>From the MLN: "Tobacco-Use Cessation Counseling Services" Brochure Revised - >The "Tobacco-Use Cessation Counseling >Services<http://www.cms.gov/MLNproducts/downloads/smoking.pdf>" brochure (ICN >006767) has been revised and is now available for download. This brochure is >designed to provide education on tobacco-use cessation counseling services, >and includes coverage information for both symptomatic and asymptomatic >beneficiaries as well as information on tobacco-use cessation counseling.
>From the MLN: MLN Matters Articles Search Tips - Looking for the latest new >and revised MLN Matters® articles? The Medicare Learning Network® offers >several ways to search and quickly find articles of interest to you: § MLN Matters Search Engine - An advanced search feature that allows you to search MLN Matters articles from 2004 to the current year. For more information and introductions on how to use the search engine, visit the MLN Matters Search Tips webpage at http://www.CMS.gov/MLNMattersArticles/02_Search.asp. § MLN Matters Index - A list of common keywords and phrases contained within MLN Matters articles. Each index is organized by year with the ability to search by specific keywords and topics. Most indices link directly to the related article(s). For a list of available indices, visit http://www.CMS.gov/MLNMattersArticles/01_Overview.asp and scroll to the 'Downloads' section of the page. § MLN Matters Dynamic Lists - An archive of previous and current articles organized by year with the ability to search by keyword, transmittal number, subject, article number, and release date. To view and search articles, select the desired year from the left column on the MLN Matters Article webpage at http://www.CMS.gov/MLNMattersArticles. § MLN Matters Electronic Mailing List - A free notification of new and revised MLN Matters articles as they are released. For more information, including how to subscribe to the service, visit http://www.CMS.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/What_Is_MLNMatters.pdf. You can also view and search an archive of previous messages at http://list.nih.gov/cgi-bin/wa.exe?A0=MLNMATTERS-L. >From the MLN: "Critical Access Hospital" Fact Sheet Revised - The revised >"Critical Access >Hospital<http://www.cms.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/CritAccessHospfctsht.pdf>" >fact sheet (ICN 006400) is now available in downloadable format. This fact >sheet includes background information, as well as information on Critical >Access Hospital (CAH) designation, CAH payments, reasonable cost payment >principles that do not apply to CAHs, election of Standard Payment Method or >Optional (Elective) Payment Method, Medicare Rural Pass-Through Funding for >certain anesthesia services, incentive payments, and grants to states under >the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program. >From the MLN: "Role of the Zone Program Integrity Contractors, Formerly the >Program Safeguard Contractors" MLN Matters Article Released - MLN Matters >Special Edition Article #SE1204, "The Role of the Zone Program Integrity >Contractors (ZPICs), Formerly the Program Safeguard Contractors >(PSCs)<http://www.cms.gov/MLNMattersArticles/Downloads/SE1204.pdf>," has been >released in downloadable format. This article is designed to provide >education on the roles and responsibilities of the ZPICs, and includes an >overview of the various program integrity functions that ZPICs perform and >each of their seven designated zones. >From the MLN: "2012 eRx Incentive Program: Future Payment Adjustments" MLN >Matters Article Released - MLN Matters Special Edition Article #SE1206, "2012 >Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program: Future Payment >Adjustments<http://www.cms.gov/MLNMattersArticles/Downloads/SE1206.pdf>," has >been released in downloadable format. This article is designed to provide >education on future eRx Incentive Program payment adjustments for eligible >professionals and selected group practices that participate in the 2012 eRx >Group Practice Reporting Option, and includes information about the applicable >electronic percent for payment adjustments, eligibility criteria, and how to >submit a hardship request. >From the MLN: "2012 Physician Quality Reporting System Claims-Based Coding >and Reporting Principles" MLN Matters Article Released - MLN Matters Special >Edition Article #SE1207, "2012 Physician Quality Reporting System Claims-Based >Coding and Reporting >Principles<http://www.cms.gov/MLNMattersArticles/Downloads/SE1207.pdf>," has >been released in downloadable format. This article is designed to provide >education on claims-based coding and reporting under the 2012 Physician >Quality Reporting System, and includes step-by-step instructions eligible >professionals should take prior to participating in the program. >From the MLN: MLN Provider Exhibit Program Schedule - Just a reminder to mark >your calendars! The Medicare Learning Network will be exhibiting at the >following healthcare provider conferences in the coming weeks: § American College of Preventive Medicine<http://www.preventivemedicine2012.org/> Wed Feb 22 through Sat Feb 25 Orlando, Florida Booth #11 § American Medical Group Association (AMGA) 2012 Annual Conference<http://ac.amga.org/> Wed Mar 7 through Sat Mar 10 Manchester Grand Hyatt; San Diego, California Booth #802 § American Medical Student Association<http://www.amsa.org/AMSA/Homepage/Events/Convention.aspx> Thu Mar 8 through Sun Mar 11 Hyatt Regency Houston; Houston, Texas Booth #12 § National Association of Rural Health Clinics<http://www.narhc.org/events/events.php> Mon Mar 19 through Tue Mar 20 Hyatt Regency; San Antonio, Texas § The American College of Cardiology's 61st Annual Scientific Session & Expo<http://accscientificsession.cardiosource.org/ACC12.aspx> Sat Mar 24 through Mon Mar 26 Chicago, Illinois Booth #19076 § National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization<http://www.nhpco.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=5957> Thu Mar 29 through Sat Mar 31 National Harbor, MD Booth #625 Please make a note of these dates and locations and add them to your calendar! If you are interested in having a CMS Medicare Learning Network Exhibit at your event, contact us at [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>. ________________________________ It's Not too Late to Give and Get the Flu Vaccine. Take advantage of each office visit and protect your patients against the seasonal flu. Medicare will continue to pay for the seasonal flu vaccine and its administration for all Medicare beneficiaries through the entire flu season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommends that patients, healthcare workers and caregivers be vaccinated against the seasonal flu. Protect your patients. Protect your family. Protect yourself. Get the Flu Vaccine-Not the Flu. Remember - The flu vaccine plus its administration are covered Part B benefits. CMS has posted the 2011-2012 seasonal flu vaccine payment limits at http://www.CMS.gov/McrPartBDrugAvgSalesPrice/10_VaccinesPricing.asp. Note that the flu vaccine is NOT a Part D-covered drug. For more information on coverage and billing of the flu vaccine and its administration, as well as related educational provider resources, visit http://www.CMS.gov/MLNProducts/35_PreventiveServices.asp and http://www.cms.gov/immunizations. ________________________________ Note: If you have problems accessing any hyperlink in this message, please copy and paste the URL into your Internet browser. If you know someone who would like to subscribe to a Medicare Fee-For-Service (FFS) provider listserv, go to (http://www.cms.gov/prospmedicarefeesvcpmtgen/downloads/Provider_Listservs.pdf). If you would like to unsubscribe from a specific provider listserv, please go to (https://list.nih.gov/cgi-bin/wa.exe?INDEX) 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.gov/ContactCMS). Thank you.
