The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced plans to conduct end-to-end testing for ICD-10 claims beginning Jan. 26-30, 2015. CMS is currently accepting applications from physicians interested in participating. Applications must be submitted using a volunteer form, which can be accessed on the ICD-10 page of your Medicare Administrative Contractor’s website. Additional information about ICD-10 testing is available on the CMS website.

On Sept. 30 the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the first round of Open Payments data on the CMS website. Open Payments is a program mandated under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The ACA requires public disclosure of all transfers of value of $10 or more provided by pharmaceutical and device manufacturers to physicians and teaching hospitals. Transfers of value that must be disclosed include: gifts; speaker fees; research grants; meals; travel and investments.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that the 2013 Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) and 2013 Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program feedback reports are now available. The reports reflect participation in both programs between Jan 1, 2013 – Dec 31, 2013. Providers interested in viewing their reports can do by logging into the Quality Reporting Portal.

On Sept. 16 the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued performance results for two ACO initiatives: the Pioneer ACO Model and the Medicare Shared Savings Program ACOs.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced in an educational article published in late August that it would conduct three testing weeks in advance of the Oct. 1, 2015 implementation date of ICD-10.

On Aug 29 the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a rule finalizing policy for EHR Meaningful Use. The rule includes a delay to the stage 3 meaningful use implementation for some reporters as well as more flexibility in certified EHR technology.

WPS Medicare recently released a following statement on its provider home page and via its eNews email alert regarding a reversal of claims denials. 

The Department of Health and Human Services recently finalized a new implementation date for ICD-10-CM. Providers will be required to implement ICD-10-CM on October 1, 2015.

The year 2014 is an important time for Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS), the quality incentive program developed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).