First Coast Service Options, Inc. (FCSO) has identified overpayments affecting multiple surgery services when the services have been submitted on more than one claim. As a result of this identification, FCSO will pursue overpayments on claims paid incorrectly. When submitting claims for multiple surgical procedures, you need to include all the procedures performed on the same day on a single claim. This action will help prevent manual intervention and will also expedite the claim processing time. If you received overpayments for multiple surgery procedures performed on the same date of service, FCSO asks that you return the overpaid amount, along with a completed Overpayment Refund form to: Medicare Part B Financial Services, P.O. Box 44141, Jacksonville, FL 32231-4141.

New Online Physician Tool
The Florida Medical Association, in cooperation with the AMA, is pleased to announce a new online physician tool that provides unprecedented access to state and national prescribing patterns to assist Florida physicians in clinical practice. AMA Therapeutic Insights is a quarterly Web based newsletter that focuses on a different disease state each issue, providing unique drug therapy information, disease demographics and practice guidelines for each. The first newsletter featured Migraine in Adults and the second, just released in June, covers Type 2 Diabetes. Look for the Dyslipidemia issue in September. Florida physicians can also access AMA Therapeutic Insights to earn CME credit. To view the newsletter go to www.ama-assn.org/go/therapeuticinsights and select Florida in the drop-down box. The AMA is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Florida Medicare Processes Some Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI)
Services Incorrectly
Claims for PQRI services submitted with modifiers 1P, 2P, 3P or 8P processed July 1, 2007, through July 23, 2007, may have denied incorrectly with message PR-B18 (Payment adjusted because this procedure code and modifier were invalid on the date of service). No Action is Required by Physician Practices. You do not need to resubmit your claims. This issue was resolved on July 24, 2007; the impacted claims will be reprocessed.

Florida Medicaid Encourages Physicians to Register NPI
Florida Medicaid encourages physicians who are Medicaid providers to register their NPI number at the Florida Medicaid NPI registration Web site at https://floridamedicaidnpi.com. Physicians may also re-enter the Web site to edit previously submitted information. Failure to register NPI numbers with Florida Medicaid may result in future denial of claims. If you have questions or need assistance, call 1.866.496.6493.3.

Important Notice Regarding Vaccine Administrations in 2008
Section 202(b) of the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006 (TRHCA) established a permanent policy for payment by Medicare for administration of Part D-covered vaccines, beginning in 2008. Specifically, the policy states that, MLN Matters Number: SE0723 Related Change Request Number: N/A effective January 1, 2008, the administration of a Part D-covered vaccine is included in the definition of "covered Part D drug" under the Part D statute. During 2007, in transition to this new policy, providers were permitted to bill Part B for the administration of a Part D vaccine using a special G code (G3077). SE0723 now reminds providers of the requirement that payment for the administration of Part D covered vaccines only during 2007. Therefore, effective January 1, 2008, you can no longer bill the G code to Part B; rather you will need to bill the patient for the vaccine and its administration, and the patient will need to submit the claim to the Part D plan for reimbursement. For more information, click here.

New Immunization Guidelines for Florida Schools and Child Care
As a result of a two-year project to update vaccine requirements in Rule 64D-3.046, the children of Florida now have stronger protection against vaccine-preventable diseases. Rule 64D-3.046, which became effective on July 15, 2007, pertains to Florida school and daycare entry vaccine requirements. Rule changes provide for an additional varicella vaccination for children entering school, and a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine for children entering daycare (beginning January 1, 2008). To download a copy of the new immunization guidelines and the new rule, click here.

Member Spotlight
Congratulations to Dr. Andrea Trescot, an FMA member for 10 years who was recently elected president of the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians (ASIPP), one of the nation's largest interventional pain organizations. Dr. Trescot is the past president of the Florida Academy of Pain Medicine, and the past president of the Florida Society of Interventional Pain Physicians.

Healthcare Emergency Response Coalition of Palm Beach County Selected as Model Program
Congratulations to the Healthcare Emergency Response Coalition of Palm Beach County (HERC), which has been selected as a model community program by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for its Terrorism Injuries: Information, Dissemination and Exchange (TIIDE) program. HERC was one of five programs selected throughout the nation. HERC will be recognized at a special meeting in Atlanta, Georgia on August 13-14, 2007.

Sarasota County Medical Society Seeks New EVP
Effective December 31, 2007 the Sarasota County Medical Society will be seeking a new EVP. SCMS is located in beautiful Sarasota, FL and has 500 active members. The successful candidate will have strong leadership and management skills, report to an eleven member board; work closely with legislators, local media and the health-care community. Communication skills are essential as well as the ability to be quietly visible in the community. The SCMS EVP is also responsible for executive decisions regarding the SCMS Foundation 501 (c) (3) and SAMPAC. Please submit resume and salary requirements to: Beckett Shady King, Sarasota County Medical Society, 4153 Clark Road Sarasota, FL 34233 or email to info@sarasotacountymedicalsociety.com.
 

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