Section II encourages psychologists to understand how to become a provider and work within the Medicare system of reimbursement.  Medicare standards for delivering services to clients are the benchmark for many insurance carriers, so having a thorough knowledge of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) regulations is imperative for psychologists. Below are some basic resources for how to become a Medicare provider, along with informative articles of CMS issues and practices. Our Members Area provides more detailed information on the following:

• important treatment regulations and standards for your local Medicare carrier
  

• information on Medicaid cost-sharing programs throughout the country
  

• information on voluntary compliance and how to set up a program for your practice
  

• OIG trends and initiatives that psychologists should be aware of

AMA restructures CPT testing codes (November, 2005)

CMS announced a system whereby all health care providers, including Medicare providers, can apply for a new identifier, known as the National Provider Identifier, or NPI (May, 2005)

Medicare Adds Coverage of Smoking and other Tobacco Use Cessation Services (March, 2005)

Denial of Psychotherapy Claims/Psychotherapy Notes (January, 2005)

New Central Nervous System Testing Codes for 2006 (November, 2004)

Information for lower income Medicare beneficiaries to learn about and connect with the best combination of government and private drug programs (BenefitsCheckUpRx; October 2004)

Proper documentation helps withstand Medicare audits  (September/October 2004)

Medicare drug bill encouraging to psychologists who work with older adults (March/April 2004)

Medicare update 2004: Reimbursement for "work value" under review (January/February 2004)