2010 News

February, 17, 2012

Major Improvements to Medicare Online Enrollment System

Over the last year, we have listened to your feedback about the Medicare online enrollment system, PECOS (“Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System”). As a result, we’ve made upgrades in order to reduce data entry time and increase access to information.

February, 13, 2012

CMS Announces Prior Authorization of Power Mobility Devices

On Tue Nov 15, 2011, the Centers for Medicare & Medicare (CMS) announced three demonstration projects that aim to strengthen Medicare by eliminating fraud, waste, and abuse. Reductions in improper payments will help ensure the sustainability of the Medicare Trust Funds and protect beneficiaries who depend upon the Medicare program.

February, 13, 2012

CMS Furnishes List of Off-the-Shelf Orthotic Healthcare Common Procedures Coding System Codes

On Thu Feb 9, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued guidance that initially identifies specific Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) codes that are considered Off-The-Shelf (OTS) orthotics.

February, 13, 2012

CMS Gives Consumers Access to More Details about Infection Rates

Central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs) are among the most serious of all healthcare-associated infections, resulting in thousands of deaths each year and nearly $700 million in added costs to the US healthcare system.

January, 30, 2012

CHAP Standards Focus Groups Announced

CHAP will be hosting a series of customer focus groups around the country throughout the first half of 2012, to provide our customers additional opportunity to provide feedback and input on the proposed 2012 standards revisions before we finalize and release the new standards later this year.

November, 21, 2011

CMS News Alert

In 2010, the President announced three goals for cutting improper payments by 2012: reducing overall payment errors by $50 billion, cutting the Medicare fee-for-service error rate in half, and recovering $2 billion in improper payments.

November, 7, 2011

CMS Revalidation of Medicare Provider Enrollment

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has reevaluated the revalidation requirement in the Affordable Care Act, and believe it affords the flexibility to extend the revalidation period for another 2 years. This will allow for a smoother process for provider and contractors.

October, 27, 2011

Update on Completing CMS-855A

The July 2011 version of the CMS-855A application contains various new data elements in sections 5 and 6. This message notifies providers that they need not complete the following data elements on either the paper or Internet-Based PECOS versions of the CMS-855A application

October, 26, 2011

CMS National Provider Call

CMS will host its twentieth National Education Call regarding Medicare Fee-For-Service (FFS) implementation of HIPAA Version 5010 and D.0 transaction standards.

October, 26, 2011

CMS National Provider Call - UPDATE

UPDATE: Due to large registration, there will not be enough time for CMS to answer all provider questions live on the call. CMS will answer questions submitted frequently during registration, then allow limited time for audience questions.

October, 20, 2011

CHAP News Alert - CMS Notice Regarding Advanced Beneficiary Notice

2011 Version of Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage Must Be Used Beginning Sun Jan 1, 2012. In May 2011, CMS released an updated version of the Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage (ABN) (form CMS-R-131), which will replace the 2008 version of this form. The 2011 version contains no substantive changes from the 2008 version of the notice and was approved by the Office of Management and Budget. The 2008 and 2011 ABN notices are identical except that the release date of "3/11" is printed in the lower left hand corner of the new version. The ABN is used by all providers, practitioners, and suppliers paid under Medicare Part B, as well as hospice providers and religious non-medical healthcare institutions (RNHCIs) paid exclusively under Part A.

October, 20, 2011

CHAP News Alert - HHS Announces New Incentives for Providers to Work Together Through ACOs

People with Medicare will be able to benefit from a new program designed to encourage primary care doctors, specialists, hospitals, and other healthcare providers to coordinate their care under a final regulation issued today by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Created by the Affordable Care Act, these final rules on Accountable Care Organizations add to the menu of options for providers looking to better coordinate care for patients and will make it easier for providers to deliver high quality care and use healthcare dollars more wisely.

October, 17, 2011

Partners in Care Webinar - Navigating Elder Care

Join Gwen Franzgrote, CHAP Director of Education, in the Partners in Care Webinar - Navigating Elder Care. This fall, Partners in Care is hosting a series of free online seminars focused on helping you make difficult elder care decisions.

October, 11, 2011

Impact of Changes to the CMS Survey Guidelines on the CHAP Accreditation Process

CHAP has been an approved “deeming authority” by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for home health since 1992. The initial approval and subsequent renewals of the CHAP deeming authority, most recently in 2007, resulted in the approval CHAP accreditation processes and related policies and procedures.

October, 7, 2011

CHAP 2012 Standards Revisions Public Comment Period Announced

The Public Comment period for CHAP Proposed 2012 Standards will open October 10, 2011 and close November 10, 2011 at 5pm EST. CHAP is pleased to announce and invite CHAP accredited organizations and the general public to participate in our public comment period to review the Proposed 2012 CHAP Standards of Excellence for CORE and six service lines.

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