Posts Tagged 90-day reporting period

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News from Medicare & Other Payers for the Week of January 23, 2012: 5010 National Provider Call This Week; Most Insurances Will Be Required to Cover Birth Control Without Co-Pays

Français : Différents types de pilule contrace...

 

e-RX: Medicare e-prescribing hardship exemptions under review (jump to story)

 

EFT: suppliers and providers who are not currently receiving Medicare EFT payments are required to submit the CMS-588 EFT form (jump to story)

 

SNFs: Allowing Physician Assistants to Perform Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Level of Care Certifications and Recertifications (jump to story)

 

ACA: the final rule on preventive health services will ensure that women with health insurance coverage will have access to the full range of the Institute of Medicine’s recommended preventive services, including all FDA -approved forms of contraception. (jump to story)

 

EHR Incentive Program: what can still be completed in 2012 in order to receive an incentive payment for CY2011 (jump to story)

 

5010: National Provider Call:  Medicare FFS Implementation of HIPAA Version 5010 and D.0 Transactions (jump to story)

 

Claims Crossovers: Greater instances of Medicare correspondence letters that make reference to error N22226 as the basis for patient claims not crossing over(jump to story)

 

ICD-10: What’s Your Plan, Man?(jump to story)

 

MLN: Medicare Learning Network Announcements, Updates and Revisions (jump to story)
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Medicare e-prescribing hardship exemptions under review

Last fall, physicians had the opportunity to seek hardship exemptions and avoid penalties for failing to successfully participate in Medicare’s e-prescribing program. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is reviewing each hardship exemption request on an individual basis and has not yet completed its analysis. Therefore, it is possible that some physicians will be subjected to a 1 percent Medicare payment penalty inappropriately until the backlog of exemption requests is reviewed. Ultimately, CMS will reprocess the claims.

Read information regarding remittance advice and information on the impact to physician reimbursement and patient copays. More information on the penalty program can be found here.

Find additional electronic prescribing information and resources on the AMA website.

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The ACA (Affordable Care Act) Mandates Federal Payment to Providers and Suppliers Only by Electronic Means

Existing regulations at 42 CFR 424.510(e)(1)(2) require that at the time of enrollment, enrollment change request, or revalidation, providers and suppliers that expect to receive payment from Medicare for services provided must also agree to receive Medicare payments through electronic funds transfer (EFT).  Section 1104 of the Affordable Care Act further expands Section 1862(a) of the Social Security Act by mandating federal payments to providers and suppliers only by electronic means.  As part of CMS’s revalidation efforts, all suppliers and providers who are not currently receiving EFT payments are required to submit the CMS-588 EFT form with the Provider Enrollment Revalidation application, or at the time any change is being made to the provider enrollment record by the provider or supplier, or delegated official.

For more information about provider enrollment revalidation, review the Medicare Learning Network’s Special Edition Article #SE1126, titled “Further Details on the Revalidation of Provider Enrollment Information.”

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Allowing Physician Assistants to Perform Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Level of Care Certifications and Recertifications

http://www.cms.gov/MLNMattersArticles/Downloads/MM7701.pdf

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A Statement by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius

In August 2011, the Department of Health and Human Services issued an interim final rule that will require most health insurance plans to cover preventive services for women including recommended contraceptive services without charging a co-pay, co-insurance or a deductible.  The rule allows certain non-profit religious employers that offer insurance to their employees the choice of whether or not to cover contraceptive services. Today the department is announcing that the final rule on preventive health services will ensure that women with health insurance coverage will have access to the full range of the Institute of Medicine’s recommended preventive services, including all FDA -approved forms of contraception.  Women will not have to forego these services because of expensive co-pays or deductibles, or because an insurance plan doesn’t include contraceptive services. This rule is consistent with the laws in a majority of states which already require contraception coverage in health plans, and includes the exemption in the interim final rule allowing certain religious organizations not to provide contraception coverage. Beginning August 1, 2012, most new and renewed health plans will be required to cover these services without cost sharing for women across the country.

After evaluating comments, we have decided to add an additional element to the final rule. Nonprofit employers who, based on religious beliefs, do not currently provide contraceptive coverage in their insurance plan, will be provided an additional year, until August 1, 2013, to comply with the new law. Employers wishing to take advantage of the additional year must certify that they qualify for the delayed implementation. This additional year will allow these organizations more time and flexibility to adapt to this new rule.  We intend to require employers that do not offer coverage of contraceptive services to provide notice to employees, which will also state that contraceptive services are available at sites such as community health centers, public clinics, and hospitals with income-based support.  We will continue to work closely with religious groups during this transitional period to discuss their concerns.

Scientists have abundant evidence that birth control has significant health benefits for women and their families, it is documented to significantly reduce health costs, and is the most commonly taken drug in America by young and middle-aged women. This rule will provide women with greater access to contraception by requiring coverage and by prohibiting cost sharing.

This decision was made after very careful consideration, including the important concerns some have raised about religious liberty. I believe this proposal strikes the appropriate balance between respecting religious freedom and increasing access to important preventive services. The administration remains fully committed to its partnerships with faith-based organizations, which promote healthy communities and serve the common good.  And this final rule will have no impact on the protections that existing conscience laws and regulations give to health care providers.

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Receiving an EHR Incentive Program Payment for CY2011

As 2012 begins, CMS wants to remind eligible professionals (EPs) participating in the Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program of important deadlines approaching and what can still be completed in 2012 in order to receive an incentive payment for CY2011.

Important Medicare EHR Incentive Program Dates

On Saturday, December 31, 2011, the reporting year ended for EPs who participated in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program in 2011.  What does this mean?  For participating EPs, they must have completed their 90-day reporting period by the end of 2011.

However, EPs have until Wednesday, February 29, 2012 to actually register and attest to meeting meaningful use to receive an incentive payment for CY2011 through the Medicare & Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Registration and Attestation System.

Payment Threshold Information
Wednesday, February 29, 2012 is also the deadline for EPs to submit any pending Medicare Part B claims from CY2011, as CMS allows 60 days after Saturday, December 31, 2011 for all pending claims to be processed.  This means that EPs have 60 days in 2012 to submit claims for allowed charges incurred in 2011.

Medicare EHR incentive payments to EPs are based on 75% of the Part B allowed charges for covered professional services furnished by the EP during the entire payment year.  If the EP did not meet the $24,000 threshold in Part B allowed charges by the end of CY2011, CMS expects to issue an incentive payment for the EP in April 2012 for 75% of the EP’s Part B charges from 2011.

Note for Medicaid Participants:  Medicaid incentives will be paid by the states, but the timing will vary according to state.  Please contact your State Medicaid Agency for more details about payment.

Want more information about the EHR Incentive Programs?  Visit the EHR Incentive Programs website for the latest news and updates on the EHR Incentive Programs.

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National Provider Call:  Medicare FFS Implementation of HIPAA Version 5010 and D.0 Transactions – Register Now

Wednesday, January 25, 2012, 2-3:30pm ET

CMS will host a special National Provider Call regarding the Medicare FFS implementation of HIPAA Version 5010 and D.0 transaction standards.

Target Audience:  Vendors, clearinghouses, and providers who need to make Medicare FFS-specific changes in compliance with HIPAA Version 5010 requirements.

Agenda (there will be no slide presentation for this call):

  • HIPAA Version 5010 implementation update
  • Question & answer session

If you would like to submit a question related to this topic in advance of, during, or following the call, please email your inquiry to the 5010 FFS Information resource mailbox at 5010FFSinfo@CMS.hhs.gov.  Note that this resource box will only accept emails the day before, the day of, and the day after this call; your emailed questions will be answered as soon as possible, and may not be answered during the call.

Registration Information:  In order to receive the call-in information, you must register for the call.  Registration will close at 12pm on the day of the call or when available space has been filled; no exceptions will be made, so please register early.  For more details, including instructions on registering for the call, please visit http://www.eventsvc.com/blhtechnologies.

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Greater instances of Medicare correspondence letters that make reference to error N22226 as the basis for patient claims not crossing over

On Monday, December 5, 2011, CMS issued a Special Edition MLN Matters Article (SE1137) entitled “Additional Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) 837 5010 Transitional Changes and Further Modifications to the Coordination of Benefits Agreement (COBA) National Crossover Process.”  CMS issued this guidance for the benefit of physicians/practitioners, providers, and suppliers to help them understand why they were seeing greater instances of Medicare correspondence letters that made reference to error N22226 as the basis for why their patients’ claims could not be crossed over.

CMS has since learned that concern exists in the provider community concerning whether billing of hardcopy CMS 1500 or UB04 claims or HIPAA version 4010A1 or National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP) version 5.1 batch claims will result in Medicare being unable to cross those claims over to COBA supplemental payers that have cut-over to exclusive receipt of crossover claims in the version 5010 837 claim formats or NCPDP D.0 batch claim formats.  This is not true.

During the 90-day Version 5010 non-enforcement period (Sunday, January 1, 2012 through Saturday, March 31, 2012), Medicare will have the systematic capability to perform up- or down-version conversion of incoming claim formats (ie. convert incoming hardcopy formats to HIPAA equivalent claim formats and convert incoming version 4010A1 claim formats to 5010 formats and vice-a-versa), in accordance with external supplemental payer specifications concerning production claims format.  This practice will discontinue, however, at the conclusion of the 90-day non-enforcement period, with the exception below.  (This action is controlled by information that the Common Working File receives concerning individual supplemental payers’ ability to accept HIPAA 5010 or NCPDP D.0 claim formats in “production” mode.)

Note that physicians/practitioners, providers, and suppliers that have authorization under the Administrative Simplification Compliance Act (ASCA) to submit claims using a hardcopy format should know that Medicare has the systematic capability to convert keyed claims into outbound-compliant HIPAA 837 claim formats for crossover claim transmission purposes.  This is true at all times, not just during the 90-day non-enforcement period.

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What’s Your Plan, Man?

Is your organization preparing for a smooth transition to ICD-10 on Tuesday, October 1, 2013?  ICD-10 National Provider Calls, hosted by the CMS Provider Communications Group, can help you prepare for the US healthcare industry’s change from ICD-9 to ICD-10 for diagnosis and inpatient procedure coding.

Video slideshow presentations from the following National Provider Calls are available on the CMS YouTube Channel.  These video slideshows include the call slide presentation and audio with captions; each call includes presentations by CMS subject matter experts, followed by a question and answer session.

The ICD-9-CM and ICD-10 Cooperating Parties – CMS, the American Hospital Association (AHA), the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – discuss ICD-10 implementation strategies and planning, and the CMS Provider Billing Group discuss the Medicare FFS claims processing guidance issued in August 2011.

CMS subject matter experts discuss how physician offices can prepare for the change to ICD-10 for medical diagnosis and inpatient procedure coding and provide updates on national ICD-10 implementation issues affecting all providers.

CMS subject matter experts discuss the ICD-10 conversion process currently taking place within CMS, including a case study from the Coverage and Analysis Group on their transition to ICD-10 for the lab national coverage determinations (NCDs).

Podcasts, complete audio files, and complete written transcripts for these ICD-10 National Provider Calls are also available on the CMS ICD-10 webpage at http://www.CMS.gov/ICD10/Tel10/list.asp.

Available 24/7, YouTube video presentations and podcasts make learning about the ICD-10 transition easy and convenient. Check them out today.

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Medicare Learning Network Announcements, Updates and Revisions

From the MLN:  “Health Professional Shortage Area Bonus Payment Policy Reminders” MLN Matters Article Released – A new MLN Matters® Special Edition Article #SE1202, “Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) Bonus Payment Policy Reminders,” has been released in downloadable format.  This article is designed to provide education on the HPSA Bonus Payment Program, and provides information about the program and resources that providers can use to determine whether they are eligible to receive the bonus payment.

From the MLN:  New “Medicare Coverage of Radiology and Other Diagnostic Services” Fact Sheet Released – A new “Medicare Coverage of Radiology and Other Diagnostic Services” fact sheet (ICN 907164) has been released in downloadable format.  This fact sheet is designed to provide education on Medicare coverage and billing information for radiology and other diagnostic services, and includes specific information concerning billing and coding requirements and an overview of coverage guidelines.

From the MLN:  New Fast Fact on MLN Provider Compliance Webpage – A new fast fact is now available on the MLN Provider Compliance webpage.  This page provides the latest educational products designed to help Medicare Fee-For-Service providers understand – and avoid – common billing errors and other improper activities.  Please bookmark this page and check back often as a new fast fact is added each month!

From the MLN:  “Acute Care Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System” Fact Sheet Revised – The “Acute Care Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System” fact sheet (ICN 006815) has been revised and is available in downloadable format.  This fact sheet includes information on payment background, the basis for the Acute Care Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System payment, payment rates, and how payment rates are set.

From the MLN:  “Items and Services That Are Not Covered Under the Medicare Program” Booklet and “Medicare Claim Submission Guidelines” Fact Sheet Now Available in Hardcopy – The “Items and Services That Are Not Covered Under the Medicare Program” booklet (ICN 906765), available now in hardcopy, includes information about the four categories of items and services that are not covered under the Medicare program and applicable exceptions to exclusions and the Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage.

The “Medicare Claim Submission Guidelines” fact sheet (ICN 906764), available now in hardcopy as well, includes information about applying for a National Provider Identifier and enrolling in the Medicare program, filing Medicare claims, and private contracts with Medicare beneficiaries.

From the MLN:  “Medicare Claim Review Programs” Booklet Revised – The revised “Medicare Claim Review Programs: MR, NCCI Edits, MUEs, CERT, and RAC” booklet (ICN 006973) is designed to provide education on the different CMS claim review programs and assist providers in reducing payment errors, including, in particular, coverage and coding errors.  It includes frequently asked questions, resources, and an overview of the various programs, including Medical Review, Recovery Audit Contractor, and the Comprehensive Error Rate Testing Program.

From the MLN:  “Substance (Other Than Tobacco) Abuse Structured Assessment and Brief Intervention (SBIRT)” Fact Sheet Revised – This revised “Substance (Other Than Tobacco) Abuse Structured Assessment and Brief Intervention (SBIRT)” fact sheet (ICN 904084) is designed to provide education on SBIRT, an early intervention approach that targets those with nondependent substance use to provide effective strategies for intervention prior to the need for more extensive or specialized treatment.

From the MLN:  “Non-Specific Procedure Code Description Requirement for HIPAA Version 5010 Claims” MLN Matters Article Released – The new “Non-Specific Procedure Code Description Requirement for HIPAA Version 5010 Claims” MLN Matters Special Edition Article (#SE1138) is designed to provide education on the requirements for non-specific procedure codes for HIPAA 5010 claims, as established in Change Request 7392.  It includes guidance to help providers comply with the requirements and submit HIPPA-compliant claims for all non-specific procedure codes.

From the MLN:  “Federally Qualified Health Center” Fact Sheet Revised – The revised “Federally Qualified Health Center” fact sheet (ICN 006397) includes the following information: background; FQHC designation; covered FQHC services; FQHC preventive primary services that are not covered; FQHC Prospective Payment System; FQHC payments; and Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 provisions that impact FQHCs.

From the MLN:  Medicare Preventive Services Series: Part 2, Web-Based-Training Course (WBT) Revised – This WBT is designed to provide education on Medicare Preventive Services.  It includes information on Medicare’s coverage for the initial preventive physical exam (IPPE), ultrasound screening for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), screening electrocardiogram (EKG), Annual Wellness Visit (AWV), cardiovascular screening blood tests, diabetes-related services, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening and smoking and tobacco-use cessation counseling services. To access the WBT, visit the MLN Products page, scroll to the “Related Links Inside CMS,” and select the “Web-Based Training (WBT) Courses.”

From the MLN:  MLN Guided Pathways (Basic, A, and B) Provider-specific Resource Booklets Revised – The revised MLN Guided Pathways curriculum is designed to allow learners to easily identify and select resources by clicking on topics of interest.  The curriculum begins with basic knowledge for all providers and then branches to information for either those enrolling on the 855B, I, and S forms or on the 855A form (or Internet-based PECOS equivalents).  The resource booklets are:

From the MLN:  “MLN Guided Pathways Provider-specific” Resource Booklet Revised – The Revised MLN Guided Pathways to Medicare Resources provider-specific resource booklet provides various specialties of healthcare professionals, (physicians, chiropractors, optometrists, podiatrists), nurses (APN, RNCNS, NP, Midwife) PAs, social workers, psychologists, therapists (OT, PT, SLP), dietitians, nutritionists, suppliers (ambulance, ASC, DMEPOS, FQHC, RHC, Labs, mammography, radiation therapy, portable x-ray), and providers (CMHC, CORF, ESRD, HHA, hospice, OPT, pathology and SNF) with resources specific to their specialty including Internet-Only Manuals (IOMs), Medicare Learning Network® publications, CMS webpages, and more.  This version includes the addition of pathways for Anesthesiology Assistant/Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Anesthesiologist, Ophthalmologist, and Optometrist, along with a fully developed pathway for Mass Immunization Roster Biller.

All of the MLN Guided Pathways booklets above are available at http://www.CMS.gov/MLNEdWebGuide/30_Guided_Pathways.asp.

From the MLN: “Preventive Services Educational Resources for Health Care Professionals” MLN Matters® Article Released – The new “Preventive Services Educational Resources for Health Care Professionals” MLN Matters® Special Edition Article (#SE1142) is designed to provide education on available educational resources related to Medicare-covered preventive services.  It includes a list of MLN products that can help Medicare FFS providers understand coverage, coding, reimbursement, and billing requirements related to these services.

From the MLN:  “Advanced Payment Accountable Care Organization Model” Fact Sheet Available – The new “Advanced Payment Accountable Care Organization Model” fact sheet (ICN 907403) is designed to provide education on the advance payment model for Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs).  It includes a summary of the Advance Payment ACO Model, background, and information on the structure of payments, recoupment of advance payments, eligibility, and the application process.

From the MLN:  “Summary of Final Rule Provisions for Accountable Care Organizations Under the Medicare Shared Savings Program” Fact Sheet Available – The new “Summary of Final Rule Provisions for Accountable Care Organizations Under the Medicare Shared Savings Program” fact sheet (ICN 907404) is designed to provide education on the provisions of the final rule that implements the Medicare Shared Savings Program with ACOs.  It includes background, information on how ACOs impact beneficiaries, eligibility requirements to form an ACO, and information on monitoring and tying payment to improved care at lower costs.

From the MLN:  “Improving Quality of Care for Medicare Patients: Accountable Care Organizations” Fact Sheet Available – The new “Improving Quality of Care for Medicare Patients: Accountable Care Organizations” fact sheet (ICN 907407) is designed to provide education on improving quality of care under ACOs. It includes a table of quality measures under the program.

From the MLN:  “Medicare Shared Savings Program and Rural Providers” Fact Sheet Available – The new “Medicare Shared Savings Program and Rural Providers” fact sheet (ICN 907408) is designed to provide education on how the Medicare Shared Savings Program impacts rural providers.  It includes information on federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, critical access hospitals, and how this program impacts them.

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CMS Holds National Provider Calls for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program and EHR Attestation Q & A

 

Note: See my latest post on registering and attesting for the EHR Incentive Program here.

 

CMS has announced two national calls for attestation.

Tue May 3, 2-3:30pm ET (for Eligible Hospitals)

Thu May 5, 1:30-3pm ET (for Eligible Professionals)

CMS is holding conference calls for eligible professionals (EPs), eligible hospitals, and critical access hospitals (CAHs) participating in the Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program to provide information on the attestation process. Mark your calendars for one of the calls below.

  • Tuesday, May 3, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. ET – Register to join this call if you are an eligible hospital or CAH who wants to learn more about the attestation process for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program.
  • Thursday, May 5, 1:30 – 3:00 p.m. ET– Register to join this call if you are an EP who wants to learn more about the attestation process for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program.

What the Calls Will Cover

  • Path to Payment – Highlighting the steps you need to take to receive your incentive payment
  • Walkthrough of the Attestation Process – Guiding you through CMS’ web-based attestation system
  • Troubleshooting – Helping you successfully attest through CMS’ system
  • Helpful Resources – Reviewing CMS’ resources available on the EHR website
  • Q&A – Answering your questions about the attestation process

Instructions on How to Register for a Call
To register for these calls, take the following steps:

  1. Visit either:
    • The registration site for the Tuesday, May 3 eligible hospital and CAH call. Registration closes Monday, May 2 , 2:00 p.m. ET.
    • The registration site for the Thursday, May 5 EP call. Registration closes Wednesday, May 4, 1:30 p.m. ET.
  2. Fill in all required information and click “Register.”
  3. You will be taken to the “Thank you for registering” page and will receive a confirmation email shortly thereafter. Please save this page in case your server blocks the confirmation email. (If you do not receive the confirmation email, check your spam/junk mail filter as it may have been directed there.)
  4. If assistance for hearing impaired services is needed, please email medicare.ttt@palmettogba.com no later than 3 business days before the call.

Prior to each call, presentation materials will be available in the Upcoming Events section of the Spotlight Page on the CMS EHR website.

Registration closes when all available space has been filled, or 24 hours before each call; no exceptions will be made, so please register early.


How will I attest for the Medicare and Medicaid Incentive Programs?

Medicare eligible professionals, eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals will have to demonstrate meaningful use through CMS’ web-based Registration and Attestation System. In the Medicare & Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Registration and Attestation System, providers will fill in numerators and denominators for the meaningful use objectives and clinical quality measures, indicate if they qualify for exclusions to specific objectives, and legally attest that they have successfully demonstrated meaningful use. A complete EHR system will provide a report of the numerators, denominators and other information. Then you will need to enter that data into our online Attestation System. Providers will qualify for a Medicare EHR incentive payment upon completing a successful online submission through the Attestation System—immediately after you submit your results you will see a summary of your attestation, and whether or not it was successful. The Attestation System for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program will open on April 18, 2011.

For the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program, providers will follow a similar process using their state’s Attestation System. Check here to see states’ scheduled launch dates for their Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs.

Do you have questions about the EHR Incentive Programs? Do you want to find out if you are eligible, how much of an incentive payment you can earn, and learn more details about the program and what you need to do to qualify?

When can I attest?

To attest for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program in your first year of participation, you will need to have met meaningful use for a consecutive 90-day reporting period. If your initial attestation fails, you can select a different 90-day reporting period that may partially overlap with a previously reported 90-day period. To attest for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program in subsequent years, you will need to have met meaningful use for a full year. Please note the reporting period for eligible professionals must fall within the calendar year, while the reporting period for eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals must fall during the Federal fiscal year.

April 18, 2011, is the earliest an eligible professional, eligible hospital or critical access hospital can attest that they have demonstrated meaningful use of certified EHR technology under the Medicare EHR Incentive Program.

Under the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program, providers can attest that they have adopted, implemented or upgraded certified EHR technology in their first year of participation to receive an incentive payment. Medicaid EHR Incentive Program participants should check with their state to find out when they can begin participation.


What can I do now to prepare for attestation?

Visit the Registration page and get registered for the EHR Incentive Programs right now. If you haven’t previously registered, you can complete the registration and attestation process at the same time.

Also, review the Attestation User Guides, which provide step-by-step instructions for login and completing attestation. You can find separate Attestation User Guides for eligible professionals and eligible hospitals in the Resources section below.

Finally, you can enter your information in our Meaningful Use Attestation Calculator prior to submitting your attestation to see if you would be able to meet all of the necessary measures to successfully demonstrate meaningful use and qualify for an EHR incentive payment.


What will I need to login to the Attestation System?

If you are an eligible professional, you’ll need:

  • Your Type 1 National Provider Identifier (NPI)
  • The same user ID and password you used to register

If you are working on behalf of an eligible hospital or critical access hospital, you’ll need:

  • An active National Provider Identifier (NPI)
  • The same user ID and password you used to register
  • An EHR Certification Number from Office of the National Coordinator
  • If you did not register the facility, you’ll need an Identity and Access Management system (I&A) Web user account (User ID/Password) and be associated to the organization NPI, if you’re a user working on behalf of an eligible hospital or critical access hospital. Create a login in the I&A System if you’re working on behalf of an eligible hospital or Critical Access Hospital and don’t have an I&A web user account.


What is the CMS EHR Certification Number?

During attestation, CMS requires each eligible professional, eligible hospital and critical access hospital to provide a CMS EHR Certification ID or Number that identifies the certified EHR technology being used to demonstrate meaningful use. This unique CMS EHR Certification ID or Number can be obtained by entering the certified EHR technology product information at the Certified Health IT Product List (CHPL) on the ONC website here.

NOTE: The ONC CHPL Product Number issued to your vendor for each certified technology is different than the CMS EHR Certification ID. Only a CMS EHR Certification ID obtained through the CHPL will be accepted at attestation.

Eligible professionals, eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals can obtain a CMS EHR Certification ID or Number by following these steps:

  1. Go to the ONC CHPL website.
  2. Select your practice type by selecting the Ambulatory or Inpatient buttons.
  3. Search for EHR Products by browsing all products, searching by product name or searching by criteria met.
  4. Add product(s) to your cart to determine if your product(s) meet 100% of the CMS required criteria.
  5. Request a CMS EHR Certification ID for CMS attestation.NOTE: The “Get CMS EHR Certification ID” button will not be activated until the products in your cart meet 100% of the CMS required criteria. If the EHR product(s) do not meet 100% of the CMS required criteria to demonstrate Meaningful Use, a CMS EHR Certification ID will not be issued.
  6. The CMS EHR Certification ID contains 15 alphanumeric characters.

 

I’m an Eligible Professional (EP).  Can I designate a third party to register and/or attest on my behalf?

In April 2011, CMS implemented functionality that allows an EP to designate a third party to register and attest on his or her behalf. To do so, users working on behalf of an EP must have an Identity and Access Management System (I&A) web user account (User ID/Password), and be associated to the EP’s NPI. If you are working on behalf of an EP(s), and do not have an I&A web user account, please visit I&A Security Check to create one. States will not necessarily offer the same functionality for attestation in the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program. Check with your State to see what functionality will be offered.


When will I get paid?

Incentive payments for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program will be made approximately four to six weeks after an eligible professional, eligible hospital or critical access hospital meets the program requirements and successfully attests they have demonstrated meaningful use of certified EHR technology. CMS expects that Medicare incentive payments will begin in May 2011. Payments will be held for eligible professionals until the eligible professional meets the $24,000 threshold in allowed charges.

Eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals attesting in April 2011 could receive their initial payments as early as May 2011. Final payment will be determined at the time of settling the hospital Medicare cost report.

Medicaid incentives will be paid by the states and are expected also to begin in 2011. States are required to issue incentive payments within 45 days of providers successfully attesting to having adopted, implemented or upgraded certified EHR technology during their first year of participation in the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program. Launch date for the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program varies by state, so the earliest date attestation can begin also varies by state. Several states have disbursed incentive payments as early as April 2011.


How will I get paid?

Payments to Medicare providers will be made to the taxpayer identification number (TIN) you selected at the time you registered for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program.

CMS will deposit payment in the first bank account on file. It will appear on your bank statement as “EHR Incentive Payment”

If you receive payments for Medicare services via electronic funds transfer, you will receive Medicare EHR Incentive Program payment the same way. If you currently receive Medicare payments by paper check, you will also receive your first Medicare EHR Incentive Program payment by paper check.

IMPORTANT: Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs), carriers and fiscal intermediaries will not be making these payments. CMS has contracted with a Payment File Development Contractor to make these payments.

Have questions about your EHR incentive payment?

DON’T: Call your MAC/carrier/fiscal intermediary with questions

DO: Call the EHR Information Center

1-888-734-6433. TTY users should call 1-888-734-6563

Hours of Operation: 7:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. (Central Time) Monday through Friday, except federal holidays

Why the payment amount may be less than you thought: The Medicare & Medicaid EHR Incentive Program Registration and Attestation System contains a Status tab at the top which will contain the amount of the incentive payment, the amount of tax or nontax offsets applied, and the remittance advice reason code containing the reason for any reduction.

For those receiving paper checks, there will be a tear-off pay stub which identifies offsets made to the incentive payment.

Where you can find more information about the offsets: For more information about tax offsets, call the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at 1-800-829-3903.

For more information about non tax offsets, call the Department of the Treasury, Financial Management Service (FMS) at 1-800-304-3107.


Will CMS conduct audits?

Any provider attesting to receive an EHR incentive payment for either the Medicare EHR Incentive Program or the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program potentially may be subject to an audit. Here’s what you need to know to make sure you’re prepared:

Overview of the CMS EHR Incentive Programs Audits

  • All providers attesting to receive an EHR incentive payment for either Medicare or Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs should retain ALL relevant supporting documentation (in either paper or electronic format used in the completion of the Attestation Module responses).  Documentation to support the attestation should be retained for six years post-attestation. Documentation to support payment calculations (such as cost report data) should continue to follow the current documentation retention processes.
  • CMS, and its contractors, will perform audits on Medicare and dually-eligible (Medicare and Medicaid) providers.
  • States, and their contractors, will perform audits on Medicaid providers.
  • CMS and states will also manage appeals processes.

Preparing for an Audit

  • To ensure you are prepared for a potential audit, save the supporting electronic or paper documentation that support your attestation. Also save the documentation to support your Clinical Quality Measures (CQMs). Hospitals should also maintain documentation to support their payment calculations.
  • Upon audit, the documentation will be used to validate that the provided accurately attested and submitted CQMs, as well as to verify that the incentive payment was accurate.

Details of the Audits

  • There are numerous pre-payment edit checks built into the EHR Incentive Programs’ systems to detect inaccuracies in eligibility, reporting and payment.
  • Post-payment audits will also be completed during the course of the EHR Incentive Programs.
  • If, based on an audit, a provider is found to not be eligible for an EHR incentive payment, the payment will be recouped.
  • CMS will be implementing an appeals process for eligible professionals, eligible hospitals and critical access hospitals that participate in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program. More information about this process will be posted to the CMS Web site soon.
  • States will implement appeals processes for the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program. For more information about these appeals, please contact your State Medicaid Agency.


Where can I find user guides and other resources?

Below are step-by-step Attestation User Guides to help you attest for the Medicare EHR Incentive Program. You can also use our Attestation Worksheet, Meaningful Use Attestation Calculator, and educational webinar to help you prepare for and complete the attestation process:

The Electronic Health Record (EHR) Information Center is open to assist the EHR Provider Community with inquiries.

1-888-734-6433. TTY users should call 1-888-734-6563.

EHR Information Center Hours of Operation: 7:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. (Central Time) Monday through Friday, except federal holidays.

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CMS Roundup of 17 Announcements: More Information Than You Can Shake a Stick At!

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Hospital Wage Index Reform Call

Special Open Door Forum: Presentation and Listening Session on Hospital Wage Index Reform

Tuesday, April 12, 2011, 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM ET.

Section 3137(b) of the Affordable Care Act requires CMS to submit to Congress, by December 31, 2011, a report that includes a plan to reform the wage index under the Medicare hospital inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS). CMS acquired the services of Acumen, LLC to assist in its study of the wage index. During the first part of this special open door forum, Acumen will present its concept of an alternative methodology for the wage index. The second part will be a listening session, during which CMS would like to hear from you regarding your opinions about Acumen’s concept, as well as any suggestions on alternative methods for computing the wage index. If you wish to participate via conference call, dial 1-800-837-1935 Conference ID 50101623. Please see the full participation announcement in the Downloads section here.

Electronic Health Record Incentive Program Attestation Begins This Week

Attestation for the Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program begins on Monday, April 18, 2011.  In order to receive your Medicare EHR incentive payment, you must attest through CMS’s web-based Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs Registration and Attestation System.

You can preview selected screenshots of the Attestation System to help you understand what the attestation process will involve.  Please note that these screenshots are only examples – the final appearance and language may incorporate additional changes.  CMS will release additional information about the Medicare attestation process soon, including User Guides that provide step-by-step instructions for completing attestation and educational webinars that describe the attestation process in depth.

You need to understand the required meaningful use criteria to successfully attest. Meaningful use requirements for eligible professionals (EPs), eligible hospitals, and critical access hospitals (CAHs) participating in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program are different:

  • EP Meaningful Use Criteria – Must report on 15 core measures, 5 of 10 menu measures, and 6 clinical quality measures, consisting of 3 required core measures and 3 additional measures.
  • Eligible Hospital and CAH Meaningful Use Criteria – Must report on 14 core measures, 5 of 10 menu measures, and 15 clinical quality measures.

You should also make sure that you begin your 90-day reporting period in time to attest and receive a Medicare payment in 2011.  The last days to begin 90-day reporting periods for 2011 incentive payments are:

  • Sunday, July 3, 2011, for eligible hospitals and CAHs; and
  • Saturday, October 1, 2011, for EPs.

Under the Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs, the date when participants can begin attestation for adopting, implementing, upgrading, or demonstrating meaningful use of certified EHR technology varies by state.  Visit the Medicaid State EHR Incentive Program web-tool for more information about your state’s participation in the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program.

Want more information about the EHR Incentive Programs? Make sure to visit the CMS EHR Incentive Programs website for the latest news and updates on the EHR Incentive Programs; also read the new EHR Incentive Program FAQs from CMS.

Preventive Services, Preventive Physical Examinations and Annual Wellness Visits Quick Reference Charts

The ABCs of Providing the Initial Preventive Physical Examination Quick Reference Chart provides Medicare Fee-For-Service providers a list of the elements of the IPPE, as well as coverage and coding information. View the chart here.

The ABCs of Providing the Annual Wellness Visit Quick Reference Chart provides Medicare Fee-For-Service providers a list of the elements of the AWV, as well as coverage and coding information.  View the chart here.

The Medicare Preventive Services Quick Reference Chart provides Medicare Fee-For-Service providers coverage, coding, and payment information on the variety of preventive services covered by Medicare. View the chart here.

A hardcopy booklet containing all three charts, as well as the Quick Reference Information: Medicare Immunization Billing chart, will be available at a later date.

 

Latest HCPCS Code Set Changes

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is pleased to announce the scheduled release of modifications to the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code set.  These changes have been posted to the HCPCS web page here.  Changes are effective on the date indicated on the update.

Revisions to ASP Pricing Files

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has posted revised October 2010 and January 2011 ASP (average sales price) files, which are available for download here (see left menu for year-specific links).

 

Physician or NPP Signatures on Lab Requisitions

In the Monday, November 29, 2010, Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized its proposed policy to require a physician’s or qualified non-physician practitioner’s (NPP) signature on requisitions for clinical diagnostic laboratory tests paid under the clinical laboratory fee schedule effective Saturday, January 1, 2011.  (A requisition is the actual paperwork, such as a form, which is provided to a clinical diagnostic laboratory that identifies the test or tests to be performed for a patient.)

On Monday, December 20, 2010, CMS informed its contractors of concerns that some physicians, NPPs, and clinical diagnostic laboratories are not aware of or do not understand this policy.  As such, CMS indicated that it will focus in the first quarter of 2011 on developing educational and outreach materials to educate those affected by this policy.  CMS indicated that once the first quarter educational campaign is fully underway, it will expect requisitions to be signed.

After further input from community, CMS has decided to focus for the remainder of 2011 on changing the regulation that requires signatures on laboratory requisitions because of concerns that physicians, NPPs, and clinical diagnostic laboratories are having difficulty complying with this policy.

Face-to-Face Encounter Requirements for Home Health and Hospice

Effective April 1, 2011, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) expects home health agencies and hospices have fully established internal processes to comply with the face-to-face encounter requirements mandated by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for purposes of certification of a patient’s eligibility for Medicare home health services and of recertification for Medicare hospice services.

Section 6407 of the ACA established a face-to-face encounter requirement for certification of eligibility for Medicare home health services, by requiring the certifying physician to document that he or she, or a non-physician practitioner  working with the physician, has seen the patient.  The encounter must occur within the 90 days prior to the start of care, or within the 30 days after the start of care. Documentation of such an encounter must be present on certifications for patients with starts of care on or after January 1, 2011.

Similarly, section 3131(b) of the ACA requires a hospice physician or nurse practitioner to have a face-to-face encounter with a hospice patient prior to the patient’s 180th-day recertification, and each subsequent recertification.  The encounter must occur no more than 30 calendar days prior to the start of the hospice patient’s third benefit period.  The provision applies to recertifications on and after January 1, 2011.

On December 23, 2010, due to concerns that some providers needed additional time to establish operational protocols necessary to comply with face-to-face encounter requirements mandated by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) for purposes of certification of a patient’s eligibility for Medicare home health services and of recertification for Medicare hospice services, CMS announced that it will expect full compliance with the requirements, beginning with the second quarter of CY2011.

Throughout the first quarter of 2011, CMS has continued outreach efforts to educate providers, physicians, and other stakeholders affected by these new requirements.  CMS has posted guidance materials including a MLN Matters article, questions and answers documents,  training slides, and  manual instructions which are available via  CMS’ Home Health  Agency Center and Hospice webpages.  CMS’ Office of External Affairs and Regional Offices contacted state and local associations for physicians and home health agencies and advocacy groups to ensure awareness about the face-to-face encounter laws, and to distribute the educational materials.

CMS will continue to address industry questions concerning the new requirements, and will update information on the Web site here for home health and here for hospice.

Federally Qualified Health Center Fact Sheet Revised

The revised publication titled Federally Qualified Health Center (revised March 2011) is now available in downloadable format from the Medicare Learning Network® here.  This fact sheet is designed to provide education about Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC), including background; FQHC designation; covered FQHC services; FQHC preventive primary services that are not covered; FQHC Prospective Payment System; FQHC payments; and Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 provisions that impact FQHCs.

 

Avoiding the Adjustment 2012 Medicare Payment Adjustment for Not ePrescribing in 2011

In November 2010, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced that, beginning in calendar year 2012, eligible professionals who are not successful electronic prescribers based on claims submitted between Sat Jan 1 and Thu June 30, 2011, may be subject to a payment adjustment on their Medicare Part-B Physician Fee Schedule-covered professional services.  Section 132 of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA) authorizes CMS to apply this payment adjustment whether or not the eligible professional is planning to participate in the eRx Incentive Program.

From 2012 through 2014, the payment adjustment will increase each calendar year.  In 2012, the payment adjustment for not being a successful electronic prescriber will result in an eligible professional or group practice receiving 99% of their Medicare Part-B PFS amount that would otherwise apply to such services.  In 2013, an eligible professional or group practice will receive 98.5% of their Medicare Part-B PFS-covered professional services for not being a successful electronic prescriber in 2011 or as defined in a future regulation.  In 2014, the payment adjustment for not being a successful electronic prescriber is 2%, resulting in an eligible professional or group practice receiving 98% of their Medicare Part-B PFS-covered professional services.  (The payment adjustment does not apply if less than 10% of an eligible professional’s or group practice’s allowed charges for the Sat Jan 1, 2011 through Thu June 30, 2011, reporting period are comprised of codes in the denominator of the 2011 eRx measure.)  Also note that earning an eRx incentive for 2011 will NOT necessarily exempt an eligible professional or group practice from the payment adjustment in 2012.

How to Avoid the 2012 eRx Payment Adjustment:

  • Eligible professionals – An eligible professional can avoid the 2012 eRx Payment adjustment if (s)he:
    • Is not a physician (MD, DO, or podiatrist), nurse practitioner, or physician assistant as of Thu June 30, 2011, based on primary taxonomy code in NPPES;
    • Does not have prescribing privileges.  Note that (s)he must report G8644 at least one time on an eligible claim prior to Thu June 30, 2011;
    • Does not have at least 100 cases containing an encounter code in the measure denominator;
    • Becomes a successful e-prescriber; and reports the eRx measure for at least 10 unique eRx events for patients in the denominator of the measure.

NOTE: Group Practices – For group practices that are participating in eRx GPRO-I or GPRO-II during 2011, the group practice MUST become a successful e-prescriber. Depending on the group’s size, the group practice must report the eRx measure for 75-2500 unique eRx events for patients in the denominator of the measure.  For additional information, please visit the “Getting Started” webpage here or download the “Medicare’s Practical Guide to the Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive Program” under “Educational Resources” on the same website.

Implementation of Errata for Version 5010 of HIPAA Transactions

BTW, errata is a list or lists of errors and their corrections. Errata is plural and the singular is erratum.

CMS does not have a version 4010A1 direct data entry and a separate version 5010 direct data entry.  The Priority (Type) of Admission or Visit code is now required on all version 4010A1 institutional claims submitted or corrected via direct data entry, as well as on version 5010 institutional claims, regardless of how they are submitted.  Providers that are unsure which code to use are to use code 9 (Information not Available).  Additional Priority (Type) of Admission or Visit code values and descriptions are available from the National Uniform Billing Committee or from your servicing MAC.  The Priority (Type) of Admission or Visit code is not required on 4010A1 institutional claims submitted or corrected via an 837.  More information on Version 5010 here.

IMPORTANT 5010/D.0 IMPLEMENTATION ITEMS

REMINDER  – 5010/D.0 Errata requirements and testing schedule can be found here

REMINDER  – Contact your MAC for their testing schedule

READINESS ASSESSMENT  – Have you done the following to be ready for 5010/D.0?

READINESS ASSESSMENT  – What do you need to have in place to test with your MAC?

READINESS ASSESSMENT  – Do you know the implications of not being ready?

New Mental Health Services Booklet

A new publication titled “Mental Health Services is now available in downloadable format from the Medicare Learning Network® here.  This booklet is designed to provide education on mental health services, including covered mental health services, mental health services that are not covered, mental health professionals, outpatient psychiatric hospital services, and inpatient psychiatric hospital services.

 

Ambulance Fee Schedule Fact Sheet Revised

The revised publication titled “Ambulance Fee Schedule” (revised March 2011) is now available in downloadable format from the Medicare Learning Network® here.  This fact sheet is designed to provide education about the Ambulance Fee Schedule including background, ambulance providers and suppliers, ambulance services payments, and how payment rates are set.

 

 

Health Professional Shortage Area Fact Sheet Revised

The revised publication titled “Health Professional Shortage Area” (revised March 2011) is now available in downloadable format from the Medicare Learning Network® here.  This fact sheet is designed to provide education on the Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) payment system and includes an overview of the program and general requirements.

 

Medicare Disproportionate Share Hospital Fact Sheet Revised

The revised publication titled “Medicare Disproportionate Share Hospital” (revised March 2011) is now available in downloadable format here. This fact sheet is designed to provide education on Medicare Disproportionate Share Hospitals (DSH) including background; methods to qualify for the Medicare DSH adjustment; Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 and Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 provisions that impact Medicare DSHs; number of beds in hospital determination; and Medicare DSH hospital payment adjustment formulas.

 

G0431QW is Deleted and G0434QW is Added to CLIA Waived Test Schedule

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is updating the status of two codes on the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CLFS).

  • Effective April 1, 2011, code G0431QW is deleted from the CLFS. Code G0431 describes a high complexity test, and should not be reported with a QW modifier; the QW modifier indicates a CLIA waived test.
  • Effective April 1, 2011, code G0434QW is added to the CLFS. Code G0434 can describe a CLIA waived test. The use of the QW modifier to indicate a CLIA waived test is necessary for accurate claims processing.

Codes G0431 and G0434 will remain on the CLFS.

 

CMS Launches a Dedicated Web Page for the Medicare Shared Savings Program/Requirements for ACOs

On March 31, 2011, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published in the Federal Register proposed rule CMS-1345-P, Medicare Program; Medicare Shared Savings Program: Accountable Care Organizations that implements the Medicare Shared Savings Program (Shared Savings Program) and establishes the requirements for Accountable Care Organizations. CMS has launched a dedicated web page here for Medicare FFS providers and other providers of services and suppliers. Bookmark the web page and check back often, as CMS continues to add information on the program.

Program for Evaluating Payment Patterns Electronic Report (PEPPER) for CAHs

Beginning in April 2011, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will make available free hospital-specific comparative data reports for critical access hospitals (CAHs) nationwide. The Program for Evaluating Payment Patterns Electronic Report (PEPPER) provides hospital-specific data statistics for Medicare discharges at risk for improper payments. Hospitals can use the data to support internal auditing and monitoring activities. PEPPER is the only free report comparing a CAH’s Medicare billing practices with other CAHs by state, Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) or Fiscal Intermediary (FI) jurisdiction and the nation. CMS has contracted with TMF Health Quality Institute to develop and distribute the reports.

PEPPER will be distributed electronically to CAH QualityNet Administrators and those who have basic user accounts with the PEPPER Recipient role on or about Monday, April 25, via a My QualityNet secure file exchange. In preparation for receiving and downloading PEPPER from My QualityNet, these individuals should verify that their computer systems are equipped with the software and configuration required to use My QualityNet by following the steps at www.qualitynet.org (see “Getting Started With QualityNet” and “Test Your System.”) Additional information about downloading PEPPER from My QualityNet can be found here (includes System Setup and Test Guide, Troubleshooting Tips and a guide for Configuration Changes for Compatibility with QualityNet).

CAHs may work with their Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) to obtain a QualityNet administrator account by visiting www.qualitynet.org and clicking on the Hospitals – Inpatient link. Obtaining a My QualityNet account may take several weeks; CAHs should plan accordingly.

TMF will conduct a web-based training session for CAH staff providing information on PEPPER and how to use it on Thursday, April 28, at 1 p.m. central time. To register for the training, CAH staff should visit https://tmfevents.webex.com. The training will be recorded and posted on http://www.pepperresources.org.

For more information, including the PEPPER distribution schedule, a sample PEPPER for CAHs and information about QualityNet accounts, visit the PEPPER website. CAH staff are encouraged to join the e-mail list on this website to receive important notifications about upcoming PEPPER distribution and training opportunities.

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