News and Information

NPI and Electronic Claims: An Update on Unprepared Carriers

April 2008
According to CMS's published NPI timeline, effective May 23, 2008, they will accept only the NPI on all HIPAA electronic claims and send only the NPI on all paper remittances. This applies to both rendering and referring providers identified on the claims...

Pathology Consultants, Inc. Selects PSA, LLC a MED3OOO Company as their Business Partner

April 2008
(PITTSBURGH) MED3OOO Group, Inc. (MED3OOO), a national healthcare management and technology company, announces Pathology Consultants, Inc. of Michigan City, IN, recently selected PSA, LLC - a wholly-owned subsidiary of MED3OOO, for billing, marketing, and business support services...

CMS Approves Updated Advanced Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage (ABN) for Use

April 2008
CMS recently approved the CMS-R-131 Advanced Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage as the replacement notifier for the general ABN (CMS-R-131-G) and laboratory ABN (CMS-R-131-L) as of March 3, 2008. Medicare has allowed a six-month transition period and all users are required to implement the new form by September 1, 2008. The new form is very similar to the ABN-L, but providers should be aware of a few changes...

PSA Spring 2008 Examiner (PDF)

March 2008
This issue of the PSA Examiner covers hot topics such as Dissecting PQRI, Congress Delaying Fee Schedule Cuts 6 Months - or Not?, TC Grandfather Provision Extended Through June 30, information on PSA's upcoming Pathology Business Confernece and Business Development Workshop, and much more. Click the link above to download the newsletter.

PSA is pleased to announce special pricing for Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. SYMPHONY® - One Touch H&E

December 2007
"Eliminate dip-and-dunk H&E inefficiencies with SYMPHONY One Touch H&E. The SYMPHONY system completely automates every step of slide preparation with one touch operation from drying through the application of a glass coverslip. Slides are cured and immediately available for Pathologist interpretation upon completion..."

2008 Medicare Physician Quality Reporting Initiative

December 2007
"We are writing to confirm your intention on whether or not your practice plans to participate in Medicare’s 2008 Pathology Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI). Bulleted below are aspects of the PQRI which may assist in your decision making..."

Cleared the House: Extension for 2008 MFS and Grandfather

December 2007
"PSA has learned that Senate Bill S.2499, the "Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP Extension Act of 2007", which was passed by unanimous consent in the Senate on Tuesday, also cleared the House yesterday by a vote of 411 to 3..."

MED3OOO Connection Newsletter, Fall 2007

December 2007
"Similar to PSA, MED3OOO distributes newsletters and email notifications containing general healthcare information as well as industry and company news. Attached please find the Fall 2007 Connection Newsletter, produced by MED3OOO, which includes articles published by PSA. This newsletter will be published quarterly and distributed electronically by PSA to each of our Affiliated Practices..."

BCBS Settlement Instructions and Materials

September 2007
"On April 27th of this year, representatives of physicians and state and local medical societies announced a settlement of the national class action lawsuit (known as Love, et al. v. Blue Cross and Blue Shield Ass'n, et al.) involving the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and most Blue Cross Blue Shield Plans and their current and former subsidiaries (BCBS). This settlement is another in a long line of similar settlements with various HMO plans over the last 3 years (previous settlements have already been completed with Aetna, Cigna, Health Net, Humana, and WellPoint/Anthem). The deadline for submitting a claim under the BCBS settlement is Friday, October 19, 2007."

Costly Coding, Documentation Errors

August 2007
"PSA Coding Specialist Chappy Manning's article, 'Costly Coding, Documentation Errors' was featured in the August Edition of ADVANCE for Administrators of the Laboratory magazine. For more information on costly coding and documentation errors, register for the upcoming PSA Audio Conference, 'Lost Dollars: Ten Most Costly Coding and Documentation Errors' to be presented by PSA's Certified Professional Coders."

MED3OOO Acquires Pathology Service Associates, LLC

July 2007
"Pittsburgh, PA - MED3OOO, Inc., (MED3OOO) a national healthcare management and technology company, has acquired Pathology Service Associates, LLC (PSA). PSA, founded in 1995 by pathologists in South Carolina, is now the country’s largest provider specializing in pathology revenue cycle management (RCM) and practice management and marketing services. It currently services over 75 independent pathology practices in 27 states, representing approximately 400 pathologists. While pathology remains its primary focus, PSA has recently expanded its services to include radiology practices...."

Uncertain Protection Under NPI Contingency Plan

May 2007
"The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has recently announced that it is implementing a contingency plan for covered entities (other than small health plans) who will not meet the May 23, 2007 deadline for compliance with the National Provider Identifier (NPI) regulations under HIPAA..."