**Updated May 7, 2009- Special Open Door Forum: Outpatient Imaging Efficiency Measures from 2-4pm ET. This Special ODF is Conference Call Only. To participate, 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- In the FY 2010 Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System Proposed Rule, we discuss that Acumen, LLC's final report addressing wage index issues in section 106(b)(2) of the Medicare division of the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 is divided into two parts. The first part, now available on Acumen's Web site, analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of the data sources used to construct the MedPAC and CMS indexes. The second part, which is expected to be released after the publication of the FY 2010 final rule, will focus on the methodology for computing the wage index and covers issues including the definition of wage areas and methods of adjusting for differences among neighboring wage areas. Acumen's Web address is: http://www.acumenllc.com/reports/cms .

*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 April 17, 2009- The next Hospital & Hospital Quality Open Door Forum has been rescheduled for Wednesday, May 6, 2009 from 2-3pm ET. The participation information remains the same. To participate by phone dial 1-800-837-1935 Conference ID 89323669. Please see the "Downloads" section below for the full participation announcement. 

******

Hospital & Hospital Quality Open Door Forum (ODF) Overview:

The Hospital Open Door Forum (ODF), addresses the concerns and questions of the Hospital service setting, The very broad scope of topics discussed within this forum, include payment, coverage, conditions of participation, billing, and many other current issues that are related to new policy implementation. The Inpatient PPS, Outpatient PPS, and the many MMA provisions that affect the setting are all covered, and a recurring update from the areas of the Hospital Quality Initiative including the Hospital CAHPS initiative. Timely announcements and clarifications regarding important rulemaking, agency program initiatives, and other related areas are also included in the forums.

Downloads
Wednesday, May 20, 2009- Special ODF: Outpatient Imaging Efficiency Measures (PDF, 24KB) Wednesday, May 6, 2009: Hospital & Hospital Quality (PDF, 24KB) Friday April 3, 2009- CHIP Webcast: "Affordable Health Care for Kids: Moving Forward Without Delay" (PDF, 24KB) Order Information for the Expanded Modified MedPAR (PDF, 24KB) Carrier/FI Directory (PDF, 338KB) Q&A- OPPS Device Upgrade (PDF, 12KB) Q&A- Type A and B Emergency Departments Under the OPPS (PDF, 43KB) Quality Improvement Organization Program's 9th Scope of Work (PDF, 24kb)
Related Links Inside CMS
Hospital & Hospital Quality Open Door Forum Mailing List Sign-Up CMS Hospital Center Hospital Quality Overview Main OPPS Webpage Hospital Acquired Conditions (Present on Admission Indicator) Details for Post Acute Care Payment Reform Demonstration (PAC-PRD) Medicare Contracting Reform Beneficiary Notices Initiative- Hospital Discharge Appeal Notices ICD-9 & ICD-10 PCS Acute Inpatient PPS Federal Register Notices
Related Links Outside CMS	>
Government Printing Office Federal Register APR DRG Information Site HHS Indian Health Service Medicare-Like Rates Information QualityNet CMS Survey and Certification Group Training Website CDC, NCHS- ICD-9 Diagnosis Information HHS Hospital Compare Website

Page Last Modified: 05/07/2009 2:00:56 PM
Help with File Formats and Plug-Ins