SEMINARS AVAILABLE FOR CE CREDITS WHICH ARE DUE IN SEPTEMBER OF 2006!
Harrisburg
This is a 2-day Seminar offered by the ICA. Register directly by calling 800.423.4690
New Era in Whiplash and Spinal Trauma (Part Two)
This is a 2-day Seminar offered by the ICA. Register directly by calling 800.423.4690
Lancaster
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Richard Barwell, DC
Twenty First-Century Chiropractic
Lancaster Host Resort & Conference Center, Rt. 30, 2300 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, PA - 717.299.5500
Philadelphia
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Tedd Koren, DC
12 Hours of Chiropractic Philosophy, Research, Vaccination and Koren Specific Technique
Also approved for 12 CE credits in Delaware and South Carolina
Pittsburgh
Thursday, May 11, 2006
David Smith, DC
Documenting the Impairment of Vertebral Subluxation in Whiplash
Holiday Inn Monroeville, 2750 Mosside Blvd., Exit 57 of PA Turnpike, Monroeville, PA 15146 – 412.372.1022
Also approved for 12 CE credits in Delaware and South Carolina
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Tedd Koren, DC
12 Hours of Chiropractic Philosophy, Research, Vaccination and Koren Specific Technique
Crowne Plaza Pittsburgh International Airport, 1160 Thorn Run Road, Coraopolis, PA 15108, 412.262.2400
Available for spouses, CA’s, and guests for a discounted fee
Available for spouses, CA’s, and guests for a discounted fee
UPCOMING SEMINARS Watch for upcoming seminars for your continuing education credits. Also, please let us know if you have any suggestions for future seminars.
Changes to the Appeals Process
Effective January 1, 2006, the Medicare appeals process will be modified due to the Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 (BIPA). This article summarizes the changes that will affect you and your patients.
Redeterminations
Effective January 1, 2006, all requests for Redeterminations, the first level appeal, must be filed in writing. Regulations dictate that requests for Redeterminations may not be filed over the telephone.
It will not be necessary to request a Redetermination if you have made a minor error or omission when originally filing the claim. Under this circumstance, you may request that the contractor reopen the claim so the error or omission can be corrected. Reopening requests will be accepted by telephone. Providers should continue using the same telephone number for reopening requests as was previously used for telephone appeals which is: 1-866-488-0551
Final instructions regarding claim reopenings will be forthcoming from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
Reconsiderations
Medicare Redetermination Notices (MRNs) dated on or after January 1, 2006 will instruct the appellant that their second level appeal must be filed with a Qualified Independent Contractor (QIC). All MRNs issued will provide the name and address of the QIC responsible for conducting Reconsiderations for the State of Pennsylvania. In addition, a Reconsideration Request Form will be included with all MRNs. The QIC responsible for conducting Reconsiderations for the State of Pennsylvania is:
Q2Administrators,
LLC
QIC Part B East Operations
P.O. Box 183092
Columbus,
Ohio 43218-3092
MRNs dated before January 1, 2006 will instruct the appellant that a Reconsideration request must be filed with the local Fair Hearing Office. For Redeterminations decisions made prior to January 1, 2006 please continue to follow the instructions on your MRN and file your second level appeal to the Fair Hearing Office.
Prior to 2006, the Fair Hearing Office offered the appellant a choice of hearing type; on the record, telephone or in person. Effective January 1, 2006 only on the record Reconsiderations will be offered by the QIC.
Time Frames for Filing
The time period for requesting a first or second level appeal has not changed. A Redetermination must be filed within 120 days of the date of receipt of the notice and 180 days for a Reconsideration. The date of filing for requests filed in writing is defined as the date received by the contractor.
Overpayments/Underpayments
Prior to January 1, 2006, appeal rights to revised initial determinations performed by the carrier were determined by the amount of the resulting refund. For Part B claims where over $100.00 was in controversy, a Hearing was offered. For Part B claims where less than $100.00 was in controversy, a Redetermination was offered. Effective January 1, 2006, the amount in controversy will no longer determine the level of appeal that is offered. A redetermination will be offered for all carrier identified overpayments/underpayments.
Dismissals
Finally, under some circumstances your request for a Redetermination may be dismissed. Some examples of why a contractor might dismiss a Redetermination request are:
The Redetermination request was filed after the 120 day filing period;
You are not a party to the appeal or;
You are a party to the appeal but all the information required to request an appeal (beneficiary name, Medicare Health Insurance Claim Number, the date of the service and specific services being questioned and the name and signature of the requestor) was not included with your request.
Beginning January 1, 2006, if your request is dismissed you will be offered three options:
You may file your request again if it has been 120 days or less since originally received.
If you think you have good and sufficient cause for failing to include required items, you may ask the contractor to vacate the dismissal.
If you think your request was incorrectly dismissed, you may request a Reconsideration of the dismissal by a QIC.
FOCUS PHILOSOPHY NIGHT
Date: Saturday, May 13, 2006
Time: 7:00 - 10:00 p.m.
Optional Dinner at 5:30 p.m.
FEATURING – Cheryl Langley DC Ginger Grancagnolo Ed.D.
LOCATION:
Howard Johnson
Bartonsville, PA
Route
611 Bartonsville, PA (exit 302 off I-80)
(570) 424-6100 for
Reservations (ask for Focus Rate)
Please bring your staff and patients!
COST: Suggested fee is the price of one office visit. We will be passing the hat to cover expenses.
For more information contact Sharon Gorman at (570) 350-4091 focus2@ptd.net
FUTURE DATES
June 3, 2006 - Corey Rodnick and Joe Lupo
July 8, 2006 - Bob Tarantino DC, Tony Panzica
August 12, 2006 - Rob Shiffman
Setember 9, October 14 – Speakers to be announced
Mark your Calendar!
Lyceum 2006, Straight to the Top, is set to take place on Sherman College campus in Spartanburg, SC, May 25-28. This year, Lyceum offers seminars in the area of chiropractic technique, philosophy, principles of practice, basic science, x-ray and risk management, and doctors can earn up to 24 hours of continuing education credit.
In addition to outstanding continuing education sessions, this year’s Lyceum weekend offers alumni functions, many fellowship and networking opportunities, plus inspiring Big Top sessions. Evening Big Top sessions on Thursday and Friday promise to be unforgettable.
Friday night’s keynote speaker is Neal Petersen. Petersen delivers a powerful message of hope, dedication and the will to never let anything stand in the way of your goals. Petersen’s presentation is a story about growing up in apartheid South Africa with many challenges – physical, financial and political. And yet his dream was to have his own yacht, to race around the world’s toughest oceans, and eventually to race alone around the globe. At the age of 31, Petersen traveled 27,000 miles alone around the world in the famous “Around Alone Race” to become the first black man to race solo around the world.
A wildly popular motivational speaker, Petersen has inspired individuals and Fortune 100 companies. His story has reached mythic proportions; it became the subject of the PBS documentary, “No Barriers: The Story of Neal Petersen,” and is in development for a major motion picture, “Of Wind and Water.”
Excitement and inspiration will also be found at this year’s Lyceum on Thursday night when one of the top speakers in the chiropractic profession, Jim Sigafoose, D.C., takes the stage to present “The Glory of Going On.” Sigafoose will share his thoughts on B.J. Palmer’s Green Book of the same title about the glory chiropractic philosophy brings from preserving the truth about chiropractic. Our traditional fireworks display will cap off the evening sessions and may seem like the finale Friday evening, but the fun will continue until midnight with a new open-mike music event.
Join us on the Sherman College campus in Spartanburg, SC, May 25-28, for Lyceum 2006, a weekend filled with excitement, education and purpose.
You are invited to send us any classified notices to be included in this newsletter. That would include selling a practice, looking for a new associate, looking for someone to cover your practice or looking to buy or sell equipment. E-mail notices to: focus@noln.com or maryellen@wannerassoc.com
Associate wanted for subluxation-based, straight, mostly cash, family, Christian chiropractic office located in Camp Hill, PA (near Harrisburg). Caring, motivated, team player wanted to join our fun, low stress office. Techniques include Biophysics, Diversified, Activator, Thompson. Benefits include: Paid vacation, three day weekends, paid seminars/ chiropractic coaching in addition to salary and bonuses. Email Dr. Julie Niedwick at jmadnied@paonline.com or call 717-566-2402 for more information.
Adjusting tables for sale: TRI-WG Activator table $900. Cox Distraction- Caudal end only. Like new $1700. Zenith 460 Hylo elevation, seldom used, like new. $4500. Zenith spring loaded hylo with pelvic drop. $500. Pictures are available. Email : for141est@chilitech.net
LOCAL RETIRED DC OFFERING VACATION COVERAGE
Dr. Mel Rosenthal, Saylorsburg, PA is offering to fill-in for DCs within a 45 minute radius of Stroudsburg (Poconos) for vacations and other coverage. Dr. Mel is an adjustment-only practitioner with 35 years of experience in Delaware. He is licensed and insured. Just $50 per hour, no travel charge, with a minimum of 3 hours. For more information call him at 570-992-8282 or email at oneoftheone99@yahoo.com.
ARE YOU INCLUDED IN SHARON GORMAN’S MONDAY MORNING MESSAGE? E-mail your request to focus@noln.com.
IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS INTERESTED IN JOINING THE CHIROPRACTIC FELLOWSHIP, call (717) 441-6042 or get membership information at www.chirofellowpa.org.
Chiropractic Fellowship of PA
908 North Second Street
Harrisburg, PA 17102
(717) 441-6042, fax: (717) 236-2046
www.chirofellowpa.com
To remove your name from this list email maryellen@wannerassoc.com.