On Thu Oct 20, 2011, CMS issued a final rule under the Affordable Care Act to establish the Medicare Shared Savings Program. New information about this program is now available on the Shared Savings Program website<http://www.cms.gov/sharedsavingsprogram>.
Of note: * The Shared Savings Program Application webpage<http://www.cms.gov/sharedsavingsprogram/37_Application.asp> includes an updated version of the Medicare Shared Savings Program Application and Appendices for the July 1, 2012 program start date. * A new Shared Savings Program ACO Agreement webpage<http://www.cms.gov/sharedsavingsprogram/38_ACO_Agreement.asp> has been added that includes a link to the agreement that approved applicants will be required to sign. * On Thu March 8, CMS hosted a National Provider Call on the Medicare Shared Savings Program electronic application submission through the Health Plan Management System (HPMS). Presentation materials are available on the Shared Savings Program CMS Teleconferences and Events webpage.<http://www.cms.gov/sharedsavingsprogram/40_Events.asp> * Also, the Shared Savings Program Quality Measures and Performance Standards webpage<http://www.cms.gov/sharedsavingsprogram/37e_Quality_Measures_Standards.asp> has been updated with the "Guide to ACO Participation in the 2012 Physician Quality Reporting System and Electronic Prescribing Incentive Program." ________________________________ 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.
