The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed adding capnography to the practice expense for pediatric polysomnography codes 95782 and 95783 starting in 2015. The proposal is a direct result of AASM advocacy efforts. This proposal is outlined in the 2015 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule.

On May 28 the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a proposed rule recommending a prior authorization process for certain durable medical equipment including both CPAP and RAD. On July 8, the AASM submitted a comment letter discouraging CMS from implementing the proposed rule.

On May 28 the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published a proposed rule recommending a prior authorization process for certain durable medical equipment, prosthetics orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS). The rule identifies a “master list” of DMEPOS items of a certain price point that are frequently subject to unnecessary utilization – both CPAP and RAD are identified on the master list. CMS will implement prior authorization for a limited number of DMEPOS items from the master list.

On May 1 the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) stated that it expects to “release an interim final rule in the near future that will include a new compliance date that would require the use of ICD-10 beginning October 1, 2015.”

Eligible professionals unable to meet 2013 electronic health record (EHR) meaningful use demonstration requirements can still apply for a hardship exception to avoid penalties in 2015.

The AASM has developed a new diagnostic coding tool for sleep center staff and physicians: the ICD-9 to ICD-10 Sleep Medicine Crosswalk.  This new tool will come in handy as sleep centers prepare to transition to the ICD-10 coding system, which is far more complex than the current ICD-9 coding system.

On Wednesday, April 9, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services published 2012 Medicare provider utilization and payment data. The release includes data for over 880,000 distinct health care providers, who collectively received $77 billion for Medicare Part B services provied in 2012.