Medicare is moving more types of documents from paper to an electronic format. A few of our clients are already sending electronic claims to Medicare when Medicare is the secondary payer. If you would like to start sending this type of claim electronically, please contact us to ensure that you have the correct software upgrade with instructions.

Medicare is also encouraging providers to receive their remits electronically. This has some advantages over mailed remits, especially if your checks are deposited electronically. Medicare provides free software to read and print the remits, which are transmitted in a secure HIPAA format. You can go to (www.NoridianMedicare.com/edi/news/stop_spr_era.h tml) to find out more details. Our office can help you with the set up process.

The NPI will not be required until May 2007, but there are some items that will be affected by the NPI before that date. If you have not applied for you NPI, you should do so now. Informational documents about the NPI can be found at www.cms .hhs.gov/NationalProvIdentStand. You can apply online at https://nppes.cms. hhs.gov. In order to accommodate the NPI, the current CMS 1500 (HCFA) has been modified. Our office has copies of the new 1500 if you would like to see what it looks like. This new 1500 was going to be required on February 1st, 2007, however Medicare has requested a delay and a final timeline is now in limbo. You can go to www.nucc.org to monitor the final timeline decision. You also might need to change your normal pattern for ordering your 1500’s so that you don’t end up with a large amount of out-dated forms.

Great progress has been made over the last few months on the new system. We have added several report programs and have been able to start some limited parallel testing. It’s been very exciting to watch it take shape. Drop in if you are ever in the neighborhood. We’d enjoy showing you what it looks like!

Have you noticed that there are several references to web sites in this newsletter? Much has changed during the last few years in how information is distributed. Fewer and fewer insurance companies are using the US Mail to inform providers of changes. If you do not have high speed capabilities in your office, now might be a good time to evaluate. Besides keeping current on the latest billing procedures, many sites have claim status and eligibility information.

An older gentleman was on the operating table awaiting surgery and he insisted that his son, a famous surgeon, perform the operation. As he was about to get the anesthesia, he asked to speak to his son. "Yes Dad, what is it?" "Don't be nervous son. Do your best and just remember, if it doesn't go well, if something happens to me...your mother is going to have to move in with you and your wife...."