**Updated May 8, 2009- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will be hosting a meeting with the Program Advisory and Oversight Committee (PAOC) on June 4, 2009 to discuss the Round 1 Rebid of the Medicare DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Program. The agenda will focus on legislative changes mandated by the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 as well as additional process improvements. CMS expects that the feedback received from the PAOC committee members and the public will assist the Agency as it moves forward with the Round 1 Rebid. To register for the meeting, please visit: http://www2.blsdev.com/blsmeetings/h1565/

For additional information about the Medicare DMEPOS Competitive Bidding, please visit the CMS web site at:         http://www.cms.hhs.gov/DMEPOSCompetitiveBid/01_overview.asp#TopOfPage

**Updated May 7, 2009- Special Open Door Forum: Outpatient Imaging Efficiency Measures on May 20, 2009 from 2pm-4pmET. 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 April 22, 2009- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule to update the Medicare Hospice Wage Index for fiscal year (FY) 2010. This proposed rule continues with the 75 percent reduction of the budget neutrality adjustment factor (BNAF) which, in the August 8, 2008 FY 2009 Hospice Wage Index final rule, was originally implemented as the second year of a 3-year phase-out of the BNAF. The combined effects of a 75% reduction to the BNAF in FY 2010 and a estimated 2.1% hospital market basket update are estimated to decrease payment to hospices in FY 2010 by 1.1%. In addition, this proposed rule proposes to require hospice physicians to provide a short narrative on hospice certifications and recertifications. For more information, see the Fact Sheet (http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/media/fact_sheets.asp Display Date: April 21, 2009).

**Updated April 15, 2009- The next Home Health, Hospice & DME ODF is scheduled for Wednesday, May 13, 2009 from 2pm-3pm ET. To participate by phone, dial: 1-800-837-1935 & Reference Conference ID: 94280596. Please see the "Downloads" section below for the full participation announcement.

**Updated April 14, 2009- On the April 1, 2009 Home Health ODF, Division of Recovery Audit Operations (DRAO) staff provided an update on the Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) Program. DRAO staff would like to clarify statements made about Home Health and Hospice data and RAC audit activities for Home Health and Hospice. The clarification is as follows: RACs will be receiving Home Health and Hospice data in the next few weeks but CMS does not anticipate any review of Home Health or Hospice claims until sometime this summer.

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Home Health, Hospice, and Durable Medical Equipment Open Door Forum (ODF) Overview:

The Home Health, Hospice & Durable Medical Equipment ODF addresses the concerns of three unique health care areas within the Medicare & Medicaid programs. Issues related to Home Health PPS, the newly proposed competitive bidding for DME, and the Medicare Hospice benefit are all topics the forum has covered. Many of the issues covered bridge concerns within all three settings, and the combination of the topics under one forum has been useful to many participants. We continue to hold Special ODFs when individual policy issues require special attention. 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 Open Door Forum: Outpatient Imaging Efficiency Measures (PDF, 24KB) Wednesday, May 13, 2009- Home Health, Hospice & DME ODF (PDF, 24KB) Friday April 3, 2009- CHIP Webcast: "Affordable Health Care for Kids: Moving Forward Without Delay" (PDF, 24KB) Attachment D (December 2008) (PDF, 290 KB) Carrier/FI Directory (PDF, 338KB) A/B MAC Jurisdiction Map (PDF, 32KB)
Related Links Inside CMS
Home Health, Hospice & DME Open Door Forum Mailing List Sign-Up CMS Home Health Agency Center CMS Hospice Center CMS DMEPOS Center DMEPOS Competitive Bidding Overview of DMEPOS Fee Schedule Details for Post Acute Care Payment Reform Demonstration (PAC-PRD) Survey & Certification HCPCS General Information OASIS
Related Links Outside CMS
Medicare Supplier Directory Home Health Compare Medicare Learning Network (MLN) Product Ordering Page Government Printing Office Federal Register CMS Survey and Certification Group Training Website

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