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CMS recently released an extensive revision of QIO Manual Chapter 9 related to QIO reviews in cases potentially involving sanction recommendations from the OIG for quality and EMTALA issues. The chapter has been renamed to include the reference to EMTALA. This update supersedes all the information in the October 3, 2003 version of Chapter 9, any previously issued Question & Answer guidance, and any previously issued TOPS, Standard Data Processing System, and Healthcare Quality Information System memos related to Chapter 9. Effective date: March 14, 2016 Implementation date: March 14, 2016 View Transmittal R139DEMO.

On March 17th, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health (CMS OMH) released a new interactive map to increase understanding of geographic disparities in chronic disease among Medicare beneficiaries. The Mapping Medicare Disparities (MMD) Tool identifies disparities in health outcomes, utilization, and spending by race and ethnicity and geographic location. Understanding geographic differences in disparities is important to informing policy decisions and efficiently targeting populations and geographies for interventions. “Our commitment to health equity begins with properly measuring the care people get and having an honest dialogue on how and where we need to improve,” said CMS Acting Administrator Andy Slavitt. “Today’s tool aims to make it harder for disparities to go unaddressed.” Racial and ethnic minorities experience disproportionately high rates of chronic diseases, and are more likely to experience difficulty accessing high quality of care than other individuals. The identification of areas with large differences in the proportions of Medicare beneficiaries with chronic diseases is an important step for informing and planning health equity activities and initiatives. The Mapping Medicare Disparities Tool features: A dynamic interface with data on the prevalence of 18 chronic conditions, end stage renal disease, or a disability; Medicare spending, hospital and emergency department (ED) utilization, preventable hospitalizations, readmissions, and mortality rates. The ability to sort by state or county of residence, sex, age, dual-eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid, and race and ethnicity. Built-in benchmarking features to investigate disparities within counties and across racial and ethnic groups, and within racial and ethnic groups across counties. “It’s not enough to improve average health care quality in the U.S.,” said CMS OMH Director Cara James.  “As the CMS Equity Plan lays out, we must identify gaps in quality of care at all levels of the health care system to address disparities. We are excited to share this new tool, which allows us to pinpoint disparities in health care outcomes by population and condition.” See the Medicare Mapping Disparities Tool here: https://www.cms.gov/About-CMS/Agency-Information/OMH/OMH-Mapping-Medicare-Disparities.html The Medicare Mapping Disparities Tool FAQ’s are here:https://www.cms.gov/About-CMS/Agency-Information/OMH/Downloads/MMDT-FAQs.pdf  

Beginning in 2016, claims for CT (Computed Tomography) scans identified by the CPT codes listed  below  (and by successor codes) that are furnished on non-NEMA (National Electric Manufacturers Association) Standard XR-29-2013-compliant CT scans must include modifier “CT” that will result in an applicable payment reduction. 70450-70498 71250-71275 72125-72133 72191-72194 73200-73206 73700-73706 74150-74178 74261-74263 75571-75574 CMS Change Request (CR) 9250 informs providers that effective January 1, 2016, a payment reduction of 5 percent applies to CT services furnished on equipment that is inconsistent with the CT equipment standard and for which payment is made under the physician fee schedule. When such payment reductions are made, MACs will supply: Claim Adjustment Reason Code 237 – Legislated/Regulatory Penalty. At least one Remark Code must be provided (may be comprised of either the NCPDP Reject Reason Code, or Remittance Advice Remark Code that is not an ALERT.) Remittance Advice Remark Code N759 – Payment adjusted based on the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) Standard XR-29-2013; and Group Code: CO (contractual obligation) The payment reduction increases 15 percent in 2017 and subsequent years. System attestation by providers will be verified through the periodic supplier accreditation process. Read the official instruction here: https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Transmittals/Downloads/R3402CP.pdf