The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is pleased to announce the scheduled release of modifications to the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code set. These changes have been posted to the HCPCS web page at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/HCPCSReleaseCodeSets/ANHCPCS/list.asp. Coding changes are effective on the date indicated in the update. The content of the 2010 HCPCS Annual Update reflects CMS' final coding decision for Negative Pressure Wound Therapy (NPWT) devices. The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA), section 154(c)(3) requires the Secretary to evaluate the Health Care Common Procedure Codes (HCPCS) codes for NPWT using an existing process, and to consider all relevant studies and information in making the evaluation. CMS utilized its existing public process for evaluating HCPCS coding and determined that the current HCPCS codes for NPWT are appropriate and should not be changed. For more information about CMS' evaluation refer to: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medHCPCSgeninfo/downloads/NPWTREV_FINAL.pdf. ;
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Flu Season is upon us! CMS encourages providers to begin taking advantage of each office visit to encourage your patients with Medicare to get seasonal flu shots. Flu shots are their best defense against combating flu this season. And don't forget—health care workers also need to protect themselves.
Medicare provides coverage of the flu vaccine without any out-of-pocket costs to the Medicare patient as a part B benefit. No deductible or copayment/coinsurance applies. Note that influenza vaccine is NOT a Part D covered Drug.
For more information about Medicare's coverage of the seasonal influenza vaccine and its administration, as well as related educational resources for health care professionals, please go to (http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/35_PreventiveServices.asp) on the CMS website.
For information on Medicare policies related to H1N1 influenza, please go to (http://www.cms.hhs.gov/H1N1) on the CMS website.
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If you received this message as part of the All FFS Providers listserv, you are currently subscribed to one of eighteen Medicare Fee-For-Service provider listservs. If you would like to be removed from all NIH listservs, please go to (https://list.nih.gov/LISTSERV_WEB/signoff.htm) to unsubscribe. If you would like to unsubscribe from a specific provider listserv, please go to (https://list.nih.gov/cgi-bin/show_list_archives) to unsubscribe or to leave the appropriate listserv. Please DO NOT respond to this email. This email is a service of CMS and routed through an electronic mail server to communicate Medicare policy and operational changes and/or updates. Responses to this email are not routed to CMS personnel. Inquiries may be sent by going to (http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ContactCMS). Thank you.
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