Diabetes Alert Day

March 24th is Diabetes Alert Day. Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States . However, early detection and treatment of diabetes can prevent or delay many of the complications associated with the disease.

In conjunction with Diabetes Alert Day, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) would like to remind health care professionals that Medicare provides coverage for several diabetes-related services, including:
· diabetes screening tests,
· diabetes self-management training,
· medical nutrition therapy, and
· certain other diabetes supplies and services.

CMS offers several educational products related to Medicare-covered preventive services, including diabetes services. Please visit the Medicare Learning Network (http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNGenInfo/) for more information, including the following diabetes-related pages:

o The MLN Preventive Services Educational Products Web Page ~ provides descriptions and ordering information for Medicare Learning Network (MLN) preventive services educational products and resources for health care professionals and their staff. http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/35_PreventiveServices.asp

o Diabetes-Related Services Brochure ~ This tri-fold brochure provides health care professionals with an overview of Medicare's coverage of diabetes screening tests, diabetes self-management training, medical nutrition therapy, and supplies and other services for Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes. http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/DiabetesSvcs.pdf

o To order copies of the brochure, go to the MLN Product Ordering System located at: http://cms.meridianksi.com/kc/main/kc_frame.asp?kc_ident=kc0001&loc=5

o The CMS website provides additional information about the Medical Nutrition Therapy benefit at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MedicalNutritionTherapy/

For more information diabetes, please visit the National Diabetes Education Program website at http://www.ndep.nih.gov/ . This site contains several publications to help you educate your patients about diabetes prevention, including The Road to Health Toolkit, which contains resources specifically tailored for community health workers in Hispanic/Latino and African-American communities, who are at a higher risk for type 2 diabetes.

CMS on Track with Accreditation Deadline

DMEPOS suppliers who submitted a completed application to an accrediting organization on or before January 31, will have their accreditation decision --either full accreditation or denied accreditation--on or before the September 30 deadline. DMEPOS suppliers submitting applications to an accrediting organization after January 31, may or may not have their accreditation decision by the September 30, deadline. See the latest from CMS.

Obama, Socialism and Medicare Part D - I think he gets it!

"I did think it might be useful to point out that it wasn’t under me that we started buying a bunch of shares of banks. It wasn’t on my watch. And it wasn’t on my watch that we passed a massive new entitlement -– the prescription drug plan -- without a source of funding. And so I think it’s important just to note when you start hearing folks throw these words around that we’ve actually been operating in a way that has been entirely consistent with free-market principles and that some of the same folks who are throwing the word 'socialist' around can’t say the same." -- President Barak Obama

Source: New York Times, March 7th, 2009

CMS to Hold Call-In to Discuss DMEPOS Surety Bond Requirement

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has indicated that it plans to move forward with the regulation requiring suppliers of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies to obtain a $50,000 surety bond for each enrolled location.

NCPA continues to work with legislators to introduce legislation that would exempt pharmacists from the surety bond requirement.

As part of its plan for implementation, CMS will hold a special open door forum on March 17 at 2—3:30 p.m. ET. To participate call 800-837-1935, conference ID 88857015. CMS also plans to make FAQs available on its Web site in the near future. Further information on this and other open door forums can be found online.

Daschle Out, Sebelius In

President Barack Obama has nominated Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D-KS) to be Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). If confirmed by the Senate, Sebelius would fill a vital Cabinet position originally slated to go to former Sen. Thomas A. Daschle, who withdrew from consideration last month. NCPA, in a congratulatory statement, said it anticipates working closely with the new Secretary to reform healthcare. Keep your fingers crossed!

NCPA Members Forum Series—DME Conference Call

Join NCPA for a members-only conference call on March 11 at 1 p.m. ET with me, Bill Popomaronis, to talk about what NCPA is doing regarding the DME including:

* Supporting proposed legislation that would exempt pharmacists from a Medicare accreditation requirement.

* Opposing the $50,000 surety bond requirement.

* Working with programs that can help community pharmacies take steps maintain Part B billing number should the legislation not be passed.

This call is the first in a new series entitled, NCPA Members Forum. It is a new members-only live discussion series on topics of interest to you as a pharmacist and small business owner, provided to you by NCPA staff and relevant experts. NCPA is the only independent pharmacy organization offering you unique benefits that help you improve your bottom line, understand regulatory requirements, and better serve your patients. To join the call, dial 800-944-8766, and enter pass code 45473. For any questions about this and future calls in the series, please email Valerie Briggs for more information.