MDS Alert

Got comments you'd like to share publicly on a Medicare or Medicaid reg?

You can now do so with a click of the mouse at www.regulations.gov. The Web site includes links to rules published that day and comments due that day. Or you can search for open regulations by agency or keywords.

You can also use the new system to submit comments on other federal documents published in the Federal Register, including policy notices soliciting public input. Watch what you say and disclose, though: All electronic comments will be posted on the Web site for the public to review after the comment period closes, including any personally identifiable or confidential business information included in a comment.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is working toward posting on its Web site, by early 2005, all comments received by the comment period's deadline. CMS will continue to consider written snail-mail comments delivered either by hand or through the mail to the addresses identified in the published rules.

Have you seen the update to the January 2004 annual update of HCPCS codes used for SNF consolidated billing enforcement (transmittal 92)?

It's available at www.cms.hhs.gov/manuals/pm_trans/R92CP.pdf. The update has an effective date of April 1, 2004, and an implementation date of April 5. CMS enforces SNF CB through Medicare claims editing using lists of Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System codes subject to CB. The list of HCPCS codes enforcing SNF CB may be updated quarterly. But CMS refers to the January up-date as an annual update because it provides the new permanent HCPCS codes. CMS provides other updates for the remaining quarters as needed before the next annual update.