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Issue 2006-03, March 2006
MLN Matters. . .Information for Medicare Providers
(Issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)
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Smoking and Tobacco-Use Cessation Counseling Services: Common Working File (CWF) Inquiry for Providers
Note: This article was revised on January 25, 2006, to reflect changes made to CR4104. The CR was changed to show that this inquiry is only available to providers who bill intermediaries.
Provider Affected
Providers billing Medicare fiscal intermediaries (FIs), including regional home health intermediaries (RHHIs), for smoking and tobacco-use cessation counseling
Provider Action Needed
CR4104 announces the implementation of the capability for providers to access the CWF (part of Medicare’s claims processing systems) for viewing the number of smoking and tobacco-use cessation counseling sessions a beneficiary has received.
Background
CR3929, issued July 15, 2005, implements a frequency-of-service limitations edit in the CWF for smoking and tobacco-use cessation counseling, for dates of service on or after October 1, 2005. The implementation date for this CWF edit is October 3, 2005.
Effective April, 1, 2006, Medicare providers will be given the capability to view the number of smoking and tobacco-use cessation counseling sessions provided to a beneficiary. Providers will be able to access this file through the CWF, by entering the beneficiary’s health insurance claim number (HICN).
Ultimately, the capability to view the number of smoking and tobacco-use cessation counseling sessions provided to a beneficiary gives providers the ability to determine a beneficiary’s available coverage for this service.
Additional Information
For complete details, please see the official instruction issued to your FI/RHHI regarding this change. That instruction may be found by going to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/Transmittals/downloads/R818CP.pdf  on the CMS Web site.
If you have any questions, please contact your FI/RHHI at their toll-free number, which may be found at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MedlearnProducts/downloads/CallCenterTollNumDirectory.pdf on the CMS Web site.
Disclaimer
This article was prepared as a service to the public and is not intended to grant rights or impose obligations. This article may contain references or links to statutes, regulations, or other policy materials. The information provided is only intended to be a general summary. It is not intended to take the place of either the written law or regulations. We encourage readers to review the specific statutes, regulations and other interpretive materials for a full and accurate statement of their contents.
Pub. 100-4, Transmittal# R818CP, CR# 4104
Medlearn Matters Number: MM4104 Revised
Related CR Release Date: January 24, 2006
Effective Date : April 1, 2006
Implementation Date : April 3, 2006
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