Effective March 25, 2011: Implementation of Provider Screening and Risk Based Categories for Provider/Supplier Enrollment

It is the continuing goal of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to reduce fraud, waste, and abuse through all available avenues. The Affordable Care Act requires CMS to determine the level of screening to be conducted during provider and supplier enrollment based on the level of risk posed to the Medicare system. With the enactment of the Affordable Care Act, we have the increased ability to focus our efforts on prevention, rather than simply acting after the fact. The use of risk categories and associated screening levels will help ensure that only legitimate providers and suppliers are enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP, and that only legitimate claims are paid.

Effective Friday, March 25, 2011, newly-enrolling and revalidating providers and suppliers will be placed in one of three screening categories – limited, moderate, or high. These categories represent the level of risk for fraud, waste, and abuse to the Medicare program for the particular category of provider/supplier, and determine the degree of screening to be performed by the Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) processing the enrollment application.  For more information please click here:  CMS Please refer to the regulation published to the Federal Register

Tougher Health Fraud Prevention Measures Proposed

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a proposed rule that would implement new anti-fraud measures on physicians and medical suppliers. The proposed rule carries out provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The proposal would bolster physician and supplier screening procedures, including; 1) new licensure and database checks, 2) unannounced site visits, 3) criminal background checks and fingerprinting for certain risk categories, and 4) a $500 application fee for hospitals beginning March 23, 2011. CMS is looking to create consistent screening standards with the proposed rule by designating physician and supplier categories, and will accept comments until November 16, 2010.

Please click here for more information

DJO Receives PDAC Letters for DonJoy Back Braces!

DJO has received PDAC letters for its DonJoy Back Braces.  These rigid braces have been assigned covered codes and are eligible for reimbursement from Medicare. To view the PDAC letters and the assigned HCPCS codes for each product, please click here DJO PDAC

PECOS update-Twenty minutes with CMS’s Jim Bossenmeyer

BALTIMORE – Coming off last week’s confusing Open Door Forum, HME News called Jim Bossenmeyer, director for the division of provider and supplier enrollment at CMS, for clarification on the Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS).  For more information and the entire article please click here PECOS

CMS to providers: No PECOS grace period

BALTIMORE – CMS officials aren’t cutting HME providers any slack when it comes to complying with the July 6 deadline for the Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS). HME providers who take Medicare referrals on or after July 6 from physicians not enrolled in PECOS risk having those claims rejected, CMS officials stated during last week’s Open Door Forum.  For more information, please click here PECOS Grace Period