February 2010

RAC Reminder
The RACs are actively running automated reviews on the CMS approved issues, and demand letters are being sent to providers. We want to take this time to encourage you to visit your Regional RAC web site and update your contact information with them so that demand letters and other correspondence are directed to the correct person within your organization. Updating contact information can be done on-line. As well, it is advised to keep an eye on the approved issues in all of the Regions. Read more...

Temporary Expiration of the Estate and Generation-Skipping Transfer Taxes
The Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 included provisions resulting in the repeal of the estate tax and generation-skipping transfer tax for one year starting January 1, 2010. Although the leaders of Congress and the Administration had indicated their intention to revise the law during 2009 so the 2009 rates and exemptions would apply during 2010, this did not happen. Thus, effective at the beginning of this 2010 year, the estate tax and generation-skipping transfer tax are both repealed for one year. Read more...

Co-Management Agreements
On Thursday, March 25, Cathy Weaver of Somerset and Mike Carlson of the law firm Maynard Cooper & Gale will present "Co-Management Agreements: What They Are and How They Work." You are invited to attend either in-person or via webinar. Register now...

Reducing Patient No Shows
Few things are as disruptive to the efficient operation of a medical practice as patients who don’t show up for their appointments. Patient no shows create holes in physicians’ schedules, reduce billings and lower productivity. Here are some steps that medical practices can take to help boost the percentage of patients who keep their appointments. Read more...

The Business of Medicine Blog
In the past month, we have blogged on the following topics:

CMS Approves Three National Organizations to Accredit Suppliers of Advanced Imaging Services - CMS sent out the following information in a news release yesterday. The requirements for qualifying as a ’supervising physician’ remain open to debate lacking specific guidance from CMS. Should CMS require the ’supervising physician’ to be a ‘board-certified Diagnostic Radiologist,’ this will affect many in-office imaging services, such as MRI.
Accreditation Required for Office-Based Procedures (Indiana) - A new requirement is in place as of the first of this year requiring office-based accreditation for procedures requiring certain levels of sedation/anesthesia. This mostly impacts pain procedures, GI and cosmetic done in the office. Anything involving a major nerve block up to full anesthesia is included.
CMS Rescinds Place of Service/Date of Service Changes - Good news for radiology groups struggling to comply with date overlap (date of test versus date of interpretation) and place of service (test in hospital, read somewhere else). The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on February 5, that it has rescinded Change Request (CR) 6375, Transmittal 1873 sent via RO-6657, dated December 11, 2009, and will replace it with another CR in the future, pending further policy clarification on date of service and place of service reporting for the interpretation of diagnostic tests.
Medicare Claims Crossover to Supplemental Payer Problem - In a message sent out by CMS on February 16, they announced that action is required by some health care providers to receive supplemental payment. Included in their statement, "The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has identified a problem where claims were not automatically crossing over to supplemental payers even though the provider remittance advice indicated otherwise. This problem began January 5, 2010. Part A institutional claims and Part B professional claims, with the exception of supplier claims processed by Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractors (DME MACs), were impacted by this problem. Claims processed by DME MACs were not impacted."
Update on Claims Processing for Ordering/Referring Providers - CMS continues to urge physicians and non-physician practitioners who are enrolled in Medicare but who have not updated their Medicare enrollment record since November 2003 to update their enrollment record now. If these physicians and non-physician practitioners have no changes to their enrollment data, they need to submit an initial enrollment application which will establish a current enrollment record in PECOS.
Read the full posts on our blog...

Somerset News

2010 Best Places to Work in Indiana - Somerset CPAs has been selected as one of the 2010 Best Places to Work in Indiana by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. We are proud to again be on the list of small to medium-sized companies. We thank our employees for making us one of the best!

Get Financially Fit in 2010 - A new year is here and it's time to get your financial goals on track! As part of your 2010 financial planning, take action by completing the Somerset Financial Fitness Survey. Your response will be reviewed by Somerset wealth management professionals, and they will contact you to help you meet your goals, build wealth and achieve personal financial success. If you complete the survey by February 28, you will be entered to win a $250 Visa gift card. Take the Somerset Financial Fitness Survey now.
 

Tell Us How We Are Doing and You May Win Pacers Tickets - If you are a Somerset client, please take our survey concerning the services we have provided to you by March 15, you will be entered into our drawing for a pair of tickets to the Pacers vs. Oklahoma City on Sunday, March 21, 2010, at 2:30 p.m. Take survey now.

Somerset is a proud supporter of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure and will be participating in the Komen Indianapolis Race for the Cure on April 17. Click here for event information.

Health Care Commentaries is provided by Somerset’s Health Care Team for our clients and other interested persons upon request. Since technical information is presented in generalized fashion, no final conclusion on these topics should be made without further review. For additional information on the issues discussed, please contact a member of our Health Care Team. This document is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of avoiding tax penalties that may be imposed on the taxpayer.