CMS to Conduct Hospital Revalidation Initiative
MARCH 2010
| The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will conduct a revalidation effort that will ensure current enrollment information from all hospitals. The revalidation focuses on hospitals that have not updated their enrollment information with Medicare in more than 6 years.
By regulation, a provider has 60 days to respond to a revalidation request by completing and submitting the Medicare enrollment application (CMS-855A or Internet-based PECOS enrollment application) and applicable supporting documentation (e.g., Electronic Funds Transfer Authorization Agreement [CMS-588]), according to CMS.
The CMS is encouraging hospitals to:
- Consider completing and submitting the CMS-855A as an initial application or completing and submitting the Internet-based PECOS enrollment application and supporting documentation on a voluntary basis. Note: By submitting an enrollment application on a voluntary basis, hospitals will avoid the time pressures associated with revalidation.
- Consider using Internet-based PECOS as the method of completing and submitting the enrollment application. If the decision is made to use Internet-based PECOS, then the hospital's Authorized Official should take a few minutes to review the "Getting Started Guide for Organizations" found in the Internet-based PECOS download section of www.cms.hhs.gov/MedicareProviderSupEnroll.
New In 2010
CASE STUDIES: LABS MUST SUBMIT ALL CASE STUDIES ON CD OR DVD
Beginning January 1, 2010, all case studies are to be submitted on CD or DVD with the DICOM viewer included. Film will no longer be an accepted format for submitting case studies to the ICAMRL; these cases must first be transferred to a digital format (CD or DVD) prior to submission. Note: It is also recommended that all data be submitted electronically.
Please note: It is not the intent of the ICAMRL to force applicant laboratories into the digital world. How the laboratory chooses to record and retain diagnostic data for internal use and storage, whether analog or digital, is still left to the discretion of the laboratory. However, final submission to the ICAMRL must be in digital format (CD or DVD). The appropriate viewer must also be included on the submitted CD or DVD.
Case studies reminder: Please note that five (5) case studies are required. Learn more in the Case Studies section.
HOW TO APPLY
The How to Apply section of the website now contains the following links to assist you in the application process:
For more information or assistance, e-mail ICAMRL Technical Manager Mary Lally at lally@intersocietal.org.
|
|
A number of ICAMRL accreditation applicants, along with applicants to other Intersocietal Accreditation Commission (IAC) sister organizations, have recently inquired into what steps they should be taking now in order to comply with the privacy standards that have been promulgated under the Administrative Simplification Provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). As many of you know, on April 12, 2001, Tommy Thompson, Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that these standards would proceed to an implementation stage beginning April 14, 2001. However, it is important to remember a couple of points before considering any changes in the way information is used, including in the provision of information to the IAC.
First, although the standards have been finalized, entities covered by the standards, such as vascular, echocardiography, nuclear medicine and magnetic resonance imaging laboratories which engage in electronic standard transactions, have two years from the effective date to come into compliance with the standards. This means that covered entities have until April 14, 2003 to comply with the standards. HHS indicated in the Preamble to the standards that it will not seek the imposition of penalties prior to the compliance date.
Second, in his announcement, Mr. Thompson referred to the possibility of further changes to the privacy standards when he stated that HHS will be issuing guidelines which "...will allow us to clarify some of the confusion regarding the impact this rule might have on health-care delivery and access." He also added that "...we will consider any necessary modifications that will ensure the quality of care does not suffer inadvertently from this rule." In fact, the IAC is currently working with representatives of HHS to see that certain clarifications or modifications are made to the standards to ensure that the standards do not undermine accreditation functions and jeopardize quality of care.
So, in considering compliance with HIPAA's privacy standards, accreditation applicants should realize in determining how and what information to provide the ICAMRL and other accrediting bodies of the IAC that they are not required to meet the privacy standards prior to April 14, 2003.
Back to top>> |
