The ADA offers an MNT Provider free monthly newsletter starting June 1, 2010
At that time the newsletter will be available online only at www.eatright.org (in Journal/Publications). Topics covered will include practice management, technology, coding and coverage, private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid and more. The monthly publication will include contributions from government officials, legal experts, registered dietitians and ADA staff.
News on the Medicare fee schedule
As Congress has done for the past nine years, it has yet again stepped in to delay drastic pay cuts to Medicare providers. With the last-minute passing of the "Temporary Extension Act of 2010,”Congress held off a 21% Medicare provider pay cut, which officially went into effect March 1. The bill gives Congress another 30-day extension, through March 31, to work out a longer-lasting measure. While Congress was debating a fix for the Medicare fee schedule, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) anticipated the delay and instructed its contractors to hold claims containing services paid under the Medicare fee schedule for the first 10 business days of March. With the current extension, CMS reports that, effective immediately, claims with dates of service March 1 and later which were being held by Medicare contractors will be released for processing and payment.
According to reports, proposals are being circulated that would implement another short-term patch to the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula, including proposals that would postpone cuts for 90 days, 7 months, or through the end of 2010. Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) has offered a substitute to the House-passed version of H.R. 4213, the American Workers, State, and Business Relief Act of 2010, which includes language keeping the current Medicare physician payment freeze in effect until October 1, 2010. ADA will continue to monitor Congressional action and inform members of updates.
Registered dietitians should continue to file claims as usual. Rates remain at 2009 levels until further notice. To access the most current fee schedule go to www.cms.hhs.gov/pfslookup/. (RDs should remember to take 85% of the physician value for the Medical Nutrition Therapy codes.) According to reports, proposals are being circulated that would implement another short-term patch to the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula, including proposals that would postpone cuts for 90 days, 7 months, or through the end of 2010. When a new fee schedule is available it will be posted on www.eatright.org/mnt.
Webinar on May 6th: Making Nutrition Your Business: Legal & financial advice for integrating your private practice into a physician’s office
As more physicians look to add a nutrition component to their businesses, RDs need to know how to seek out these opportunities, and make them work legally and financially. Participants on this webinar will learn steps to connect with physicians, as well as the financial considerations that exist with such an arrangement. Brought to you by CDR and the Nutrition Services Coverage Team, the webinar will be 90 minutes and 1.5 CPE will be offered. The cost is $ 109 for members, $199 non members. More information on www.eatright.org/coverage in days to come.
Online registration form:
http://online.krm.com/iebms/reg/reg_p1_form.aspx?oc=10&ct=00349506&eventid=16719