January — December 2007

January 2007

  • Congress extends 2006 Medicare rates
  • CMS corrects MNT renal transplant timeframe
  • Telehealth: a full year of progress
  • Question Corner: NPI/PIN: Use or lose it
  • Update regarding RD implications with the Stark Act
  • Medicare’s stage ll NPI transition period
  • Take advantage of these free resources

February 2007

  • Medicare in the 110th Congress
  • Part B payment rate in 2007: the bottom line
  • CMS data show small growth in MNT utilization
  • NPI Update
  • Question Corner: Be smart about details 
  • Get More out Medicare MNT

March 2007

  • RDs see new opportunities in FQHCs
  • New UB–04 claim form accepted March 1, 2007
  • Don’t ignore HIPAA when providing telehealth
  • RDs and the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative
  • Additional points to think about when providing MNT telehealth

April 2007

  • Extension for new CMS-1500 claim form due to print mistakes
  • Documenting services is key to reimbursement success
  • A successful visit means Medicare RD and patient take responsibility
  • Ignorance is no defense when it comes to
  • Medicare fraud
  • Question Corner: A selection of questions from the Medicare Workshop 2007
  • Reporting Initiative Update

May 2007

  • May NPI deadline pushed back, providers need to prepare
  • Sorting through possible risks of providing free
  • MNT services
  • RDs debate the time and energy of small-claims court
  • Question Corner: More Medicare billing questions
  • RDs a step closer to participating in Physician Quality Reporting Initiative

June 2007

  • Preparing for participation in the Medicare voluntary reporting initiative
  • Medicare releases NPI contingency plan
  • Legislative successes include MNT funding in Ryan White programs
  • Legislators keen on expanding nutrition counseling to prediabetes
  • Medicare claims processing update

July 2007

  • CMS official prepares RDs for incentive program
  • CMS clarifies policy for NPI data dissemination and more
  • Type 1 versus type 2 National Provider Identifiers
  • Legislative introduced to expand Medicare medical nutrition therapy
  • Question Corner: Understanding the NPI database
  • Medicaid update

August 2007

  • Medicare proposes payment cuts yet again, prompting criticism
  • Congress to address Medicare physician reimbursement rates
  • Medicare payment data from 2005 show MNT trends
  • Attending FNCE 2007 in Philadelphia, Pa.?
  • Medicare pay-for performance updates
  • Question Corner: How to best inform your Medicare carrier of NPIs

September 2007

  • RDs endorse government quality initiative program
  • After much anticipation, NPI lookup is ready to go live
  • SCHIP/MNT bill update
  • Stop and go CMS-855s
  • Attending FNCE 2007 in Philadelphia, Pa?
  • Join the new reimbursement Community of Interest
  • Question Corner: Join the new reimbursement Community of Interest

October 2007

  • Session highlights need for RD education on MNT codes, coverage
  • Ways to influence payer coding and coverage policies
  • Claims are being rejected—Are your claims affected?
  • CMS updates ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes; no change for RDs
  • Question Corner: Interpreting the guidelines

November 2007

  • MNT expansion and RD reimbursement legislation still possible in 2007
  • CMS announces Medicare cost-sharing for 2008
  • Is a billing service right for your practice?
  • Part B provider alert: NPI deadline could be sooner than you think
  • Question Corner: HIPAA and NPI questions and answers for the digital age