Please join CMS during National Kidney Month in raising awareness about chronic kidney disease. Millions of Americans are at risk for chronic kidney disease and diabetes, and may be able to prevent the need for dialysis and kidney transplantation with early identification and a dedication to healthy lifestyle habits. Early disease detection is key, and the kidney disease-related services covered by Medicare are a great starting point for beneficiaries.
The incidence of kidney failure, or end-stage renal disease (ESRD), is rising fast in America, with more than 546,000 patients currently receiving treatment. Medicare covers a range of related services for eligible Medicare beneficiaries including diabetes screening tests, diabetes self-management training, medical nutrition therapy, kidney disease education services, dialysis, and transplant services. What Can You Do? * Use services like the "Welcome to Medicare" Preventive Visit and the Annual Wellness Visit as opportunities to talk with your Medicare patients about their risk factors for disease, and to provide referrals, as appropriate. * Help them to understand that the early detection and treatment of kidney disease can prevent or delay many associated illnesses and complications. * Help protect the health of your Medicare-covered patients by informing them of Medicare-covered kidney disease and diabetes-related services, as appropriate. * Remember, many of these services require an order or referral for coverage by Medicare; please ensure that you provide your Medicare patients with the appropriate documentation so they can receive the services needed to help prevent, treat, and manage kidney disease and its complications. More Information for Healthcare Professionals: * The Guide to Medicare Preventive Services<http://www.cms.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/mps_guide_web-061305.pdf> * Chapter 1: Initial Preventive Physical Exam (commonly known as the "Welcome to Medicare" Preventive Visit) * Chapter 4: Annual Wellness Visit * Chapter 6: Diabetes-related services * Medicare Preventive Services Quick Reference Information Chart<https://www.cms.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/MPS_QuickReferenceChart_1.pdf> * MLN Diabetes-Related Services factsheet<http://www.cms.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/DiabetesSvcs.pdf> * End-Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment System factsheet series<http://www.cms.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/End-Stage_Renal_Disease_Prospective_Payment_System_ICN905143.pdf> * National Kidney Foundation website<http://www.kidney.org> * National Kidney Foundation - "Chronic Kidney Disease on the Rise"<http://kidney.org/news/wkd/CKDRise.cfm> * National Diabetes Education Program Healthcare Professionals website<http://ndep.nih.gov/hcp-businesses-and-schools/HealthCareProfessionals.aspx> * 2011 National Diabetes factsheet<http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/pdf/ndfs_2011.pdf> Thank you for joining with CMS to help increase awareness and educate about kidney and diabetes-related services covered by Medicare. ________________________________ 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.
