Due to inclement weather, the National Provider Conference Call on HIPAA 5010 New Error Handling Transactions, which was scheduled to take place Thursday, February 11, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time, has been cancelled. We will keep you informed as to when the call is rescheduled. ____________________________________________________________ There's still time to get the seasonal flu shot! Although influenza activity has declined recently, it still may continue for several months.[1] <https://webmail.hhs.gov/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=https://webmail.hhs.gov/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=https://webmail.hhs.gov/exchange/Lisa.Smith/Drafts/RE:%252520January%252520Minimum%252520Data%252520Set%252520(MDS)%2525203.0%252520Information%252520Update.EML/1_text.htm%2523_ftn1> The Centers for Disease Control continues to recommend that patients and health care providers and caregivers be vaccinated against seasonal influenza.
CMS encourages health care providers to use each office visit as an opportunity to talk with Medicare your patients about the importance of getting a seasonal flu shot. And remember, it is also important to immunize yourself and your staff. Remember - Seasonal influenza vaccinations and their administration are covered Part B benefits. Note that influenza and pneumococcal vaccines are NOT Part D covered drugs. For information about Medicare's coverage of the seasonal influenza virus vaccine and its administration, as well as related educational resources for health care professionals and their staff, please go to (http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/Downloads/flu_products.pdf <https://webmail.hhs.gov/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=https://webmail.hhs.gov/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/Downloads/flu_products.pdf> ) on the CMS website. You will find a variety of resources that explain Medicare coverage and claims submission policies related to the seasonal influenza vaccine. For information on Medicare policies related to H1N1 influenza, please go to (http://www.cms.hhs.gov/H1N1 <https://webmail.hhs.gov/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=https://webmail.hhs.gov/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.cms.hhs.gov/H1N1> ) on the CMS website. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Note: If you have problems accessing any hyperlink in this message, please copy and paste the URL into your Internet browser. If you received this message as part of the All FFS Providers listserv, you are currently subscribed to one of eighteen Medicare Fee-For-Service provider listservs. If you would like to be removed from all NIH listservs, please go to (https://list.nih.gov/LISTSERV_WEB/signoff.htm <https://list.nih.gov/LISTSERV_WEB/signoff.htm> ) to unsubscribe. If you would like to unsubscribe from a specific provider listserv, please go to (https://list.nih.gov/cgi-bin/show_list_archives <https://list.nih.gov/cgi-bin/show_list_archives> ) to unsubscribe or to leave the appropriate listserv. Please DO NOT respond to this email. This email is a service of CMS and routed through an electronic mail server to communicate Medicare policy and operational changes and/or updates. Responses to this email are not routed to CMS personnel. Inquiries may be sent by going to (http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ContactCMS <http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ContactCMS> ). Thank you.
