**Updated May 7, 2009- Special Open Door Forum: Outpatient Imaging Efficiency Measures on Wednesday, May 20, 2009 from 2pm-4pmET. This Special ODF is conference Call Only. To participate, please dial: 1-800-837-1935 Conference ID 94281978. Please see the Downloads section below, and on the Special ODF webpage, for the full participation announcement.

**Updated May 6, 2009- CMS Posts Coverage and Analysis Group Director Position- CMS is currently seeking qualified and interested candidates to fill the position of Director, Coverage and Analysis Group (CAG), Office of Clinical Standards & Quality (OCSQ). Steve Phurrough, M.D., left this position at CMS recently to work as a medical officer at the Agency for Health Research and Quality (AHRQ). Over the past 7 years, Steve contributed immeasurably to major topics facing CMS and the nation in areas of coverage decision-making, evidence-based medicine, clinical trials policies, comparative effectiveness, and individual national coverage decisions. He led a very talented team of subject experts in CAG, and they continue this important work under the Acting Director, Tamara Syrek Jensen.

CMS is now in the process of recruiting a replacement for this position and we'd like to ask for assistance in identifying qualified potential candidates for this very important role. With the Obama Administration making healthcare reform one of its top priorities, this is an exciting time for anyone to consider health policy leadership opportunities at CMS and HHS. Given the recent passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and its focus on Comparative Effectiveness Research, the CAG Director role is especially important. The Director, CAG/OCSQ reports directly to me, but participates in briefings and consultation with the CMS Administrator and other senior-level leaders in the Department of HHS. If you know of anyone suitable for this position, please encourage them to consider applying or to contact us at CMS for more information. To learn more about the portfolio of mission-critical projects that the Coverage & Analysis Group manages, please visit http://www.cms.hhs.gov/center/coverage.asp The position posting is listed at: http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/getjob.asp?JobID=80420558 Click "Apply Online". For reference, the job announcement number is HHS-CM-CSQ-2009-0052. Please direct any questions to the Baltimore Human Resources Center: BHRC Helpdesk Phone: 888-423-2737 Fax: 410-786-0927 TDD: 410-786-0727 Email: bhrc_help_desk@cms.hhs.gov.

**Updated May 5, 2009- The next Physicians, Nurses & Allied Health Professionals Open Door Forum that is scheduled for Tuesday, May 19, 2009 from 2pm-3pm ET. This ODF is Conference Call Only.  To participate dial 1-800-837-1935 Conference ID 94236628. Please see the Downloads section below for the updated participation announcement. Special Open Door Forum: Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and the American Association of Orthopaedic Executives (AAOE) on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 from 3:30-5pm ET. This Special ODF is Conference Call Only. To participate, dial: 1-800-837-1935 Reference Conference ID 94236628. Please see the Downloads section below, and on the Special ODF web page, for the full  participation announcement. 

**Updated April 22, 2009- Special Open Door Forum: Medicare Provider & Supplier Enrollment to discuss the availability of Internet-based Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS) and the implementation of regulatory provisions on April 30, 2009 from 2-3:30pmET. To participate, dial: 1-800-837-1935 Reference Conference ID 94109369. Please see the Downloads section on the Special Open Door Forums page for the full participation announcement. 

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Physicians Nurses & Allied Health Professionals Open Door Forum Overview

The Physicians, Nurses, and Allied Health Professionals Open Door Forum addresses the concerns and issues of Medicare and Medicaid physicians, non-physician practitioners, nurses, and other allied health care specialists. This diverse group of providers serves Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries in almost all service settings, ranging from independent physician offices to specialized departments within larger facilities. The types of issues that come up during this forum are as varied as the providers who participate, but some frequent topics include the Physician Fee Schedule, Stark regulations, care plan oversight, payment and documentation rules, Provider Enrollment Chain Ownership System (PECOS), as well as the roles and responsibilities of different allied health professional staff under CMS regulations. Timely announcements and clarifications regarding important rulemaking, quality program initiatives, and other related areas are also included in the forums.

Downloads
Wednesday, May 20, 2009- Special Open Door Forum: Outpatient Imaging Efficiency Measures (PDF, 24KB) Tuesday, May 19, 2009- Physicians, Nurses & Allied Health Professionals (PDF, 24KB) Tuesday, May 19, 2009- Special Open Door Forum: Physicians Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Association of Orthopaedic Executives(PDF, 24KB) Friday April 3, 2009- CHIP Webcast: "Affordable Health Care for Kids: Moving Forward Without Delay" (PDF, 24KB) Carrier/FI Directory (PDF, 338KB) Quality Improvement Organization Program's 9th Scope of Work (pdf, 24KB)
Related Links Inside CMS
Physicians Open Door Forum Mailing List Sign-Up CMS Physician Center Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) Electronic Prescribing (E-Rx) Initiative Physicians Regulatory Issues Team (PRIT) Details for Post Acute Care Payment Reform Demonstration (PAC-PRD) Health Care Consumer Initiatives Therapy Services Overview Skilled Nursing Facilities Consolidated Billing Information Medicare Prevention Benefits
Related Links Outside CMS
American College of Cardiology Presentation Slides for the March 18, 2009 CMS Special Open Door Forum: PQRI Government Printing Office Federal Register September 19, 2007- Care Giver Broadcast Archive Medicare Learn Network (MLN) Product Ordering Page CMS Survey and Certification Group Training Website

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