Azalea Health Innovations Friends Newsletter – July 2010

IN THIS ISSUE

* Welcome
* CMS Debuts ‘Meaningful Use’ Website
* Billing Tip: Medicare Physician Fee Schedule increased
* Value Added Reseller (VAR) Program
* Upcoming Events

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Welcome

Greetings to all of our Azalea Health Innovations friends and thank you for reading our newsletter. We wish all of our readers a happy and healthy summer!

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CMS Debuts ‘Meaningful Use’ Website

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) debuted a Website on June 21, 2010 offering information on which providers will qualify for Medicare and Medicaid bonuses for using electronic health record systems to improve healthcare services. It also defines how it will administer the meaningful use program. The program is officially set to begin this fall, and the Website offers providers information about what they need to know to participate in the program. Some of the features include an overview of the program, information about what providers are eligible, how to register, and what providers should do now to prepare for meaningful use. The Website also offers related links and downloadable fact sheets, and can be found at https://www.cms.gov/EHRIncentivePrograms/.

CMS is expected to soon release its final rule on the definition of meaningful use as well as a description of the requirements providers must meet to be eligible for incentive payments in 2011. For more information on Meaningful Use criteria and other Government incentives, visit our website at www.azaleahealth.com/incentives.

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Billing Tip: Medicare Physician Fee Schedule increased

Recently Released from the CMS website:

2.2 Percent Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Update for June 1, 2010, Through November 30, 2010- The President Signs the Preservation of Access to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries and Pension Relief Act of 2010
On June 25, 2010, President Obama signed into law the “Preservation of Access to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries and Pension Relief Act of 2010.” This law establishes a 2.2 percent update to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) payment rates retroactive from June 1 through November 30, 2010. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has directed Medicare claims administration contractors to discontinue processing claims at the negative update rates and to temporarily hold all claims for services rendered June 1, 2010, and later, until the new 2.2 percent update rates are tested and loaded into the Medicare contractors’ claims processing systems. Effective testing of the new 2.2 percent update will ensure that claims are correctly paid at the new rates. We expect to begin processing claims at the new rates no later than July 1, 2010. Claims for services rendered prior to June 1, 2010, will continue to be processed and paid as usual.

Claims containing June 2010 dates of service which have been paid at the negative update rates will be reprocessed as soon as possible. Under current law, Medicare payments to physicians and other providers paid under the MPFS are based upon the lesser of the submitted charge on the claim or the MPFS amount. Claims containing June dates of service that were submitted with charges greater than or equal to the new 2.2 percent update rates will be automatically reprocessed. Affected physicians/providers who submitted claims containing June dates of service with charges less than the 2.2 percent update amount will need to contact their local Medicare contractor to request an adjustment. Submitted charges on claims cannot be altered without a request from the physician/provider. Physicians/providers should not resubmit claims already submitted to their Medicare contractor.

https://www.cahabagba.com/part_b/whats_new/2010625_pfs_update.htm
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Value Added Reseller (VAR) Program

Azalea Health Innovations is pleased to announce our new Value Added Reseller (VAR) Program. With the implementation of our new VAR program, we have extended to our resellers the opportunity to generate significant revenue by offering our products and services to those they do business with. Therefore, succeeding with their own clients. Expand your visibility, offerings, and your business by becoming an AHI Value Added Reseller. We look forward to working with our new VARs, and if you are interested in becoming part of our VAR Team please email us at Sales@AzlaeaHealth.com

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Upcoming Events

AACC (American Association for Clinical Chemistry) 2010 Conference. This event is being held at the Anaheim Convention Center, booth # 8030, in Anaheim, CA on July 27 – 29. For additional information regarding the 2010 AACC Annual Meeting and Clinical Lab Expo visit: http://www.aacc.org/events/2010am/Pages/default.aspx

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Thank you!

Azalea Health Innovations, Inc.
100 North Patterson Street
Valdosta, GA 31601
Toll Free: 877-777-7686
Local: 229-269-4620
Toll Free Fax: 866-683-8679
Web: http://www.AzaleaHealth.com
Email: info@azaleahealth.com

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