UPDATES
CMS has posted the 2012 ICD-10-CM code updats to the CMS website, including the 2012 ICD-10-CM index and tabular, code titles, addendum, General Equivalcene Mappings, (GEMs), and reimbursement mappings files. The 2012 ICD-10-CM files contain informtion on the new diagnosis coding system, ICD-10-CM, that is being developed as a replacment for ICD-9-CM, Volumes 1 and 2. These files are available on the 2012 ICD-10-CM and GEMs webpage at:
http://www.CMS.gov/ICD10/11b14_2012_ICD10CM_and_Gems.asp
To access the files, scroll to the bottom of the page to the "Downloads" section.
CONFEREES REACH AGREEMENT ON SHORT-TERM SGR PATCH
In lieu of the 27.4% physician payment cut scheduled to take effect March 1, a payment freeze will be effective through the end of the year. The cost of this short-term patch was reportedly offset through reductions in a number of health care programs, including Medicaid disproportionate share payments to hospitals, Medicare bad debt payments to hospitals, federal Medicaid payments to Louisiana, and the prevention fund created by the Affordable Care Act. Other expiring Medicare policies were also extended through the end of the year, including the "floor" on geographic adjusstments to the physician work component of the Medicare fee schedule, the therapy cap exemption process, and ambulance add-on payments. Two policies - Section 508 hospital and special pathology payments - will be phased out, and mental health add-on payments and pay increases for bone density scans have been eliminated.
"The House and Senate conference committee agareement averts a 27.4% cut on March 1, but it represents a serious missed opportunity to permanently replace the flawed Medicare physician payment formula and protect access to care for military families and seniors. People outside of Washington question the logic of spending nearly $20 billion to postpone one cut for a higher cut next year; while increasing the cost of a permanent solution by about another $25 billion."
"Congress had an opportunity to permanently end this problem, which is the sound, fiscally prudent policy choice. We appreciate efforts by members of Congress on both sides of the aisle who publicly supported a framework for a permanent end to this perennial problem. We are deeply disappointed that Congress chose to just do another patch - kicking the can, growing the problem and missing a clear opportunity to protect access to care for patients. Shortly after the coming elections, access to care for seniors and military will again be threatened by an even larger cut, and members of Congress will need to take swift action to end the broken formula."
Peter W. Carmel, MD
President, AMA
UPCOMING EVENTS
MSNJ 2012 ANNUAL MEETING
MAY 4TH & 5TH
WESTON HOTEL, MOUNT LAUREL, NJ
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