Thursday, February 10, 2022
- COVID-19: New HCPCS Code for Convalescent Plasma in Outpatient Setting
- Long-term Care Hospital Provider Preview Reports: Review Your Data by February 25
- Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Provider Preview Reports: Review Your Data by February 25
- Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program: January Refresh
- Nursing & Allied Health Medicare Advantage Payment - Revision to CY 2018
- Help Address Heart Health Disparities
- Transitional Coverage for Emerging Technologies Listening Sessions — February 17 & March 31
- Provider Compliance Virtual Focus Group — February 24
News
COVID-19: New HCPCS Code for Convalescent Plasma in Outpatient Setting
On December 28, the FDA revised the emergency use authorization for COVID-19 convalescent plasma with high titers of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. It’s authorized for treatment of COVID-19 in patients with immunosuppressive disease or getting immunosuppressive treatment, in the outpatient or inpatient setting.
CMS created HCPCS code C9507 for COVID-19 convalescent plasma for use in the outpatient setting, effective on or after December 28:
- Long descriptor: Fresh frozen plasma, high titer COVID-19 convalescent, frozen within 8 hours of collection, each unit
- Short descriptor: COVID-19 convalescent plasma
If you need to submit claims, visit the Hospital Outpatient PPS webpage for billing & payment information.
Long-term Care Hospital Provider Preview Reports: Review Your Data by February 25
Long-term care hospitals (LTCHs): review your provider performance scores for quality measures in your Provider Preview Report by February 25. CMS will publish these scores on the Care Compare webpage and in the Provider Data Catalog in March. Visit the LTCH Quality Public Reporting webpage for more information.
Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Provider Preview Reports: Review Your Data by February 25
Inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs): review your provider performance scores for quality measures in your Provider Preview Report by February 25. CMS will publish these scores on the Care Compare webpage and in the Provider Data Catalog in March. Visit the IRF Quality Public Reporting webpage for more information.
Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting Program: January Refresh
The January 2022 refresh of Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Quality Reporting Program data is available on the Care Compare webpage and in the Provider Data Catalog. Visit the SNF Quality Public Reporting webpage for more information.
Nursing & Allied Health Medicare Advantage Payment — Revision to CY 2018
CMS corrected the calendar year 2018 percent reduction to direct graduate medical education Medicare Advantage payments to teaching hospitals. It changed from 7% to 4.12%.
See the official instruction to your Medicare Administrative Contractor (PDF).
Help Address Heart Health Disparities
About 40% of Black American adults have hypertension. During American Heart Month and Black History Month, learn about preventive services, and find out how to address health disparities.
Medicare covers cardiovascular disease screening tests and intensive behavioral therapy for cardiovascular disease. Your patients pay nothing if you accept assignment.
More Information:
- Preventive Services webpage
- Achieving Health Equity web-based training
- CMS Office of Minority Health, Health Observances webpage
- Million Hearts®: HHS initiative to prevent a million heart attacks and strokes
- Cardiovascular disease screenings & behavioral therapy: information for your patients
Claims, Pricers, & Codes
Inpatient Psychiatric Facility: Web Pricer & Last PC Pricer
CMS released the Inpatient Psychiatric Facility (IPF) Prospective Payment System Web Pricer for fiscal years (FYs) 2020–2022. For the best experience, access the Web Pricer through Google Chrome. You may also use Microsoft Edge or Mozilla Firefox, but not Microsoft Internet Explorer.
Reminder: The FY 2021 IPF PC Pricer is the last downloadable PC Pricer.
Events
Transitional Coverage for Emerging Technologies Listening Sessions — February 17 & March 31
Thursdays: February 17 & March 31 from 3–4 pm ET
Register for 2 listening sessions by 5 pm, Wednesday, February 16. When you register, let us know if you’d like to speak.
Share your ideas to help CMS develop an alternative coverage pathway to provide transitional coverage for emerging technologies:
- February 17: Tell us about new and innovative approaches for us to consider as we move forward
- March 31: We’ll build on what we learned in the first session
We encourage you to attend both sessions.
Learn more in this CMS press release.
Target audience: Medicare providers and stakeholders. This meeting is closed to the press.
Provider Compliance Virtual Focus Group — February 24
Thursday, February 24 from 1–4 pm ET
Register by Friday, February 18.
How can CMS improve its processes and eliminate unnecessary requirements for medical review and prior authorization? Join us on February 24, and let us know.
Target audience: physicians, non-physician practitioners, billing specialists, suppliers, associations, coders, medical review contractors.
Publications
Getting Started with Hospice CASPER Quality Measure Reports — Revised
Learn about changes to the Hospice Quality Reporting Program from the fiscal year 2022 final rule.
Multimedia
COVID-19: Training for Frontline Nursing Home Staff & Management
Take online training to get CMS nursing home guidance on COVID-19 preparedness, resident-centered care, and infection prevention and control. You can get a certificate of participation.
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