First Friday of the Month Conference Call - April 6, 2018

The next Genius Solutions First Friday of the Month Conference Call is scheduled for Friday, April 6 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time.

Planned topics for the conference call (so far) are:

• New Medicare Cards Coming! - Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI)
• MIPS Preliminary Feedback Now Available (not final)
• Final comments

New Medicare Insurance Numbers - 2018

New Medicare Insurance Numbers - 2018

I am sure you have heard about the upcoming change to Medicare Patient Insurance numbers. (If not, starting in April all of your Medicare patients will begin receiving new Medicare insurance cards with new Medicare numbers - they are finally retiring the social security number from the cards.)

Make sure you update your eTHOMAS to the most current version, then you will be prepared to go through and set up your THOMAS system - insurance and patient policies to take in and begin using the new Medicare cards.

Here is the "HOW TO" document to walk you through the process in your THOMAS system. 

New Medicare Insurance Numbers 2018

2017 ICD-10 Update - Do it now!

You should be on eTHOMAS v9.5.21

Are you 2017 ICD-10 Ready?

You're down to about a week! 

ICD-10 code changes have been released for the 2017 fiscal year.  Genius has made your update to the 2017 codes push-button easy! But... First you have to update your eTHOMAS program.

1. Back up
2. Update
3. Watch the Video Here 
4. Follow the video
5. Do it over the next week
6. You are good to go!

Have You Attested for 2015 yet? You have a week.

A friendly reminder.

Per Medicare's correspondence:

"Eligible professionals, eligible hospitals, and critical access hospitals (CAHs) participating in the Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program must attest using the Medicare & Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Registration and Attestation System by Friday, March 11, 2016 at 11:59 p.m. ET."

If you do not attest, you are subject to a Medicare payment percentage penalty going forward.

For More Medicare Information:

Visit the Registration and Attestation page on the CMS EHR Incentive Programs website

For ehrThomas Information: Check out our free webinars 

Genius Solutions' September 1st Friday Conference Call

The next Genius Solutions First Friday of the Month Conference Call is scheduled for Friday September 4th at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time.

Planned topics for the conference call (so far) are:

ICD-10 Flexibilities

In case you somehow missed the e-mails or announcements...

In early July, the the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the American Medical Association (AMA) issued a joint statement about having some additional flexibility in the ICD-10 claims reporting process to help physicians with the transition, by making it just a tad easier.  Since then they've received and answered a lot of questions and have put together a document of important, need to know, information...  The new document is called:

"Clarifying Questions and Answers Related to the July 6, 2015 CMS/AMA Joint Announcement and Guidance Regarding ICD-10 Flexibilities"

CMS also reminds you to bookmark and regularly check their ICD-10 resources to help keep you in the know and in the flow for ICD-10.

ICD-10 website

Roadto10.org

And sign up for CMS ICD-10 Industry Email Updates

Genius Solutions First Friday of the Month Conference Call (Feb 2015)

The Genius Solutions First Friday of the Month Conference Call is scheduled for Friday February 6th at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time.


Planned topics for the conference call (so far) are:

• Anything new with ICD-10?
• BCBSM new ICD-10 testing starting 2/3/15 for top vendors
• BCBSM DME claims after 1/15 rejecting when POS=12
• Medicare 1% penalty for no EHR - Track or not?
• How to help protect against Crypto Virus malware
• ADAMS Appointment clients should AutoUpdate to eTHOMAS 9.4.23
• We miss Chris Andrews
• Final comments

Upcoming Events

Jan 14th
Genius Solutions Focus Group Seminar
@ The City of Warren/Library Building, Warren, MI

For more information or to register *Download the Flier & Registration Form.


Various dates and times January-March
Free Meaningful Use Webinars to prepare for 2015, Stage 1 & 2 reporting

*For more information or to register look at the flier and click on the appropriate date's link to register.

2014 is OVER! 2015 is in Full Swing. Are you?

As of Jan 1, 2015, the 2014 EHR incentive and meaningful use year is finished.  You must attest for 2014 by Feb 28, 2015.

Also, as of Jan 1, 2015, the 2015 EHR incentive and meaningful use year has begun.  This includes the beginning of Stage 2 reporting for those who have completed two years of Stage 1 reporting already.

For more and complete information - please visit the CMS website.

When to Complete a Security Risk Analysis

When to Complete a Security Risk Analysis - New CMS Guidance

As part of the HIPAA requirements, don’t forget that a security risk analysis must be completed prior to attestation. Review CMS FAQ #10754 , and learn more about this meaningful use requirement below.  A security risk analysis needs to be done whether you are attesting for Stage 1 or Stage 2.  It is part of the Meaningful Use requirements.  For more information, read the updated FAQ.

Per CMS:

• Conducting a security risk analysis is required when certified EHR technology is adopted in the first reporting year
• In subsequent reporting years, or when changes to the practice or electronic systems occur, a review must be conducted.

They also provide many helps:

• HIPAA Security Rule
• Stage 1 and Stage 2 requirements
• Security Risk Analysis Tipsheet
• Educational Resources
• ONC’s Security Risk Assessment (SRA) tool
• ONC's User Guide and Tutorial are also available
• Main Medicare/Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs Website

And definitely SUBSCRIBE to their e-News and you will get this sort of news in your in box!

Finally! CMS Announces New ICD-10 "GO" Date

FINALLY!  CMS announces ICD-10 "GO" date IS now October 1st, 2015!

Interesting, the article doesn't note anything about a comment period, it simply says, this is the date.  I guess nothing but bumping the date ahead, might not need an additional comment period as it had been done before.

So, what are you doing now to prepare?

Shared Genius: April 2014

Shared Genius Practice Solutions From one genius to another.
April 2014 support special includes: ICD-10 delay, NDC updates, Railroad Medicare

Available now!

http://www.geniussolutions.com/emailcamps/AAFC.html

President Signs HR 4302 Into Law

On Tuesday April 1, 2014 the President signed HR 4302 into law. The bill's purpose was to delay the 24% decrease in Medicare payments until the SGR can be permanently fixed.

Also tucked into the bill was a delay in the implementation of ICD-10 ("Until no sooner than October 1, 2015").  eTHOMAS can and is ready for ICD-10 whenever it is needed.

eTHOMAS has the built-in flexibility to bill out in ICD-10 codes or to continue bill out with ICD-9 codes. We encourage you to continue your preparations and use the delay to become fully functional with the new ICD-10 code set and get your EHRs up and ready to attest by September (if you have never previously attested).

This bill passage DOES NOT affect the use of the the new CMS-1500 form, the 1% Medicare reduction if you don't attest for meaningful use this year by September 1st, or other items in connection with the ARRA stimulus program.

Senate Passes House Bill 4302

The US Senate passed House Bill 4302 ( a bill) on March 31, 2014.   This is the bill we just told you about and it's primary purpose is to extend (another temporary measure) the 24% Medicare SGR (Sustainable Growth Rate) increase given until they can resolve the SGR in a better way.  Of course this extension would mean that the SGR would again- NOT be fixed.

Somehow, someone was able to also tuck a clause into this bill, that if it passes, it will delay the planned ICD-10 implementation until Oct. 1, 2015. This bill will now proceed to the President for final approval or veto before becoming law.

Unfortunately this quick fix, from not fixing the SGR (WHICH STILL NEEDS TO BE FIXED)- while seemingly getting you your money - will in fact cost millions and then some.  Plus more millions for delaying ICD-10 implementation for another year (CMS had previously estimated another delay may potentially have a price tag of $6.6 billion impact).

I could find nothing that said that there would be any delay on the 1% Medicare take-backs scheduled to being for not meaningfully using an EHR (attesting by this year at latest - within the first 9 mo, for 90 days).  Or that there would be any delays regarding Stage 2 Meaningful Use.  Which makes sense as both of these are tied to the 2009 ARRA "stimulus" act, not the SGR (but considering they managed to throw an ICD-10 delay in there, it was worth a look).

Here is a link to the bill.
Here is a link to another good article discussing what this delay means to you, from EHR Intelligence.
Here is a link to a great Fierce Healthcare article & it has links at the bottom for the AMA, AHIMA, HIMSS.

dTHOMAS/THOMAS Lite Users!

	dTHOMAS v9.06 New CMS-1500 Form The time is now!
Version 9.06 of dTHOMAS We are pleased to announce the release of Version 9.06 of dTHOMAS! This version includes the ability to prepare and print the new CMS-1500 (02-12) claim form for the April 2014 deadline.

Genius ICD-10 Seminars- On the Road

Ok, so my hair isn't this short, but we do put this much work into our presentations! :D

We started off last Friday to a packed house of Medical Specialties.  April is already half-full and we are still trying to look and schedule additional seminars as quickly as possible.  So far, here is the current Schedule:

• March 14 was Medical Specialties, in Warren - FULL!
• March 21 is for Podiatrists, in Warren - Still some spaces left.
• March 27 is for Chiropractors, in Warren - FULL!

• April 4 is for everyone, at Soaring Eagle in Mt. Pleasant (We've already exceeded, doubled the size of this one, and exceeded it again) - Super FULL!
• April 16 is for everyone, Troy-  FULL!
• April 23 is for everyone,  Warren - Still have space.
• April 29 is for everyone,  Grand Rapids - Still have space.

We are currently looking at Pensacola, FL in May (still trying to secure a location).
And we are looking for additional areas in Michigan (if you have an awesome suggestion, please feel free to add it in the comments).

For those who aren't in Michigan or Florida, we are also looking at doing some sort of epic online conference for you.... We're still investigating the best way to do this.

As soon as we add more dates and locations, we will definitely post them on the website (under EVENTS), on Facebook, Twitter, etc.

Although we do have lots to share, we are looking at what more we can add to help you prepare for ICD-10, HIPAA compliance, and more - I will also let you know if the agenda or guests change as we work towards October and the end of the year.

As always - we are looking forward to visiting with you soon!  :D

Do you send Medicare Part B to MN, WI, or IL?

Attention electronic and paper submitters for MN, WI, and IL:

Do you currently send Medicare Part B paper and/or electronic claims for the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, or Illinois? Changes to the claims address and payer ID will need to be made effective September 7, 2013.  All claim files or claim status inquiry files submitted after 4:00 p.m. CT on September 6, 2013 with the any of the WPS legacy payer IDs listed above will be rejected with the X12 999 transaction with the IK403 value of I12 (Implementation Pattern Match Failure). These files will need to be corrected and resubmitted to National Government services with the correct J6 payer ID. The final WPS legacy ERAs will have a paid late of September 6, 2013 and will be available on Monday, September 9, 2013. All subsequent ERAs will show the J6 payer ID as the Medicare payer identifier.

If you did not receive the letter we mailed out to you - and you need help making these changes in your system, please call support at 586.751.9080

Billing Provider Contact Information- In Claims

Change is Inevitable.

Beginning April 15th,2013,  new edits will be going out to BCBSM EDI users:

A3 85 127 F906 BILLING PROVIDER COMMUNICATION NUMBER IS MISSING OR INVALID.
A3 85 127 P940 BILLING PROVIDER COMMUNICATION NUMBER IS MISSING OR INVALID. 
A3 85 127  F907 BILLING PROVIDER COMMUNICATION NUMBER IS MISSING OR INVALID.
A3 85 127  P941 BILLING PROVIDER COMMUNICATION NUMBER IS MISSING OR INVALID.

All of the new edits are triggered by the incorrect reporting of billing provider contact information (phone/fax/e-mail).

Per BCBSM EDI, "Submitters may avoid receiving one or more of the edits by ensuring that they report telephone numbers and fax numbers in the correct format - 10 numeric only, without spaces or special characters."

Per BCBSM EDI, these edits will definitely apply to Medicare Advantage claims.

Why did I put this in here generally - instead of just marking it for Michigan only?  Because this is probably a trend.  You need to read your EDI bulletines regularly to know what changes are being made in your area.  There are always changes.  Also, something like this "contact info" change, is the kind of trend that you will see spreading fast.

So-

1. Check your bulletins (and feel free to send us a note about any changes in your local area- you may be saving fellow offices a lot of grief, and
2. Make sure your provider contact information is correct and accurate.

Got Compliance? What’s in your Office Manual?

As we are quickly approaching the end of the year and you are considering beginning or updating your office compliance manuals… These are some important items to be aware of, especially if you haven’t heard of them or were unsure what they really were.  These three items desperately need to be included in your office practices, policies, and compliance plan, or they could be devastating to both you and your office:  The Sunshine Act, The Medicare Enrollment Revalidation Initiative, and ACA Overpayments.  Also be advised, as each of the legal pages I read stated: the following are guidelines and best understanding.  For any actual legal advice particular to office and procedures, you should seek final guidance from your own legal guides.

 

Punctuation in THOMAS-New Medicare Errors

In the past it has been our practice to train users NOT to use punctuation in THOMAS, except in very specific places like the dashes used in phone numbers or social security numbers.  The reason was, because with electronic files being sent and read by computers many times those other keyboard characters meant something entirely different to the computer reading your file.  Sometimes they were even commands telling the other computer to do something.  Well, those days are changing.

If you haven't already seen this error, you may well soon-

PATIENT NAME AND MEDICARE NUMBER DO NOT MATCH