Home Health & Hospice Week

Here's where to find out the most you can about the new expedited review notice requirements:
  The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services posted the finalized forms, officially titled the Notice of Medicare Provider Non-Coverage (first, generic notice) and Detailed Explanation of Non-Coverage (second, detailed notice), June 22 at www.cms.hhs.gov/medicare/bni.
  The proposed forms, which you still can use until Oct. 1, are available in the April 29 entry at www.cms.hhs.gov/regulations/pra.
  A brief Medlearn Matters article at www.cms.hhs.gov/medlearn/matters/mmarticles/2005/SE0538.pdf reviews the requirement.
  The 77-page transmittal to intermediaries is at www.cms.hhs.gov/manuals/pm_trans/R577CP.pdf (see insert for excerpt).
  A new set of 45 Questions and Answers is at www.cms.hhs.gov/medicare/bni/EDqsandas.pdf. CMS says it will add to the Q&As over time.
  Additional guidance is at www.cms.hhs.gov/medicare/bni in the "Current News" box at the top of the page.
  To look up the state-by-state QIO contact information you must list on your generic form, go to www.cms.hhs.gov/qio and choose the "Directory" link in the "Topics" box on the right-hand side.
  You can send questions and comments to bipaexpeditedreviews@cms.hhs.gov.