Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert

In other news ...

Is HIPAA 5010 a thorn in your side? You might benefit from an upcoming CMS seminar. CMS knows that confusion abounds regarding its HIPAA 5010 form, which takes effect on Jan. 1, 2012, and the agency aims to quell those issues with a series of educational events.

On Feb. 11, CMS will sponsor its fourth national conference call on the 5010 form, "CMS's Approach for New Error Handling Transactions: 999 and 277 CA." The call will consist of an educational session, followed by a Q&A.

To participate in the call, visit the www2.eventsvc.com/palmettogba/02112010.

• Does your provider refer to your doctor as an HBP and you  don't know why? Time to consult CMS's acronym listing -- just one in a list of CMS resources available in its new reference chart.

You can locate scores of resources with the click of a mouse by accessing www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/Quick_Reference_All_Medicare_Providers.pdf. The list includes acronyms (such as HBP, which stands for "hospitalbased physician"), information on electronic billing, coverage information, fee schedules, E/M guidelines, ICD-10, and other essential details.