Primary Care Physicians Need to Attest to Be Eligible for Enhanced Payment from Medicaid
AMS has learned that only a small number of Arkansas Primary Care Providers have completed the attestation for increased payments from Medicaid. Physicians have been asked to either attest to 60 percent billed codes are either E&M codes and/or vaccines or as being board certified in Family Medicine,…
Beebe Signs “Private Option” Into Law
Today (April 23, 2013) Governor Mike Beebe signed the bi-partisan "private option" alternative to Medicaid expansion. The AMS strongly supported this bill that will set up the mechanism to provide private health insurance to those with incomes up to 138% of Federal poverty level. The bill promotes personal…
Physicians Rally at State Capitol
AMS members in white coats rallied on the Capitol steps today in support of healthcare expansion. Dr. Clark Fincher of Searcy is pictured here speaking to the crowd.
CMS Releases Final Regulations
CMS recently released the final regulations governing the implementation of the Medicaid primary care rate increase to 2009 Medicare rates for calendar years 2013 and 2014. AMS has been working with Arkansas Medicaid to implement this program. To qualify for the increased payment, the physician must meet one…
2013 Legislative Session
On January 14, the Arkansas General Assembly will get cranked up. This will certainly be a very interesting session. The Republican Party has the majority (although very slim in the House) on both ends of the Capitol for the first time since Reconstruction. Medicaid is facing a $138…
MEDICAID PAYMENT ELIGIBILITY
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently clarified specifics related to the increased Medicaid payment eligibility for primary care physicians, including information about certain subspecialties that may also qualify. Funding has been released to provide a two-year increase in Medicaid payment rates for certain primary…
Medicare SGR and Sequestration Cuts Averted
It’s over! Late Tuesday, January 1 the House of Representatives passed the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, averting tax increases and spending cuts from going into effect. The House voted 257 to 167 to send the measure to the White House. Among the Arkansas Delegation, Democrat Mike…
MEDICAID FEES TO INCREASE JANUARY 2013
Beginning January, 2013, state Medicaid programs must begin paying physicians more for providing primary care services. The Affordable Care Act boosts traditionally low Medicaid rates to Medicare levels for 2013 and 2014 for certain primary care services. For Arkansas, this will mean rate increases averaging 25 percent or…
Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate Update
AMS recently joined the AMA and 109 other state and specialty medical societies in sending a message to Congress to repeal the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) payment formula and replace it with a system having certain core principles essential to creating a "high performing" Medicare program. Medicare…
Arkansas/AMS Leaders Featured in National Article
Medicaid: Docs Cautious About Arkansas Payment Plan By David Pittman, Washington Correspondent, MedPage Today | Published: October 05, 2012 Doctors in Arkansas who treat Medicaid patients are trying their best to put on a happy face about a program there designed to reward quality and move away from a…
Jurisdiction H Transition to New Medicare Fiscal Intermediary
As of August 13,2012, Pinnacle Business Solutions, Inc. is no longer handling the processing of Arkansas Medicare claims. The new Medicare Administrative Contactor is Novitas Solutions, Inc. AMS has been in contact with several office administrators across the state and has found that the transitions appear to have gone…