CMS Sets September Calls

BALTIMORE–On Wednesday, Sept. 10, beginning at 2 p.m. ET, CMS will conduct an Open Door Forum on the Special Needs Plan Chronic Condition Panel, which will determine the conditions that meet the definition of severe or disabling chronic conditions in accordance with the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act.

According to CMS, “We are most interested in comments related to identifying the set of chronic conditions having significant medical, psychosocial, mental, and functional effects that require specialized care as prescribed by the law. CMS encourages consideration of conditions that lend themselves to effective care management and service delivery under a capitated health plan arrangement. In addition to commenting on criteria the panel may use for selecting conditions, we urge commenters to also consider the need for face validity and administrative feasibility.”

To participate in the teleconference, call 800/837-1935and reference Conference ID 62238545.

On Sept. 17, the agency has scheduled its next Home Health, Hospice & DME Open Door Forum beginning at 2 p.m. ET. To participate by phone, call 800/837-1935 and reference Conference ID 58369938. An audio recording of the session will be available at 800/642-1687 (use the same ID) beginning two hours after the call has ended. The recording expires after three business days.

And on Sept. 22 at 2 p.m. ET, CMS will hold a Town Hall meeting via conference call as well as in the auditorium at CMS headquarters (7500 Security Blvd., Baltimore, Md.) to get provider feedback on the possible next version of HIPAA standards for claims and other transactions as well as recovery auditing and Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) transitions. The meeting agenda and discussion materials will be available to download at www.cms.hhs.gov/center/provider.asp by Sept. 19.

To partcipate by phone or in person, you must pre-register for the meeting at http://registration.intercall.com/go/cms2. Registration will close Sept. 17.