In brief: CMS reviews quality standards, CU partners up

BALTIMORE - CMS officials on Oct. 14 will discuss with non-accredited providers on the new quality standards for durable medical equipment and supplies. From 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. EST, officials will review supplier business service requirements, supplier product-specific service requirements and more. The speaker: Sandra Bastinelli, director of the Division of Medical Review & Education, Program Integrity Group, Office of Financial Management. To register for the conference, go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/events/default.asp. DME MAC seeks members for advisory group HINGHAM, Mass. - The DME MAC Jurisdiction A Outreach and Education Team announced last week that it currently has membership openings on its POE Advisory Group. The POE Advisory Group assists in the creation of contractor provider/supplier education strategies and efforts and offers input on training and educational programs. Group meetings occur on a quarterly basis and the next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 12 in Galloway, N.J. Members can attend in-person or via teleconference. For more information, visit http://www.medicarenhic.com/dme/dme_POEAG.shtml. Computers Unlimited updates offerings BILLINGS, Mont. - Computers Unlimited announced last week that it has integrated its TIMS software with ARTSCO's Rehab Anywhere, allowing rehab providers to reduce overall processing time from client intake to billing. TIMS users can now import physician, patient and insurance information from Rehab Anywhere, minimizing the need to enter duplicate information into two separate systems, according to a release. "The additional ability to import order information is already in development, which will further increase business efficiency and reduce risk of manual input errors," stated Kevin Silvernagel, Computers Unlimited's manager of project management. The integration has taken almost two years to complete. CIGNA call center closures scheduled NASHVILLE - Beginning Oct. 23, the CIGNA Government Services Jurisdiction C Provider Contact Center will be closed every Thursday morning from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Central Time for staff training. The IVR will be available during the weekly closures for inquiries that do not require call center assistance. Additional schedule changes will be announced via the ListServ.