Tips for Researching a Topic MediRegs Regulation Reimbursement Suite Plus

							                              Tips for Researching a Topic

MediRegs Regulation & Reimbursement Suite Plus (MediRegs) is an excellent resource
for on-line regulatory information. Regulation and Reimbursement Suite is a compliance
and reimbursement portal that can be customized to fit each user’s specific needs and
includes such features such as daily alerts, coding tools, and Federal Register citation
searching. Follow these steps to access the information on the MediRegs site:

       •   Go to vcu.Mediregs.com
       •   Click on First time users Register Here
       •   Enter all of the information on the registration form and click submit
       •   Your login and password information will be sent to you through your
           email within 24 hours

The following are suggested steps on how to research a topic. The order may vary
depending on the relevant viewpoint and the topic.

1. For most topics, a good start is to begin an on-line search. Available on-line resources
   through Compliance Services include: Pink Sheets, Coding Alerts, and Part B News.

           A. Pink Sheets are a good reference for CPT specific questions. To search
              these monthly newsletters visit Compliance Services intranet site
              (http://corpcomp.mcvh-vcu.edu) and follow these steps:

                1. Click on “Index” under “Coding Newsletters” on the menu.
                2. Click on the “log-in” instructions on the right-hand side of the Index
                   page.

           B. To search Coding Alerts, visit Compliance Services intranet site
              (http://corpcomp.mcvh-vcu.edu), and follow these steps:

                1.   Click on “Index” under “Coding Newsletters” on the menu.
                2.   Click on the hyper link “Coding Alerts” in the right hand column
                3.   Type in the email address: corpcomp@mcvh-vcu.edu
                4.   Type in the password 1794137
                5.   Login
                6.   Search your topic




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                                     Tips to Researching a Topic

           C. To search Part B News, visit Compliance Services intranet site
              (http://corpcomp.mcvh-vcu.edu), and follow these steps:

                1. Click on Coding Newsletters (Index)
                2. Click on Part B, under online search functions on the right hand side
                3. Enter customer # (002082153006)
                4. Enter your email address (you will receive an email confirmation)
                5. Validate your subscription by clicking on back Issues on the left
                   hand column of the Part B News site
                6. Perform your search

  The current and past two years issues of the above newsletters are also located on the
  Compliance Services intranet site.

2. For a local Medicare carrier viewpoint, go to the TrailBlazer site
   (www.trailblazerhealth.com). The Trailblazers site provides an interpretation of
   CMS’ rules and regulations for Part B billing as it applies to Virginia. Features on this
   website include Medicare Part B newsletters, training manuals, and documentation
   and coding tips. To search the newsletters: Click on “Part B”-> “Virginia” -> “latest
   publications”.

3. The TrailBlazer site also offers several training manuals and computer-based modules
   that range from topics such as Non-Physician Practitioners to Medical Record
   Documentation. These manuals and modules are located under “Part B”->
   “Virginia”-> “Provider Outreach and Education (Educational Issues)”. Once on this
   page, links to the manuals and modules are found on the right hand side.

4. Sometimes a service may have specific coverage criteria for reimbursement through
   Medicare. These criteria can be found through Virginia’s Medicare carrier local
   coverage determination (LCD). LCDs for Virginia can be found on the TrailBlazer
   site under “Part B”-> “Virginia”-> “LCD (Local Coverage Determination)” located
   on the left hand column of the page. They can be searched either by CPT code, exact
   words, or similar words.

5. Internet Only Manuals (IOMs) published by CMS (Centers for Medicare and
   Medicaid Services – www.cms.hhs.gov) are excellent resources for a Medicare
   viewpoint. IOMs contain information such as regulations, policies, and guidelines for
   topics ranging from Medicare claims processing to program integrity. The IOMs
   can also be accessed on MediRegs under “CMS Resources – Manuals PLUS”. Each
   individual Internet Only Manual (IOM) can be searched on the MediRegs site.

6. Sometimes, proposing a question may steer one in the right direction. DecisionHealth
   provides several forums (www.decisionhealth.com). Two forums are PartB-L and
   CodingPro-L.




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       Go to http://www.decisionhealth.com/partb-l-enroll to enroll in PartB-L
       Go to http://www.decisionhealth.com/codingpro-l-enroll to enroll in CodingPro-L


7. The Virginia Department of Medical Services (www.dmas.viginia.gov) offers several
   provider manuals on the interpretation of the rules and regulations for participation in
   Medicaid.


References and resources are also available in Compliance Services on-site library
available to all VCUHS Employees. Some of these resources are:

   •     Answer Books
   •     Blacks Law Dictionary
   •     Coder’s Desk Reference
   •     Compliance 101 Second Edition
   •     Corporate Compliance Resource Binder
   •     CPT Assistants
   •     CPT Changes
   •     Health Care Auditing & Monitoring Tools
   •     Physician’s Desk Reference
   •     The Health Care Compliance Professionals Manual




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Resources

Compliance Services Intranet Site                        http://corpcomp-mcvh.vcu.edu

       Newsletters: APC Payment Insider
                    Coder’s Pink Sheets (specialty specific)
                    Coding Alerts (specialty specific)
                    ICD-9/CPT Coding Pro
                    Non-Physician Practitioner
                    Part B News

       Publications:

       Anesthesia Answer Book                                   Compliance Services
                                                                      828-0500

       Coder’s Desk Reference Procedures                        Compliance Services
                                                                      828-0500

       Coding Answer Book                                       Compliance Services
                                                                      828-0500

       CPT Change’s – An Insider’s View                         Compliance Services
                                                                      828-0500

       Non-Physician Practitioner Answer Book                   Compliance Services
                                                                      828-0500

       Pain Management Coding & Billing Answer Book             Compliance Services
                                                                      828-0500

       Part B Answer Book                                       Compliance Services
                                                                      828-0500


Additional resources within the Compliance Library, on our Compliance Services
intranet site, are accessible under “Education”.




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Other Web Sites:

AMA Website                                                http://www.ama-assn.org

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)             http://www.cms.hhs.gov

Department of Medical Assistance (DMAS)                    http://www.dmas.virginia.gov

TrailBlazer Health Enterprises, LLC (Medicare Part B)      http://www.trailblazerhealth.com
(Click on Virginia under Part B in left hand column)


United Government Services, LLC (Medicare Part A)          http://www.ugsmedicare.com



Publications Available On-Line under MediRegs (http://vcu.mediregs.com):

The following is not an all-inclusive list of the resources found on MediRegs Regulation &
Reimbursement Suite Plus. Other resources related to the prospective payment system,
federal & state regulations, and coverage information is also available. Below are some
resources within the suite that are related to physicians’ professional services.

Coding Resources:

CPT Assistant
National Correct Coding Policy Manual, Physician
ICD-9-CM Code Book
AHA Coding Clinic for ICD-9 CM
Physician Fee Schedule

Other Resources:

CMS – Manuals [Internet-only Manuals (IOMs) and Paper Based Manuals]
Medlearn Matters Articles




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