Happy Friday everyone! Today's items include information on: News From the Medicare Learning Network 2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative National Provider Question & Answer Session Updates to 2008 Hospital OPPS Pricer Downloads Reminder " ICD-10-CM/PCS National Provider Conference Call for Part A and Part B Providers November Flu Shot Reminder CDC Updates for Clinicians (attached) News From the Medicare Learning Network The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has released the following Special Edition MLN Matters article, SE0838 2008 - 2009 Influenza (Flu) Season Resources for Health Care Professionals, located at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/SE0838.pdf, on the CMS website. This article provides fee-for-service Medicare providers and their staff with access to a variety of seasonal flu related educational resources that they can use during the 2008 - 2009 flu season. 2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative National Provider Question & Answer Session The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) Provider Communications Group will host the eighth in a series of national provider conference calls that began in November of 2007 on the 2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI). This toll-free call will take place from 1:30 p.m. " 3:30 p.m., EST, on Thursday, November 20, 2008. Following a short presentation, the lines will be opened to allow participants to ask questions of CMS PQRI subject matter experts. Educational products are available on the PQRI dedicated web page located at, http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PQRI on the CMS website, in the Educational Resources section. Feel free to download the resources prior to the call so that you may ask questions of the presenters, Dr. Michael Rapp and Dr. Daniel Green. Conference call details: Date: November 20, 2008 Conference Title: 2008 Physician Quality Reporting Initiative National Provider Call Time: 1:30-3:30 p.m. EST In order to receive the call-in information, you must register for the call. It is important to note that if you are planning to sit in with a group, only one person needs to register to receive the call-in data. This registration is solely to reserve a phone line, NOT to allow participation. If you cannot attend the call, replay information is available below. Registration will close at 1:30 p.m. EST on November 19, 2008, or when available space has been filled. No exceptions will be made, so please be sure to register prior to this time. 1. To register for the call participants need to go to: http://www2.eventsvc.com/palmettogba/112008 2. Fill in all required data. 3. Verify your time zone is displayed correctly the drop down box. 4. Click "Register". 5. You will be taken to the "Thank you for registering" page and will receive a confirmation email shortly thereafter. Note: Please print and save this page, in the event that your server blocks the confirmation emails. If you do not receive the confirmation email, please check your spam/junk mail filter as it may have been directed there. For those of you who will be unable to attend, a replay option will be available shortly following the end of the call. This replay will be accessible from 2:30 p.m. EST 11/20/2008 until 11:59 p.m. EST 11/27/2008. The call in data for the replay is (800) 642-1687 or (706) 645-9291 and the passcode is 69793299. If you require services for the hearing impaired please send an email to Medicare.TTT@PalmettoGBA.com. Updates to 2008 Hospital OPPS Pricer Downloads The Fourth Quarter 2008 Hospital OPPS Pricer Downloads have been updated to include the Outpatient Provide Specific File update. You may go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/PCPricer/08_OPPS.asp to view the latest update. Reminder -- ICD-10-CM/PCS National Provider Conference Call for Other Part A and Part B Providers Other Part A and Part B providers may now register for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services ICD-10-CM/PCS National Provider Conference Call that will be conducted on November 12, 2008 from 12:30 p.m. " 2:30 p.m. EST. Registration will close at 12:30 p.m. EST on November 11, 2008 or when available space has been filled. To register for this call, go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/icd10/Downloads/ICD10_otherproviders.pdf. To find additional information about this conference call and to access the ICD-10 Overview Presentation that will be discussed during the call, go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ICD10/07_Sponsored_Calls.asp. November Flu Shot Reminder "Flu season is here! Medicare patients give many reasons for not getting their annual flu shot, including ""It causes the flu"; "I don't need it"; "It has side effects"; "It's not effective"; "I didn't think about it"; "I don't like needles!" The fact is that every year in the United States, on average, about 36,000 people die from influenza. Greater than 90 percent of these deaths occur in individuals 65 years of age and older. You can help your Medicare patients overcome these odds and their personal barriers through patient education. Talk with your Medicare patients about the importance of getting an annual flu shot--and don't forget to immunize yourself and your staff. Protect yourself, your patients, and your family and friends. Get Your Flu Shot " Not the Flu. Remember - Influenza vaccine plus its administration are covered Part B benefits. Note that influenza vaccine is NOT a Part D covered drug. For information about Medicare's coverage of the influenza virus vaccine and its administration as well as related educational resources for health care professionals and their staff, please go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/Downloads/flu_products.pdf on the CMS website. To download the Medicare Part B Immunization Billing quick reference chart, go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/qr_immun_bill.pdf on the CMS website. A copy of this quick reference chart can be ordered, free of charge, by going to the MLN Products web page and clicking on "MLN Product Ordering Page" in the Related Links Inside CMS section of the web page. | 
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