Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The purpose of this Change Request (11954) Change Request (CR) is to make the Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) aware of the policies and procedures for enrolling HIT suppliers in Medicare. Enrollment will begin on or after November 1, 2020. Payments will begin on or after January…… Continue reading Update to Chapter 10 of Pub. 100-08 – Enrollment Policies for Home Infusion Therapy (HIT) Suppliers

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Handwashing with soap and water is one of the simplest and most effective ways to stop the spread of germs and to protect the lives of your loved ones. Global Handwashing Day occurs each year on October 15. It highlights the importance of handwashing with soap…… Continue reading Global Handwashing Day – Wash Your Hands Frequently Today and Every Day

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) states every facility that conducts COVID-19 testing is considered a laboratory and must be certified under the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA). If your facility is not CLIA certified, view this 4-page quick-start guide to learn…… Continue reading Quick Start Guide to CMS CLIA Certification

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare MedPAC announces the release of the updated 2020 Medicare Payment Basics series. Payment Basics is a series of brief overviews of how Medicare’s payment systems function. The Commission produces Payment Basics as a resource for policymakers and others to better understand how Medicare pays for health…… Continue reading 2020 Medicare Payment Basics Series

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare I just ran across this great updated (September 2020) MLN Fact Sheet.  This 6-page educational tool gives health care providers, suppliers, medical coders, billing and claims staff an easy reference to information on the code sets used to bill Medicare claims. Use this tool when submitting…… Continue reading MLN Fact Sheet: ICD-10-CM, ICD-10-PCS, CPT and HCPCS CODE SETS

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare Get your flu vaccine by Halloween. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is waging a campaign for citizens to get their flu shot and get it early this year.  You can help.  Encourage your residents, staff, families, friends, visitors, vendors, etc. to get this…… Continue reading Boo to the Flu!

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare As clinicians, we work with Medicare beneficiaries in nearly all post-acute communities – nursing homes, assisted living, outpatient clinics and home health, to name a few.  We’re often asked questions about Medicare.  We may also have questions about Medicare.   I’m blogging today to provide some basic…… Continue reading Annual Open Enrollment Period for Medicare Beneficiaries Coming Soon

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS posted QSO-20-40-LSC on Friday, September 25, 2020. CMS regulation allows for the waiver of specific provisions of the 2012 NFPA 99 where the application would result in unreasonable hardship upon a provider or supplier, but only if the waiver does not adversely affect the health…… Continue reading QSO-20-40-LSC: Categorical Waiver – Corrugated Medical Tubing (NFPA 99)

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare CMS issued QSO-20-41-ALL on September 28, 2020. Topics addressed in this QSO include: Testing Exercise DefinitionsChanges Specific to Testing Exercise RequirementsExemption Based on Actual Natural or Man-made EmergencyConducting Assessments & Documentation This QSO Memorandum is effective immediately.

Mary Madison, RN, RAC-CT, CDPClinical Consultant – Briggs Healthcare I apologize for missing this announcement – it is a big deal, going forward! On September 3, 2020, CMS announced the launch of Care Compare which is described as “a streamlined redesign of eight existing CMS healthcare compare tools available.  Care Compare provides a single user-friendly…… Continue reading Care Compare is Here