What's New

CMS Issues Coding Guidance on How Sequestration Cuts Will Impact Medicare Payments (3/21/13)
Across the board cuts resulting from sequestration require a two percent cut to Medicare payments. In general, Medicare claims with dates of service on or after April 1st will incur a reduction. The payment reduction shall be applied after determining coinsurance, any applicable deductible, and any applicable Medicare Secondary Payment adjustments. Members with questions should contact their local Medicare Administrative Contractor for more details about payment. See CMS guidance here. 

Top 100 ENT CPT Codes for 2013 (3/12/13)
The Academy has identified the top 100 billed CPT codes by ENTs for 2013. Click below to see the code sets.
 
2013 Top 100 ENT CPT Codes Billed in a Physician Office

2013 Top 100 ENT CPT Codes Billed in the Hospital Outpatient Department

2013 Hospital Outpatient Propospective Payment System (HOPPS) Information for Common ENT Services 

Academy Signs onto Letter to HUD Regarding Smoke Free Multi-Unit Housing (3/5/2013)
On January 7th, the Academy signed onto a letter to the Department of Housing and Urban Development commending them for their policy to create smoke free multi-unit housing. The letter also responds to a request for information on the implementation of these policies. See the letter here.

CMS Makes Changes to Medically Unlikely Edits (MUEs) Effective April 1, 2013 (2/18/2013)
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced modifications to the Medicare MUE program to reduce Part B paid claim error rates.  CMS will be changing some MUE values to date of service (DOS) edits, rather than previous units of service (UOS) line edits.  For codes undergoing this change, there are two categories: procedures that would "almost never" be reported with more the than one UOS, and codes where CMS expects that paid UOS in excess of the MUE would occur uncommonly. See the CMS letter here.

New CPT for ENT Guidance Posted Online (2/14/2013)
The Academy has created two new CPT for ENT articles to help you. They are CPT Changes to +15777 Implantation of Biologic Implant Code for CY 2013 and a revised Intraoperative Neurophysiology Testing. See the CPT for ENT pages here.

Academy Signs onto Pediatric Subspecialty Loan Repayment Letter (2/5/2013)
On February 1st, the Academy joined 20 other medical organizations on a letter recommending appropriations for the Pediatric Subspecialty Loan Repayment Program from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). See the letter here.

Academy Comments on Draft HIT Policy Committee Stage 3 Meaningful Use Criteria (1/23/2013)
On January 14th, the Academy submitted comments to the Health Information Technology (HIT) Policy Committee regarding their proposed Stage 3 criteria for the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Meaningful Use Incentive Program, which is scheduled to being in 2016. To view the letter, click here. 

Academy Comments on Physician Compare Website Redesign (1/14/2013)
On January 14th, the Academy submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on the proposed redesign of the Physician Compare Website redesign. The Academy expressed concerns about the accuracy of data posted on the website and the exclusive reporting of CG-CAHPS data and asked about Surgical CAHPS data. To view the letter, click here.

Academy Signs on to ICD-10 Sign-on letter Advocating to Halt ICD-10 Implementation (12/20/2012)
On December 20, 2012, the Academy along with numerous other physician associations and organizations signed on to a letter to the Acting Administrator at the Center for Medicare / Medicaid Services (CMS) to halt the implementation of the ICD-10 code set as a necessary step for removing regulatory burden from physicians and ensuring that small physician practices are able to keep their doors open. To view the letter, click here. 

Academy Signs onto EHR Improvement Act Sign On Letter (12/14/12)
The Academy, signed onto a letter commending Rep. Diane Black for introducing legislation that would reform the Medicare and Medicaid Electronic Health Records (EHR) Incentive Program. The legislation proposes changes to the EHR program that the Academy has supported in past letters. See the letter here. 

Academy Releases 2013 MPFS and HOPPS/ASC Final Rule Summaries (12/3/12)
The Academy has summarized the sections of the 2013 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) and payment rates for the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (HOPPS)/ Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASC). See the Academy's summaries to see how you will be affected in 2013 here.

Academy Submits Comments on EHR Stage 2 Final Rule (10/24/12)
The Academy submitted comments to CMS expressing concerns with the final rule of Stage 2 of the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Meaningful Use Incentive program. The Academy believes high satisfaction thresholds in the rule inhibit Health Information Technology (HIT) adoption. View the letter here.

Avoid Payment Penalties Starting in 2013 by Visiting the CMS Quality Initiative Page (9/5/2012)
The Academy has resources to help you successfully navigate CMS Quality Initiative programs like PQRS, Electronic Health Record Meaningful Use, and E-Prescribing. Avoid payment penalties by successfully completing these programs. To learn about each program and how the Academy can help you, click here.

Academy Signs on to Letter Reiterating Support for FDA Oversight Over All Tobacco Products (6/14/12)
The Academy has signed on to a letter along with 30 other organizations, reiterating support for continued Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversight of all tobacco products, including cigars.  To view the letter that was sent to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and related agencies, click here.