This week in Medicare updates—5/25/2022
Updated OIG Work Plan
On May 16, the OIG updated its Work Plan with the following new items:
- Accuracy of Falls Reporting in Home Health OASIS Assessments
- Medicare Part B Add-On Payments for COVID-19 Tests
- Followup Review of Inpatient Claims Under the Post-Acute-Care Transfer Policy (PACT)
CMS Redesigns Medicare.Gov Website
On May 18, CMS published a Press Release to announce its latest redesign of the Medicare.gov website, which CMS said was done to make the website more user-friendly and easier to navigate. Some of the updates include more prominently featured timely initiatives and an area that highlights key tasks.
Interns and Residents Information System (IRIS) XML Format
On May 19, CMS published One-Time Notification Transmittal 11418 regarding instructions to the MACs on changes to requirements for IRIS data. This data is required to be reported using the XML format for all cost reports with an FY beginning on or after October 1, 2021. Teaching providers also must ensure that the total GME and IME full time equivalents reported on the IRIS must match the total GME and IME full time equivalents reported on the cost report.
Effective date: October 1, 2021
Implementation date: August 19, 2022
Omnibus CR Covering Removal of Two NCDs; Updates to Medical Nutrition Therapy Policy; and Updates to Pulmonary, Cardiac, and Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation Conditions of Coverage
On May 20, CMS published Medicare Benefit Policy Transmittal 11426, Medicare Claims Processing Transmittal 11426, and Medicare National Coverage Determinations Transmittal 11426, which rescinds and replaces Benefit Policy Transmittal 11272, Claims Processing Transmittal 11272, and National Coverage Determinations Transmittal 11272, all dated February 18, 2022, to revise chapter 32 of the Claims Processing Manual. The revisions do not apply to the other two manuals. The original transmittal was published regarding a variety of updates to the manuals based on policies finalized in the 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule.
On February 22, CMS published MLN Matters 12613 to accompany the transmittals.
Effective date: January 1, 2022 - By statute
Implementation date: July 5, 2022
Elimination of Certificates of Medical Necessity (CMN) & Durable Medical Equipment Information Forms (DIF)
On May 20, CMS published Medicare Claims Processing Transmittal 11427, which rescinds and replaces Transmittal 11414, dated May 12, to correct the implementation and effective date.
CMS published Special Edition MLN Matters 22002 on the same date to accompany the transmittal.
Effective date: January 1, 2023
Implementation date: January 3, 2023