Practice, when buying them together through the AMA Bookstore.

Useful to both the seasoned professional and the newest addition to the medical practice, Reimbursement Management will help physicians become familiar with the reimbursement process and build confidence when handling reimbursement issues. Important issues covered in this book include insurance basics, compliance programs, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act regulations, benchmarking, and monitoring reimbursements and appendixes. 

Maximizing Billing and Collections in the Medical Practice provides a systematic approach to reviewing the billing and collections process to discover problems and prevent undue financial loss in today's medical practice. This invaluable resource integrates the patient encounter with the billing and collections function to increase the likelihood of collecting every dollar the physician is entitled to receive. Sample tables, forms and reports are also included via CD-ROM.

If you're not an AMA member, join today.