CMS Emails

CMS Emails

Jim DeWees

8/20/2012

Hello Everyone, As I said in previous emails, I have received 864 emails from CMS in the past 12 months. Today I didn't get the average of 4 that I normall get, but I got MORE than that. Today I received 5 emails from CMS regarding new programs, new changes, new pre-authorization for power mobility devices, training modules on how to prevent fraud, protecting the patient and providers, etc. But to really know if this pertains to O&P, I have to go and open these up and read what is in them....and I still am not sure if I am missing something. I am interested mostly in the email about the pre-authorization for power mobility devices (I assume they are talking about electric scooters and wheelchairs). If they can figure out how to do pre-authorization for these, maybe they can figure out how to do pre-authorizations for prosthetic limbs. This will greatly slow down the process for an amputee to get fitted with a prosthetic leg, and delay the time it takes for an amputee to get walking again, BUT it might save our businesses and our financial risks that we are now taking on with the way Medicare is doing things. But maybe the patients will learn that it is their government programs that are causing this, and WE are just abiding by the rules that are in place, and we don't like them either.
Also, has anyone gone to the CMS website and participated in one of the Fraud Modules? I am curious about what that is, what it is all about, what they have on their site? I have not had the time to go there, or check it out. I hopefully can take a glance at it tomorrow. I am going to copy and paste the email about these prevention modules for anyone that might be interested. Thanks Jim DeWees, CP