Acevedo Consulting Incorporated's Eye on Compliance Eye on Compliance is a quarterly newsletter prepared to inform our clients and friends about important topics and firm news. Volume 1, Issue 2

Acevedo Consulting Incorporated's
Eye on Compliance
 
Eye on Compliance is a quarterly newsletter prepared to inform our clients and friends about important topics and firm news.
 
Volume 1, Issue 2 - June 2016

Office of Civil Rights Update
by: Katherine Becker, JD, LLM, CHC, CHPC, CPC
Associate Consultant
 
In February 2016, the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) issued new guidance on patient access to their records.  The guidance came out in the form of a new Frequently Asked Questions documents on the OCR website.  The guidance reviews what must be included in a record request form as well as the ways you can require a patient to return the request.  For example, it would not be reasonable to require a patient that would like their medical records mailed to them to come to the office in person to sign a record request form.  It is also unreasonable to tell patients that the only way they can obtain their medical records is through the patient portal of the EMR.  The OCR recognizes that not all patients will have access to the portal or wish to receive their records in that manner. 
 
The guidance also emphasizes that practices should be able to provide patients their medical records... Continue Reading

CMS's Value Based Payment Modifier: Payments Based on Quality vs. Cost
by: Jean Acevedo, LHRM, CPC, CHC, CENTC
President and Senior Consultant
 
Originally published in Miami Medicine, April 2016
 
Just when we thought we understood the Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) and Meaningful Use, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has increased the stakes physicians have in complying with the Value Based Payment Modifier. 
 
For those of us who have been involved in health care reimbursement for at least a decade, the Value Based Payment Modifier can be recognized as something in the works for quite some time.  Testifying before the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health on September 29, 2005, then CMS Administrator Mark B. McClellan, MD, PhD stated that CMS believes that an important component of delivering high quality care is the ability to measure and evaluate quality, and that CMS was committed to the development of reporting and payment systems that will support and reward quality. Continue Reading

New Medicare Revalidation Tool
The second round of Medicare revalidations has begun.  In addition to notifying providers through mail approximately 60-90 days prior to their revalidation due date, Medicare created an online tool that will allow providers to look up when their revalidations will be due in advance.  Right now they are only showing revalidations for approximately the next six months, but the site will continue to be updated on a regular basis.
 
As long as you can see the provider is up for revalidation in the next 6 months, you can go ahead and submit the revalidation.  You do not have to wait for the revalidation request to arrive by mail.  Revalidations received before the provider is up for revalidation will be returned. Medicare will not be granting any extension requests so you will want to make sure that your submission is timely. It is very important to note that on this round of revalidations, if you miss your revalidation your PTAN will be terminated and you will not receive payments until your new application is completed.  During the first round of revalidations, Medicare would reactivate your PTAN retroactively to the date of termination.  Medicare is not giving providers that leeway this time around, so please make sure that revalidations are submitted on time or you will lose out on payments for any period of deactivation! 
 
The new tool can be found here. Acevedo Consulting is also happy to assist you with any of your Medicare enrollment or revalidation needs.

Reminders!!
2016 PQRS GPRO Registration
June 30th Deadline!
Groups who choose to participate in the 2016 Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) Group Reporting Option (GPRO) via the Physician Value - Physician Quality Reporting System (PV-PQRS) Registration System must register and select one of the GPRO reporting mechanisms by June 30, 2016 (11:59 pm EDT).  
 
Medicare EHR Incentive Program Hardship Application
July 1st Deadline!
In February, CMS extended the Medicare EHR Incentive Program Hardship Application deadline to July 1, 2016. This deadline was extended to allow eligible professionals, hospitals and critical access hospitals sufficient time to submit their applications to avoid adjustments to their 2017 Medicare payments.  
 
Instructions and applications can be found here.

Firm News:
AAPC Announcements
The AAPC has reached out to Jean Acevedo and Katherine Becker to be thought leaders as the AAPC develops infographics and web-based information on the move to MIPS and Advanced Payment Models. 
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Please help us in congratulating Associate Consultant, Candice Fenildo, on being elected the 2016-2017 Chair of  the AAPC's Chapter Association Board of Directors (AAPCCA). 
 
NHPCO Edge Announcement
Acevedo Consulting is happy to announce its partnership with the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) within its new consulting division - NHPCO Edge.  NHPCO Edge is a consulting service dedicated to supporting hospice and palliative care providers with strategic planning, market analysis, compliance training and palliative service development.  Acevedo Consulting will serve as a valued source of special expertise assisting the clients of NHPCO Edge with the billing nuances of hospice and palliative care.  
 
For more information, please contact: 
Sue Lyn Schramm, Director, NHPCO Edge
edge@nhpco.org / 703.837.3147
 
Acevedo Consulting Webinars:
 
Missed Opportunities for Hospice and Palliative Care: Chronic Care Management, Transitional Care Management & Advance Care Planning
July 27, 2016 12-1pm EDT
 
Responding to Investigations
August 13, 2016  12-1 pm EDT
 
Chronic Care Management for Physicians
September 23, 2016  12-1 pm EDT
 
Physician Documentation and Coding for Hospice & Palliative Care: Complexity vs. Time
September 27, 2016  12-1pm EDT
 
 
Register Here
 

Community Events Featuring Acevedo Consulting:
The Florida Society of Rheumatology Annual Meeting
From Volume to Value: What You Need To Know To Get Paid
July 14, 2016 8:00 am-4:00 pm - Orlando, Florida
 
HIPAA Compliance
July 15, 2016 10:45 am-12:00 pm - Orlando, Florida
 
Coding Issues and Complications
July 16, 2016 9:00-10:30 am - Orlando, Florida
 
Evaluation and Management Services: Know When You Can and Cannot Bill With Modifier-25
July 17, 2016 9:00-10:00 am - Orlando, Florida
 
HIPAA in Real Life
July 17, 2016 10:00-11:00 am - Orlando, Florida
 
Audiology Services
Network of Florida Otolaryngologists
July 21, 2016 12:00-1:00 pm EDT - webinar
 
ICD-10 Basics
Florida Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Society
July 23, 2016 8:00-10:00 am - Orlando, Florida
 
Infusion Coding for Rheumatology: How to Appropriately Document
The National Organization of Rheumatology Managers & Crescendo Bioscience
July 26, 2016 12:00-1:00 pm EDT - webinar
July 28, 2016 12:00-1:00 pm CDT - webinar
 
Quality Metrics: How Will They Effect Your Future Payments
Palm Beach County Medical Society and Keiser University 
August 17, 2016 12:00-1:00 pm - West Palm Beach, Florida