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Every day it seems we are bombarded with changes from Medicare. I cannot remember a day that has gone by that I have not opened up multiple e-mail messages from each DMERC, or more recently, the new DME Medicare Administrative Contractors, with updates and policy changes.
There is always a new HCPCS code being issued, a change to a fee schedule or a policy revision to look at. The amount of information to review and retain is enormous. I am just glad that it is sent to me automatically by the listserv service that each DMERC and DME MAC offers. If I had to go out and find it each day, I certainly would spend all day on their Web sites. You can subscribe to the listservs at the following Web sites for each region:
DME MAC Jursidiction A, National Heritage Insurance Company, www.medicarenhic.com;
DME MAC Jursidiction B, AdminaStar Federal, www.adminastar.com;
DMERC Region C, Palmetto GBA, www.palmettogba.com (note that the new DME MAC contractor, which should assume duties later this year, has yet to be named);
DMERC Region D, Cigna Government Services, www.cignagovernmentservices.com (note that in October, services will transfer to the new DME MAC, Noridian Administrative Services, www.noridianmedicare.com).
There is another Web site that some people may not visit very often, but it is critical in the whole process of policy-making: the CMS Web site, www.cms.hhs.gov.
The reason this government site is so important is because the policy changes are made by CMS and passed along to the DME MACs to implement.
You also can subscribe to a listserv at CMS that will inform you of policy changes prior to implementation at the DME MACs, allowing you to better prepare.
To sign up for the CMS coverage listserv, as well as an array of other listservs offered by the agency, visit https://list.nih.gov.
An advantage of subscribing to the CMS listserv is that you will get notice of proposed policy changes.
