From Jeffrey Kaufman, M.D.
CUA Director of Legislative Affairs

Synopsis: The following letter comes courtesy of the national Medicare who believes many of us are biling fraudulently and is spending money to collect refunds. The auditors only get paid if they collect. This has the potential to be an enormous headache for CUA members. There is no need for interested members to RSVP, just call & join in. Education & Knowledge is Strength!

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Special Open Door Forum:
Recovery Audit Contractors: 3 Year Demonstration Project

Wednesday, September 21, 2005
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM (Eastern Daylight Time)

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently implemented a new demonstration project using Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs) as part of CMS' efforts to ensure accurate payments. Under the conditions of this three-year demonstration project, the RACs will review Medicare claims to identify improper Medicare payments that have been made to healthcare providers and that were not detected through the prepayment review process. The RACs will review claims processed in the states of California, Florida and New York.

CMS maintains ongoing efforts to ensure that providers have the information they need to bill correctly, and to avoid improper payments. Education and training resources on the CMS professional website:
(www.cms.hhs.gov)
Include a customized provider web portal: (www.cms.hhs.gov/providers)
New Medicare Learning Network educational products and training guides:
(www.cms.hhs.gov/medlearn)
Regular "Medlearn Matters" articles explaining new program policy billing procedures:
(www.cms.hhs.gov/medlearn/medlearnmatters)
And enhanced Frequently Asked Questions.

CMS is holding this Special Open Door Forum to provide a broad audience of health care providers, suppliers, and beneficiary advocates, with an opportunity to review the purpose and scope of this demonstration project, and to allow for further public discussion on the roles and responsibilities of the RACs, and to give a better understanding of how they will conduct their operations during this three-year demonstration. The forum will begin with an update of the RAC demonstration, and will then transition into an open question and answer period with CMS policy experts and with the RAC contractor representatives from the three states.

We look forward to your participation.

Open Door Participation Instructions:
There are 2 ways to participate, by phone or "in-person".

1. To participate by phone:
Dial: 1-800-837-1935 & Reference Conference ID 8654772:
Persons participating by phone do not need to RSVP.

Note: TTY Communications Relay Services are available for the Hearing Impaired.
For TTY services dial 7-1-1 or 1-800-855-2880 and for Internet Relay services click here http://www.consumer.att.com/relay/which/index.html.

A Relay Communications Assistant will help.

2. To participate in-person:
If you intend to participate in person, RSVP is required:

Please send a reply to this email by close of business Friday, September 16th to SpecialODF@cms.hhs.gov.
Please include the word "RAC ODF" in the subject line of your message, and send us the following information:

Your full name
Your organization or representation
Your contact information (phone and email)
Special needs information

Location information:
Photo identification is required at security points. Please arrive with enough time to both park and pass through security checkpoints. (This may take about 30 minutes.)

ADDRESS:
CMS Single Site Building
Multipurpose Room
7500 Security Boulevard
Baltimore, MD 21244

ENCORE: 1-800-642-1687
"Encore" is a recording of this call that can be accessed by dialing 1-800-642-1687 and entering the Conf. ID # 8654772. The recording will begin 2 hours after the call had ended and expires after 4 business days.

For automatic emails of Open Door Forum schedule updates (Listserv registration) and to view Frequently Asked Questions please visit our website at: www.cms.hhs.gov/opendoor.

Jeffrey Kaufman MD, FACS
Past President
CUA

If there are any further questions, please contact the CUA by email at info@cuanet.org
or by phone at 714-550-9155.