In brief: Lincare boasts 'financial flexibility,' CMS improves PECOS file

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Lincare announced last week that its board of directors has agreed to pay quarterly cash dividends to stockholders. The dividends will be payable at a rate of $0.80 per share starting July 29, 2010, to stockholders of record as of July 15, 2010. The ex-dividend date for the quarterly dividend is July 13, 2010. "The announcement reflects our confidence in the company's long-term growth opportunities and financial strength," stated CEO John Byrnes in a release. "We are pleased to have the financial flexibility to continue investing in our business while also returning a portion of our profits to our shareholders through this dividend."



CMS improves PECOS file

BALTIMORE - CMS has uploaded a list of PECOS enrolled physicians in a useable CSV format, MiraVista, a Medicare consulting firm reported last week. Unlike the PDF format, the CSV format will open in Excel or Notepad and can be imported into Access, allowing users to sort, filter and search the data. To download the file, which lists all 687,819 physicians currently enrolled in the system, go to http://www.cms.gov/MedicareProviderSupEnroll/06_MedicareOrderingandReferring.asp.



NCART targets Medicaid

BUFFALO, N.Y. - With Medicaid programs in states across the country looking to reduce overage and payment for complex rehab technology, NCART announced last week that it will hold a National Medicaid Summit in Nashville, Tenn., Sept. 29-30. Planned topics for discussion include Medicaid regulations; supplier responsibilities and rights; advocacy; and NCART's National Medicaid Study. The event, which will take place at the Marriott Airport Hotel, costs $199 per attendee, including lunch. Check www.ncart.org in July for more information.



Next Open Door Forum: July 7

BALTIMORE - CMS has scheduled its next Open Door Forum for July 7 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. EST. Dial 800-837-1935 and use the ID 83092437.



DME MAC clarifies oxygen policy

FARGO, N.D. - Noridian Administrative Services, the DME MAC for Jurisdiction D, outlined several clarifications concerning payment for oxygen equipment after July 1, 2010, in a MLN Matters article last week. One of the clarifications: The applicable date of service must be at least six months after the 36-month rental cap for oxygen equipment or the end of the warranty period for maintenance and servicing, whichever is later. To read the complete article, go to https://www.noridianmedicare.com/lsredir.php?pdf=/provider/updates/docs/MM6990.pdf.



Will you be ready for ICD-10?

BALTIMORE - CMS has provided updated information about the implementation of the International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition, Clinical Modification and Procedure Coding System (ICD-10). The first compliance date related to the code is less than two years away: On Jan. 1, 2010, standards for electronic health transactions change from version 4010/4010A1 to version 5010. To read the complete article, go to http://www.cms.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/SE1019.pdf