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February 12, 2010

Medicare Learning Workshops

Practical Education for Today's Suppliers and Providers

It's that time again! Your CIGNA Government Services Part B and DME Provider Outreach and Education teams announce their 3rd annual joint education event. The detailed and easy-to-understand curriculum provides you with new and improved Medicare knowledge. Don't miss out on the opportunity to experience the value of this collaborative Medicare educational event first hand!

"Campus" Locations and Dates:

March 31, 2010
Embassy Suites
5400 John Q. Hammons Drive NW
Concord, NC 28027

April 27, 2010
Sheraton Imperial Hotel
4700 Emperor Boulevard
Durham, NC 27703

Academic Information:

Registration:	7:30am - 9:00am (ET)
Class Times:	9:00am - 4:00pm (ET)
Academic Support Center:	Medicare advisors will be available throughout the day to assist with your questions and issues.
Cost:	$80 per student includes: Continental Breakfast Boxed Lunch Student Handbook
Cancellation Policy:	In the event you must cancel your registration, you may do so up to 10 business days prior to the educational event and receive a full refund. View the refund policy here.
Registration Links:	I would like to attend the March 31, 2010, workshop in Concord, North Carolina. I would like to attend the April 27, 2010, workshop in Durham, North Carolina.

Part B and DME Joint Session(s) Course Catalog

CERT / RAC Reviews

Would you like to avoid an overpayment request, improve your ability to respond to potential audits, and lessen the chances of additional audits? In this course, you will learn the vital steps you should take to prepare for, and respond to, a Medicare audit and how a lack of response could negatively impact your business.

Resources

Discover the key tools and self-service options you need to guide your business to success. In this course, you will learn step by step instructions that demonstrate how to find and use the wide variety of online resources available on the CMS and CGS Web sites.

Advance Beneficiary Notices (ABNs)

Learn how protecting your business from "CO" claim denials will improve your bottom line. This course will teach you when and how to obtain an ABN and the importance of printing, securing, and documenting your records. Let us help you protect your bottom line.

Overpayment Recovery

This course explains what causes an overpayment and reviews the process of responding to an overpayment request. We will also explain the appeals process for overpayments. Ultimately, you will learn how to negotiate unavoidable overpayment requests.

DME Session(s) Course Catalog

Respiratory Coverage

More than just the fundamentals! This course will instruct you on the basic, the new, and the ever changing and unfamiliar territory of Oxygen and PAP Local Coverage Determinations (LCD).

Mobility Equipment

Are you a supplier of mobility equipment; if so, then this course will be beneficial to you! All of the items included under the Mobility Equipment classification will be discussed in detail because it is important you understand the instructions associated with each type of Mobility Equipment.

DME Updates and FAQs

Become up-to-date on Medicare DME MAC policy additions/revisions. This course will focus on revised Medicare instructions and policies as they pertain to Zone Program Integrity Contractors (ZPICS), PECOS, Modifier Changes, IVR Updates, Pre-Pay Reviews, and much more. Note: Erika Williams, Ombudsman with the National Supplier Clearinghouse, will present timely information and updates on supplier enrollment issues during this session.

Documentation Requirements

Learn how to ensure you understand the documentation requirements for Medicare claims. This course will ensure you are meeting the documentation requirements for Medicare patients. We will demonstrate proper intake processes, explain practitioner requirements, review required forms, etc., which will help you avoid costly billing mistakes.

Medical Review

Learn the many functions of the Medical Review Department. During this course, you will learn about Medical Review's current focus areas. From developing medical policies, to performing pre and post payment audits, to claim denial data mining, to identifying error trends; understanding Medical Review's focuses can help you to improve your audit response strategy. Is your intake process comprehensive enough?

Competitive Bidding Update

A representative of the Competitive Bidding Implementation Contractor will present timely information on this CMS initiative and will be available to answer your questions on this important subject. NOTE: This session is for the Concord workshop only.

Part B Session(s) Course Catalog

Part B Medicare Updates

Become up-to-date on Medicare Part B policy additions/revisions. This course will focus on key Part B Medicare Program updates for Calendar Year 2010, including recent revisions to the 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and Policies, Discontinuation of Consultation Service Codes, FAQs, and other timely Medicare topics.

Ask Your Part B Carrier Medical Director (CMD) - Part B Information Only

Do you have a question for your CMD? This course provides you a unique opportunity to ask questions directly to the CGS Part B CMDs. Dr. Boyd Honeycutt and Dr. Gary Oakes will start with a brief presentation on common documentation errors, recent audit findings, and other current issues of a clinical nature. The remaining bulk of this course will be reserved for Q & A from the audience.

Provider Enrollment (PE)

Learn how to ensure your PECOS record is updated correctly. This course features a subject matter expert from CGS' Provider Enrollment department who will focus on using PECOS to credential and update provider records, the expansion of edits for ordering/referring physicians, revalidation efforts, and common provider enrollment errors.

Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI)

This session will provide an overview of the PQRI Incentive Program, and provide tips and resources for implementing this initiative in your own office, as well as focus on key changes to the program for 2010.

E-Prescribing

This presentation will focus on tips for understanding the 2010 E-Prescribing Incentive Program so that you can easily implement this initiative into your own practice, and potentially qualify for a 2 percent bonus payment.

The Life of a Claim

Discover the claims process from the carrier's perspective. Attend this course to discuss best practices that will assist providers in submitting clean claims. Also, you will learn about the Common Working File (CWF) and many of the edits that commonly cause claims to deny or suspend for additional information.