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Copyright © 2002 - 2005
14 days left – Time is running out until full NPI
implementation!
Effective May 23, 2008, Medicare claims must be
submitted using the NPI only in all provider fields on the claim. Legacy
numbers may not be used.
If you have any additional questions, please contact Sean South at
916-441-3990, ext. 243 or at ssouth@coavison.org.
To
download the bulletin, click here.
May 09, 2008
COA has been informed recently that there have been a number of thefts
targeting optometric practices in Southern California. To help our members
protect themselves from theft around the state, please
review the following
tips provided to us by Zurich, the underwriter of the Business Owners Package
Program, one of the COA Sponsored Insurance Programs.
Theft Claims
The first step in preventing a theft loss is to have a Central Station Alarm. This system provides a warning in case of burglary or fire and is monitored by either an alarm company or the local police station for a monthly fee. If you do not already have one, please look into installing one.
Other steps you can take to prevent or limit theft losses:
To find out more about COA’s Business Owners Package Program, call a Marsh Client Service Representative at 800-775-2020.
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For more breaking news, please visit the COA News Alerts section of our Web site at www.coavision.org. Under Media, click COA Alerts.
January 18, 2008
Effective for dates of service on or after February 1, 2008, providers may no longer bill Medi-Cal or the Child Health and Disability Prevention (CHDP) program using a recipient's Social Security Number (SSN). Claims submitted with a recipient’s SSN for a date of service on or after February 1, 2008 will be denied.
Use of the Medi-Cal Benefits
Identification Card Number for Billing
All providers are expected to use the 14-character Medi-Cal identification
number from the recipient’s Benefits Identification Card (BIC) or paper ID card
when submitting claims. The ID number is located on the front of the card and
consists of a 9-digit Client Index Number, a Check Digit and a 4-digit issue
date. The issue date is used to deactivate cards that have been reported as lost
or stolen.
The information above was contained in page 4 of the
Medi-Cal Bulletin. Click
here to download a copy of the bulletin.
For more information, please contact Sean South at (800) 877-5738 or by email at ssouth@coavision.org.
January 11, 2008
It has come to our attention that some members may have been recently solicited by an ophthalmic manufacturer, through its regional or local representatives, to participate in efforts to bring economic pressure on one or more health plans in response to an anticipated change in benefits by an insurer that may affect optometrists.
Legal counsel has concerns that any such activity could violate state and federal anti-trust laws in that concerted activity of that nature can be deemed as external evidence of a conspiracy to engage in a group boycott which, if proven, could result in severe civil and possible criminal penalties for individuals involved. Any such group action should be strictly avoided.
State law and regulations, as administered and enforced by the California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC), provide administrative appeals and remedies for subscribers and providers affected by a coverage decision made by a registered health plan subject to the Department’s jurisdiction. If you are approached by anyone seeming to solicit your interest or participation in taking any action against a plan, please inform them that COA would be pleased to receive their information and to consider bringing to DMHC’s and other interested parties’ attention, as prescribed by law.
For more information, please contact Tim Hart or Sean South at (800) 877-5738 or by email at timh@coavision.org or ssouth@coavision.org.
October 25, 2007
The California Optometric Association (COA) is currently contacting all our local societies that we believe may be affected by the fires in Southern California. We are coordinating efforts with our local societies in the affected areas in an effort to account for our members. Please let us know if you hear of a member colleague who has been impacted by the fires.
With your assistance, COA continues to be a clearinghouse of information. Our next step is to compile a resource list of members who are able to offer assistance such as practice opportunities or temporary housing to members in need. While we have yet no clear estimate on the number of doctors who may need direct assistance, we would like to be prepared with this information to pass on to our local societies. If you have any opportunities or resources you would like to offer, we urge you to contact Corrie Pelc, COA's communications manager, at cpelc@coavision.org.
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For other resource links related to the Southern California fires, please visit www.coavision.org.
October 24, 2007
On behalf of Governor Schwarzenegger, the California State Board of Optometry is asking for volunteers to provide emergency services where required in the fire disaster areas in Southern California.
Volunteers are especially needed in the San Diego area. The Governor’s Office and the Office of Emergency Services are working to identify the need for specific expertise in various geographic areas affected by the wildfires.
If you are able to assist, please click here.
Instances of fraud and unlicensed activity by persons representing themselves as licensed professionals are always highest during or immediately following a disaster of this magnitude. Please be prepared to verify that your license is in good standing by carrying your wallet license with you. Encourage anyone in need of professional services to verify a licensee’s identity and that he/she is in good standing in his/her profession. The names, addresses, license numbers, and status can be verified online by clicking here.
Instruct the verifying party to click on the appropriate agency – in the case of optometrists or other health care professionals, the “Department of Consumer Affairs” – and to follow the instructions given.
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For other resource links related to the Southern California fires, please
visit www.coavision.org.
October 23, 2007
The California Optometric Association (COA) is concerned about the impact of the fires on our members in Southern California.
Please help us identify members, whether it is yourself, or your colleagues, who may be affected or have been dislocated because of the disaster. We urge you to contact Corrie Pelc, COA's communications manager, at cpelc@coavision.org, with your name, or those of your colleagues, who are being affected by these fire storms.
For information on the AOA Foundation’s Optometric Disaster Relief Fund, please click here.
October 22, 2007
In an effort warn consumers about the dangers of cosmetic contact lenses, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has made available business and consumer education materials, including "Avoiding an Eyesore: What to Know Before You Buy Cosmetic Contacts," “The Contact Lens Rule: a Guide for Prescribers and Sellers,” and “The Eyes Have It - Get Your Prescription."
To access links to these materials and read a recent news release from the FTC about cosmetic contacts, please click here.
October 16, 2007
For more information, contact: Tim Hart or Sean South
800-877-5738
timh@coavision.org; ssouth@coavision.org
This is to advise you that the requirement that, effective October 1, 2007, all written prescriptions presented by Medicaid beneficiaries must be written on “tamper-proof” Rx pads that comply with at least one of three distinct requirements, has been delayed until March 1, 2008. (H.R. 3668; Pub. L. 110-90, Sec. 5)
This does not change the fact that all California Optometric Doctors who issue any of their patients written prescriptions for drugs classified on Schedules III-V of the Controlled Substances Act must comply with current California law requiring state-approved “tamper resistant” script pads. (For your convenience, we provide the same summary as contained in our last alert below.) Nor does it mean that “tamper proof” forms sold and distributed by the American Optometric Association comply with California’s current requirements. (NOTE: The Schedules of the Controlled Substances Act should not be confused with the five categories of Therapeutic Pharmaceutical Agents that California certified ODs are authorized to prescribe. The only category of Schedule III (“some potential for abuse”) drugs optometrists are authorized to prescribe under current law are Oral Opioid Analgesics for moderate to severe pain relief, such as Acetaminophen or Aspirin with Codeine.)
COA will continue to work with the state Department of Health Care Services to enact conforming legislation in California that will minimize dislocation or inconvenience to California prescribers.
California law already requires you to use “tamper-resistant” forms approved by the California Board of Pharmacy and the Department of Justice for ALL written Schedule III-V prescriptions and to report certain prescribing information to the State CURES program, as follows:
• Effective January 1, 2005, all written controlled substance prescriptions (for Schedules II-V) must be on the approved, tamper-resistant prescription form. Phone and fax orders for Schedules III-V medications are still permitted. Fax orders should not be on the tamper-resistant forms (use of the new forms will result in a voided prescription) but on an ordinary prescription form. If the tamper-resistant form is used for a fax prescription resulting in a “voided” prescription, the pharmacy will have to contact the prescriber to ensure the prescription’s authenticity.
• Effective July 1, 2004, in addition to requiring submission of Schedule III
prescription information, California law requires prescribers dispensing
these drugs to submit prescription information to the CURES program.
Both pharmacies and dispensing prescribers must submit the following information
for each prescription filled:
• Full name, address,
gender, and date of birth of
the
patient;
•
Prescriber's category of licensure, license number,
and federal controlled substance
registration number;
• Pharmacy prescription number,
license number, and
federal controlled
substance registration number;
• NDC (National Drug Code)
number of the controlled
substance
dispensed;
• Quantity of the controlled substance
dispensed;
• ICD-9 (diagnosis code), if
available;
• Date of issue of the prescription;
and
• Date of dispensing of the prescription.
September 21, 2007
For more information, contact:
Tim Hart or Sean
South
800-877-5738
timh@coavision.org; ssouth@coavision.org
NEW MEDICAID “TAMPER-PROOF” PRESCRIPTION PAD REQUIREMENTS:
CURRENT
CALIFORNIA LAW FOR SCHEDULE III-V OPTOMETRIC SCRIPTS
You have received information recently directly from the American Optometric Association (AOA) that State Medicaid Directors were informed by the federal Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, on August 17 that, effective October 1, 2007, all written prescriptions presented by Medicaid beneficiaries must be written on “tamper-proof” Rx pads that comply with at least one of three distinct requirements. (Phone and electronic – including faxed – scripts or scripts to be paid for by a managed care provider are exempt.)
You’ve also received information from AOA that they are making available for purchase “tamper-proof” prescription forms that meet all federal requirements.
This is to remind you that California law already requires you to use “tamper-resistant” forms approved by the California Board of Pharmacy and the Department of Justice for ALL written Schedule III-V prescriptions and to report certain prescribing information to the State CURES program, as follows:
• Effective January 1, 2005, all written controlled substance prescriptions (for Schedules II-V) must be on the approved, tamper-resistant prescription form. Phone and fax orders for Schedules III-V medications are still permitted. Fax orders should not be on the tamper-resistant forms (use of the new forms will result in a voided prescription) but on an ordinary prescription form. If the tamper-resistant form is used for a fax prescription resulting in a “voided” prescription, the pharmacy will have to contact the prescriber to ensure the prescription’s authenticity.
• Effective July 1, 2004, in addition to requiring submission of Schedule III
prescription information, California law requires prescribers dispensing
these drugs to submit prescription information to the CURES program.
Both pharmacies and dispensing prescribers must submit the following information
for each prescription filled:
• Full name, address, gender, and date
of birth of the
patient;
•
Prescriber's category of licensure, license number, and
federal controlled substance registration number;
• Pharmacy
prescription number, license number,
and
federal controlled substance registration
number;
• NDC (National Drug Code) number of the controlled
substance dispensed;
• Quantity of the
controlled substance dispensed;
• ICD-9 (diagnosis code), if
available;
• Date of issue of the prescription; and
• Date
of dispensing of the prescription.
COA is working with the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to implement this requirement imposed on California’s Medi-Cal program on a timely basis – assuming that the Congress fails to delay it by new legislation. We have been advised by DHCS that, IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY USING THE STATE APPROVED BLANKS TO WRITE SCHEDULE III-V PRESCRIPTIONS FOR YOUR PATIENTS, USING THOSE BLANKS FOR ALL WRITTEN MEDI-CAL SCRIPTS WILL COMPLY WITH THIS NEW FEDERAL REQUIREMENT. (Note that the converse may not be true; using the AOA-provided form may not comply with California law for written Schedule III-V scripts.)
The Department is doing its best to issue a Medi-Cal provider
advisory as soon as possible. COA will let you know if anything changes. Please
call or write us if you have questions or need more information.
July 23, 2007
Dr. Jorge Cuadros of the Santa Clara County Optometric Society has been featured in a video on diabetic retinopathy screening with EyePACS by the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF). To view his story and learn more about the program, click here.
Congratulations to Dr. Cuadros on the growing success
of his EyePACS diabetic retinopathy/telemedicine project.
Do you have a story to share? Sign up now at www.my-eyedoc.com – Going live Labor Day
2007.
May 29, 2007
On Friday, May 25th, the AOA Contact Lens & Cornea Section sent out the following clinical alert:
RECALL--COMPLETE MOISTURE PLUS
A release was issued from the FDA regarding a voluntary recall of Complete Moisture Plus Contact Lens Solution. The Contact Lens and Cornea Section (CLCS) has been discussing the issue with the CDC, FDA, and AMO. The CLCS will have a recommended office protocol made available to you as soon as possible this coming week.
Sincerely,
Jack Schaeffer, OD
Chair, Contact Lens and Cornea Section
To read the official press release from the US Food and Drug Administration, click here.
