2020-05-21-mlnc

Date
2020-05-21
Title
MLN Connects for May 21, 2020



Thursday, May 21, 2020

 

News

Events

MLN Matters® Articles

Multimedia

View this edition as PDF (PDF)

 

News

 

CMS Releases Additional Waivers for Hospitals and Ground Ambulance Organizations

CMS continues to release waivers for the health care community that provide the flexibilities needed to take care of patients during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). CMS recently provided additional blanket waivers for the duration of the PHE that:

  • Modify existing physical environment waivers to allow for increased flexibilities for surge capacity and patient quarantine at hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, and critical access hospitals as a result of COVID-19
  • Modify the data collection period and data reporting period for ground ambulance organizations

For more information, see Emergency Declaration Blanket Waivers.

 

Hospice Quality Reporting Program: Quarterly Update for January - March

The Hospice Quality Reporting Program (HQRP) Quarterly Update (PDF) for the first quarter of 2020 is available. This update includes highlights, events, planned engagement opportunities, and questions and answers from the Hospice Quality Help Desk. Visit the HQRP Requirements and Best Practices webpage for more information.

 

Nursing Home Quality Initiative: Updated MDS 3.0 Item Sets

CMS updated the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 item sets (version 1.17.2 (ZIP)) and related technical data specifications. These changes support the calculation of Patient Driven Payment Model payment codes on Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (OBRA) assessments when not combined with the 5-day skilled nursing facility prospective payment system assessment. Visit the MDS 3.0 Technical Information webpage for more information.

 

Hospitals: Submit Medicare GME Affiliation Agreements by October 1 During the COVID-19 PHE

Two or more teaching hospitals may form a Medicare Graduate Medical Education (GME) affiliated group to aggregate direct and/or indirect medical education resident caps to provide flexibility for cross-training residents. During the Public Health Emergency (PHE), teaching hospitals may have until October 1, 2020 (rather than July 1, 2020) to submit new or amended Medicare GME affiliation agreements. As under existing procedures, hospitals should email new and/or amended agreements to CMS at , and indicate in the subject line whether the Medicare GME affiliation agreement is a new one or an amended one. Copies must be sent to the hospitals’ Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) as well.

 

Events

 

COVID-19: Lessons from the Front Lines Calls — May 22 and 29

Fridays from 12:30 to 2 pm ET

These weekly calls are a joint effort between CMS Administrator Seema Verma, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Stephen Hahn, MD, and the White House Coronavirus Task Force. Physicians and other clinicians: Share your experience, ideas, strategies, and insights related to your COVID-19 response. There is an opportunity to ask questions.

Join the May 22 call for a discussion on COVID-19 therapeutics with FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, MD and providers in the field, including:

  • Magdalena Sobieszczyk, MD, MPH, Chief of Infectious Disease, New York Presbyterian/Columbia University
  • Njeri Wainaina, MD, FACP, Associate Professor of Medicine and Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin

There will also be a discussion on emerging best practices in communicating and caring for patients with serious illness in the face of COVID-19 and beyond, featuring:

  • Shoshana Ungerleider, MD, Founder End Well Foundation; How COVID-19 presents new avenues for care
  • Michael Fratkin, MD, CEO ResolutionCare Network; Telemedicine in Palliative Care
  • Adam Hayden, Patient Advocate; Living with life-threatening/limiting illness in the face of COVID-19
  • Sonali Wilborn, MD; CMO Heart of Hospice; Creating a space for hospice within acute care settings
  • Sunita Puri, MD; Addressing physician grief in the COVID-19 era

To Participate on May 22:

  • Conference lines are limited; we encourage you to join via audio webcast
  • Or, call 877-251-0301; Access Code: 6086125

To Participate on May 29:

  • Conference lines are limited; we encourage you to join via audio webcast
  • Or, call 877-251-0301; Access Code: 6350189

For More Information:

Target Audience: Physicians and other clinicians.

 

COVID-19: Home Health and Hospice Call — May 26

Tuesdays from 3 to 3:30 pm ET

These calls provide targeted updates on the agency’s latest COVID-19 guidance. Leaders in the field also share best practices. There is an opportunity to ask questions if time allows.

To Participate:

  • Conference lines are limited; we encourage you to join via audio webcast
  • Or, call 833-614-0820; Access Passcode: 4666966

For More Information:

Target Audience: Home health and hospice providers.

 

COVID-19: Office Hours Call — May 26

Tuesdays from 5 to 6 pm ET

Hospitals, health systems, and providers: Ask CMS questions about our temporary actions that empower you to:

  • Increase hospital capacity – CMS Hospitals Without Walls
  • Rapidly expand the health care workforce
  • Put patients over paperwork
  • Promote telehealth

To Participate:

  • Conference lines are limited; we encourage you to join via audio webcast
  • Or, call 833-614-0820; Access Passcode: 8977438

For More Information:

Target Audience: Hospitals, health systems, and providers.

 

COVID-19: Nursing Home Call — May 27

Wednesdays from 4:30 to 5 pm ET

These calls provide targeted updates on the agency’s latest COVID-19 guidance. Leaders in the field also share best practices. There is an opportunity to ask questions if time allows.

To Participate:

  • Conference lines are limited; we encourage you to join via audio webcast
  • Or, call 833-614-0820; Access Passcode: 1243649

For More Information:

Target Audience: Nursing home providers.

 

COVID-19: Dialysis Organization Call — May 27

Wednesdays from 5:30 to 6 pm ET

These calls provide targeted updates on the agency’s latest COVID-19 guidance. Leaders in the field also share best practices. There is an opportunity to ask questions if time allows.

To Participate:

  • Conference lines are limited; we encourage you to join via audio webcast
  • Or, call 833-614-0820; Access Passcode: 6152699

For More Information:

Target Audience: Dialysis organizations.

 

COVID-19: Nurses Call — May 28

Thursdays from 3 to 3:30 pm ET

These calls provide targeted updates on the agency’s latest COVID-19 guidance. Leaders in the field also share best practices. There is an opportunity to ask questions if time allows.

To Participate:

  • Conference lines are limited; we encourage you to join via audio webcast
  • Or, call 833-614-0820; Access Passcode: 2988422

For More Information:

Target Audience: Nurses.

 

Prior Authorization Process and Requirements for Certain Outpatient Hospital Department Services Special Open Door Forum — May 28

Thursday, May 28 from 1:30 to 3 pm ET

CMS invites hospitals, physicians, practitioners, and other Medicare stakeholders to discuss the prior authorization of certain outpatient hospital department services from the following categories: Blepharoplasty, botulinum toxin injections, panniculectomy, rhinoplasty, and vein ablation.

For More Information:

  • Final rule
  • webpage: Presentation materials posted prior to the call

Participation Instructions:

  • Participant Dial-In Number: 888-455-1397
  • Conference ID #: 9375124

 

MLN Matters® Articles

 

COVID-19 Blanket Swing Bed Waiver for Addressing Barriers to Nursing Home Placement for Hospitalized Individuals

A new MLN Matters Special Edition Article SE20018 on COVID-19 Blanket Swing Bed Waiver for Addressing Barriers to Nursing Home Placement for Hospitalized Individuals (PDF) is available. Learn answers to key questions about providing skilled nursing level care for hospitalized patients who do not need acute level care but cannot find nursing home placement during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.

 

Manual Update to Pub. 100-04, Chapter 38, to Remove Identification of Items or Services Related to the 2010 Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico Section

A new MLN Matters Article MM11778 on Manual Update to Pub. 100-04, Chapter 38, to Remove Identification of Items or Services Related to the 2010 Oil Spill in the Gulf of Mexico Section (PDF) is available. Learn about updates to the Medicare Claims Processing Manual to remove section 20.

 

National Coverage Determination (NCD) 20.19 Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM)

A new MLN Matters Article MM11650 on National Coverage Determination (NCD) 20.19 Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM) (PDF) is available. Learn about coverage of ABPM for hypertension.

 

National Coverage Determination (NCD 30.3.3): Acupuncture for Chronic Low Back Pain (cLBP)

A new MLN Matters Article MM11755 on National Coverage Determination (NCD 30.3.3): Acupuncture for Chronic Low Back Pain (cLBP) (PDF) is available. Learn about coverage of cLBP effective for claims with dates of service on and after January 21.

 

New Physician Specialty Code for Micrographic Dermatologic Surgery (MDS) and Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) and a New Supplier Specialty Code for Home Infusion Therapy Services

A new MLN Matters Article MM11750 on New Physician Specialty Code for Micrographic Dermatologic Surgery (MDS) and Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) and a New Supplier Specialty Code for Home Infusion Therapy Services (PDF) is available. Learn about new specialty codes.

 

Quarterly Update to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Database (MPFSDB) - July 2020 Update

A new MLN Matters Article MM11788 on Quarterly Update to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Database (MPFSDB) - July 2020 Update (PDF) is available. Learn about updated payment files.

 

Therapy Codes Update

A new MLN Matters Article MM11791 on Therapy Codes Update (PDF) is available. Learn about additions to the therapy code list for the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.

 

Multimedia

 

Procedure Coding: Using the ICD-10-PCS Web-Based Training Course — Revised

With Continuing Education Credit

A revised Procedure Coding: Using the ICD-10-PCS Web-Based Training (WBT) course is available through the Medicare Learning Network Learning Management System. Learn how to:

  • Recognize guidelines
  • Find correct codes
  • Identify structure and format

 

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