Alert! Keep in mind if you choose to opt in to the Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) Association Settlement you must submit a form postmarked no later than October 19, 2007. You can download all relevant materials at http://www.fmaonline.org/phys/bcbsinfo.asp. To view the BCBS settlement agreement click here. Information is also available regarding the opt out process as prepared by the Physicians Advocacy Institute, Inc. Click here to view.

The FMA has received calls regarding recent mailings about the BCBS settlement. As a member of the FMA you can contact the office at 800.762.0233 or visit http://www.fmaonline.org/phys/bcbsinfo.asp for more information.

Florida Department of Health Releases Health Advisory On Amoebic Encephalitis for Florida Freshwater
Florida Surgeon General Ana M. Viamonte Ros, M.D., M.P.H., issued a medical advisory for all freshwater swimming areas in the state of Florida. Two probable human cases of Amoebic Encephalitis have been identified in Central Florida residents since August, and there is a heightened concern that additional residents may become ill. The most recent case resulted in the death of a Florida child. For more information, click here.

FMA Board of Governors & Council Days
Don't miss the FMA Board of Governors & Council Days meeting Oct. 25-28, 2007 at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida! Make your reservations today. For more information, click here.

Incorrect NPI Implementation Schedule Published
CMS announced that a trade publication recently published a schedule of implementation dates, by contractor, for claim rejections based on the inability to locate an NPI/legacy identifier pair on the Medicare NPI Crosswalk. The dates listed in the publication are incorrect. Physicians and non-physician providers will be advised by their Medicare contractor as to the particular timeframe for their transition. CMS reminds you that any other published schedules are unofficial and may have inaccurate dates. Medicare providers are urged to only rely on information from their Medicare contractors. A recent MLN Matters article will be helpful in determining how to use the NPI on Part A and Part B claims. Click here to view the article.

More information and education on the NPI can be found on the CMS Web site. To apply for an NPI, click here or call the NPI enumerator to request a paper application at 1.800.465.3203.

NPI Searchable Database
This week CMS launched its searchable NPI data base online. If you need a physician's NPI number for box 17 on your claim form, click here and enter the physician's name and city, and then click "search." For more information on NPI, click here.

Member Spotlight
Congratulations to Dr. M. Kamel Elzawahry, an FMA member for 26 years who was recently elected to the Board of the World Neurology Foundation. In addition, Dr. Elzawahry was named the first recipient of the American Academy of Neurology's Kenneth M. Viste, Jr., MD, Patient Advocate of the Year Award for 2007 and he was recently elected Chair of the FMA's Specialty Society Section. Dr. Elzawahry practices in Panama City and is the Past President of the Florida Society of Neurology and the Bays County Medical Society.
.
Medicare Summit
Mark your calendars! On October 13, 2007 from 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., the Charlotte CMS, FMA, Hillsborough CMA, Lee CMS, Manatee CMS, Pinellas CMA, Polk CMS & Sarasota CMS will be hosting a Medicare Summit in St. Petersburg, Fla. For more information, click here.
 

To sign-up to receive ENews Weekly, please send your name and email address to communications@medone.org