The American Medical Association has launched a multi-media, grassroots campaign for a permanent Medicare physician pay fix. The campaign, which urges immediate Congressional action to repeal the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula used to determine Medicare physician pay, includes a 30-second television spot, a 60-second radio spot and direct mailings.

All entities covered by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) that submit transactions electronically are required to upgrade from Version 4010/4010A to Version 5010 transaction standards by Sunday, January 1, 2012. It is important to remember that the upcoming Version 5010 transition is not only mandatory, but is also an integral step toward a successful ICD-10 transition.

It is crucial for FCSO electronic trading partners to schedule 5010 transaction testing now!

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requires all HIPAA-covered entities to complete 5010 testing with each of their trading partners and successfully transition to the new 5010 data format before January 1, 2012. However, with only one month left until mandatory implementation, those that continue to wait to schedule 5010 testing risk significant delays in their transition to production. If you're not sure where to begin, don't worry—we can help.

Physicians and health plans have a kind of grace period for the first three months of 2012 before they must comply with new HIPAA Version 5010 claims transaction standards.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' Office of E-Health Standards and Services (OESS) announced Nov. 17 that it will delay enforcement of the new rules, which govern the format of claims submissions and payments. CMS is calling the delay a “period of enforcement discretion.”