MSSPNexus Blog

Doctors Advice

A synopsis of my recent life:

Step into my parlor
Said the doctor with a smile
Just lie back on this table
And let me prod a while

I viewed your EHR
And it’s obvious to me
It’s time for special tests
Due to your longevity

Do you take your vitamins?
And Calcium with D?
Can you eat more salads?
And fishes from the sea?

How about a membership
At the local gym?
Time to get your vision checked
For fear it’s growing dim!

Now don’t forget to floss
Avoid any food that’s sweet
It’s good to snack on carrots
A nutritious little treat

Don’t stay away so long
I want to see you soon
Here are a few instructions
Please get them done by noon...

You know you're blogging too much when...

From Nurse Kim at Emergiblog:

Today instead of signing a chart with my usual “K.McAllister, RN, a co-worker noticed I signed it 
“K. McAllister,.com”.

:)

NPI Non-Compliance Penalties to Begin Soon - An Update from Med Law Blog

Med Law Blog, published by Tucker and Arensberg of Pennsylvania, offers an update on use of the National Provider Identifier Number (NPI).

The compliance date for the NPI for all HIPAA covered entities except small health plans was May 23, 2007.  (Small health plans have until May 23, 2008 to comply.)  In guidance provided on April 2, 2007, CMS announced that, through May 23, 2008, it would not impose penalties on covered entities that deploy contingency plans to facilitate the compliance of their trading partners.   On May 24, 2008, CMS will lift its enforcement-leniency policy.  Complaints will be investigated as they are today, but penalties will be a legitimate resolution if the entity does not demonstrate compliance or corrective action...

The article also offers facts regarding:

COMMON NPI/NPPES MISCONCEPTIONS

• NPPES sends data directly to the Medicare provider enrollment system.
• NPPES sends data directly to the Medicare claims system.
• NPPES is part of the Medicare provider enrollment system.
• Obtaining an NPI guarantees payment to the health care provider by a health plan. 
• NPPES verifies licenses and credentials that are reported by health care providers when applying for NPIs.
• NPPES is a Medicare system.
• The NPI Enumerator can update the Medicare claims and enrollment systems.
• The NPI Enumerator can view and update/change the Medicare NPI Crosswalk
• The NPI Enumerator serves Medicare providers and supports Medicare operations, not other providers or health plans.

Read "The NPI is Here, the NPI is Now.  Are you using it?