Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act of 2011

picture fun from icanhascheezburger.com

Signed into law on December 23, 2011 (right before the holiday hiatus in Washington D.C.) the Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act of 2011  extends, amongst other things, the 27.4% Medicare cut that was once again hanging over your heads.  The extension is for two months- January and February of 2012.  The President is trying to get everyone to pass a measure that would stall this again, for the rest of the year.  There are several concerns:

5010: Working Hard to Serve You

5010 is here!  

You may have noticed as you’ve called in over the past month that our phone lines have been really busy.  Where you were able to get straight through to support in the fall, now you are finding yourself back up at the front desk to leave a message.  As much as you are concerned about 5010, ICD-10, Medicare payments, stimulus payments etc., we are concerned about each and every one of the thousands of you.  We appreciate your patience as we all (customers, vendors, clearinghouses and payors) work to migrate claims over to the 5010 format.  We are furiously returning calls as quickly as possible.  We are working very closely with BCBSM here in Michigan and with many other clearing houses around the country to work through the many items that come up daily as everyone makes the 5010 switch.

Happy New Year!

Remember- Genius will be closed Jan 2-3.  Have a Happy Holiday!

5010 Updates for BSBSM MI & All Others

Don't forget to visit our Genius 5010 web page for all of the updates and most current information for your clearing house and state.  New information is being added, updated, and amended daily.

Genius had a conversation with BSBSM of Michigan and received these updates just this week.  Check them out to make sure that you will be able to smoothly transition your billing over the rest of this month and into the new year.

December e-News Flash from Genius

In case you missed the December e-mail that was sent out last week from us, here it is.

If you did not receive it, but we have your current e-mail on file, check your "junk mail" and un-junk us.  If it's not in your mail box or your junk mail box, then we may not any e-mail address for you (or at least not an active or current one).  Next time you're on the phone with us, update your e-mail or you can send in your e-mail with your office id or phone #  to newsletter2010@geniussolutions.com and we'll make sure to update your information.

In the mean time - have a great holiday season!

The Best Presents

Sometimes the best presents are the ones we allow ourselves.

Christmas time is special.  No matter what your religious affiliations (or not) are, no matter how much you love or hate shopping or snow, Christmas time is the best time of the year.  It’s a shame that it has become so commercialized, politicized, and contentious in word and symbol that it has become nearly ostracized.  For such a civilized society we often aren’t very civilized. 

Civilization is people coming together and working together for common sustaining goals and purposes.  One of civilizations definitions is listed as “intellectual, cultural, and moral refinement”.  It sounds a lot like people coming together and improving to become a better mankind.  Of late, rather than coming together at Christmas, people are using it as an excuse to wage a battle to separate, rather than unify, and to cause us to become uncivilized. 

The 2011 Genius Holiday Schedule

Yes- I needed an excuse to post another holiday puppy.

Here is the Genius Holiday Schedule for the rest of this year (2011)...

Genius will be closed for the holidays:

Dec 26-27 &  Jan 2-3.

The Genius 5010 Zone

Below is the 5010 link you've been waiting for.  This is where you need go to set up your THOMAS systems for 5010.  This area is evolving check back for continued updates.  

• The Genius 5010 Zone

Genius First Friday of the Month Phone Conference

The next Genius Solutions First Friday of the Month Conference Call is scheduled for December 2, 2011.

The next conference call will be special because we will have TWO different calls:

• 10:00 a.m. for eTHOMAS clients
• 11:00 a.m. for dTHOMAS and THOMAS-Lite clients

You can attend both if you wish, or listen to the recordings on Monday at www.geniussolutions.com/news

I'm hoping this will be simpler for everyone and save time so you don't have to listen to the "other" THOMAS instructions.

I'm thinking this is a one time only event and we'll go back to the normal 10 a.m. time for everyone in January.

Current topics for the call include:

• How did the THOMAS Users Focus Group in Warren, MI go last week?
• CMS delays enforcement until 4/1/2012 but payors might not
• 5010 for THOMAS users not in Michigan: what to do
• BCBSM accepting some 5010 now - get started sending now
• Step by step THOMAS sending 5010 to BCBSM
• General interest questions and answers from the listeners
• Final comments

Happy Thanksgiving!

We wish you a Happy Thanksgiving! And remind you that our office will be closed 11/24-11/25, open again on Monday as usual. 

~Genius Solutions

In case you missed it, here is a link to the November e-mail that was sent out last week- Genius November 2011 News Flash

And let me apologize to our Facebook users - I have been unable to update our FB page over the last month because of a new rule they have about having a phone number attached to the account.  It has not been possible to get the number "verified" yet as their lines are always busy.  We will continue trying.  Until then, may I strongly recommend our Twitter feed for timely updates and all things Genius?  :D - Penny

Webinar Reschedule

The Transaction Ledger Webinar that was scheduled for Nov 17th (yesterday) has been rescheduled for Dec 1st.  The reschedule was due to the computer and phone issues we were experiencing yesterday.

As far as we know all computer and phone lines seem to be working fine today.

If you didn't sign up for this webinar previously, but would  like to now, please do.

Here is the link:  https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/185424090

Phone & Computer Problems at Genius

Our phone lines and computers have been up and down this morning. Work continues on them. Keep trying to get through and know we are working on it.