2006 Revised Medicare Reimbursement For Clinical Social Workers

http://www.socialworkers.org/practice/clinical/csw032206.asp

The 4.4 percent reimbursement reduction for clinical social workers and other Medicare providers has been reversed. Clinical social workers will be reimbursed retroactively for services rendered on or after 01/01/06.

Medicare Payments on Hold

Deficit Reduction Act of 2005-Nine day Payment Hold

A brief hold will be placed on Medicare payments for all claims during the last nine days of the 2006 federal fiscal year (September 22 through September 30, 2006).

These payment delays are mandated by section 5203 of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005. No interest will be accrued and no late penalties will be paid to an entity or individual by reason of this one-time hold on payments. All claims held during this time will be paid on October 2, 2006.

Medicare, Interventional Pain Management and the New Millennium

http://www.painphysicianjournal.com/2006/july/2006;9;171-198.pdf

There are lots of changes for pain management specialists in 2006:

• New specialty codes
• New CPT codes
• Substance use and abuse
• Billing, coding, and documentation