the G-code, the software may not have submitted that line item to CMS. This would have caused a penalty be- cause CMS did not receive informa- tion indicating successful e-prescrib- ing. Check with your practice man- agement software vendor, and check the claim submission forms to be sure the line item successfully transmits.
• Physicians participating in the Medi- care Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program cannot receive the e-prescribing and EHR incentives in the same payment year. In this case, however, they should have report- ed on at least 10 successful e-pre- scriptions before June 30 by adding G8553 to the claim form or applied for the exemption that indicates par- ticipation in the Medicare EHR Incen- tive Program in payment year 2011. The deadline to submit an exemption was Nov. 7, and you had to have reg- istered for the EHR incentive program by Oct. 1, 2011.
If you think CMS penalized you
wrongfully, contact the QualityNet Helpdesk, 7 am through 7 pm Monday through Friday, to have your case exam- ined. The number is (866) 288-8912, or you can email
qnetsupport@sdps.org. An American Medical Association
advisory says it received reports of phy- sicians turned away when calling the help desk, but says CMS has worked to make sure it adequately reviews physi- cian’s cases. There is no formal appeals process, but CMS encourages physicians with questions or concerns about their penalty and/or or hardship exemption request to contact the help desk, AMA says. CMS will handle requests for ex- emptions case by case. Physicians who still have problems with the help desk may email their con- cerns directly to Medicare at eRx_hard
ship@cms.hhs.gov. June 30, 2012, is the deadline to submit and report e-prescribing for at least 10 Medicare patients to prevent a 1.5-percent Medicare penalty in 2013. Dec. 31, 2012, is the deadline for e-pre- scribing for at least 25 Medicare patients to earn a 1-percent incentive on all 2012 Medicare allowable charges.
Ronald L. Johnson, MD, 79; McKinney; University of Washington School of Medicine, 1958; died Feb. 18, 2012.
Fred W. Pauling III, MD, 78; Houston; The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, 1958; died March 19, 2012.
Benjamin H. Scott, MD, 94; Houston; Queen’s University, On- tario, Canada, 1943; died March 21, 2012.
Gene R. Smith, MD, 80; San Antonio; University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, 1957; died Feb. 27, 2012.
Edna M. Spillar, MD, 89; San Antonio; Baylor College of Medi- cine, 1954; died Feb. 14, 2012.
Boen Swinny Jr., MD, 85; San Antonio; The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, 1960; died Feb. 20, 2012.
Malcolm J. Thomas Jr., MD, 80; Lubbock; Tulane University School of Medicine, 1956; died Feb. 12, 2012.
Martine G. Tirmenstein, MD, 83; Dallas; University of Tennessee College of Medicine, 1953; died Feb. 13, 2012.
June 2012 TEXAS MEDICINE 11
Deaths
Ralph R. Chase, MD, 89; San Angelo; Northwestern University School of Medicine, 1951; died March 16, 2012.
Ronald F. Garvey, MD, 83; Denton; University at Buffalo, State University of New York School of Medicine, 1953; died March 15, 2012.
Maurice W. Haisten, MD, 86; Beaumont; University of Alabama School of Medicine, 1947; died March 14, 2012.
Robert L. Hershberger, MD, 91; Houston; Duke University School of Medicine, 1951; died March 1, 2012.
Richard G. Hosford, MD, 79; Dallas; Harvard Medical School, 1957; died March 4, 2012.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60