Medicare & Medicaid Resources for FQHC's
Outreach & Education
Research, Statistics, Data & Systems
Regulations & Guidance
Community Health Foundation - Assessment of the Effects of Medicaid Documentation Requirements on Health Centers and Their Patients
Kaiser Family Foundation - Health Coverage of Children: The Role of Medicaid and SCHIP  Health Services Research - The Effect of Premium Chargers on SCHIP Enrollment Duration
Information to help our members with compliance
to the Tamper Proof Rx Pad Ruling
Last Update 3/17/08

Latest News
Beginning April 1, 2008, all written prescriptions for Medicaid recipients must be on paper with at least one tamper-resistant feature as outlined by CMS and defined by your State. Beginning October 1, 2008, these same prescriptions must be on paper that meets all three baseline characteristics of tamper-resistant pads.
CMS has outlined the three baseline characteristics as those that:
(1) prevent unauthorized copying of a completed or blank prescription form; (2) prevent the erasure or modification of information written on the prescription by the prescriber; or
(3) prevent the use of counterfeit prescription forms.

States are responsible for defining specific features that meet the baseline characteristics in order for a prescription to be considered tamper-resistant in that State. Here is the link for Utah Medicaid website Tamper Resistant Prescription Pad Update: http://health.utah.gov/medicaid/pharmacy/coverage/directory.php

 Additional information on CMS’ requirements can be found at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/DeficitReductionAct/30_GovtInfo.asp

Please note that electronic prescriptions, faxed prescriptions and prescriptions sent over the telephone are exempt from this requirement.

Failure to comply with this requirement could result in a withholding of Medicaid reimbursement.

Latest Update and Tools from CMS
Frequently Asked Questions Concerning the Tamper-Resistant Prescription Pad Law website. 

Prescription Pad Vendor Information
Due to what has been viewed as a conflict of interest by the pharmacy board, Smith’s will not be able to go in 50/50 with AUCH member contract pharmacy locations on the cost of the prescription pads.

Here is a list of printing vendors who can take care of your secure script pad needs:

Advantage Business Systems
Contact: Dave Joslyn
Phone: 800.852.5565
Pricing was around $3.00 per pad of 100 prescription blanks once you got to around to a 120 pad minimum order.
Printing of several physician names was included.
These are the simple one-part pads.
The two part pads will be more pricey.

Community Health Ventures, Inc.
1-888-299-0324
www.communityhealthventures.com/rxpads.html 

The IC Group
Contact: Patrick Curtin
Phone: 801.450.2175

Prestige Business Systems
Contact: Bill Bibbey
Phone: 800.794.6419

Minute Man Printers
Contact: Scott Harvey
Phone: 888.881.8318
http://www.minutemanprinters.com
Rep said they have been approved for the most stringent state requirements

Vendors of Security Printing Paper
Try these vendors for prescription computer paper if you use your own printer:

I will post feedback from those who have tried these vendors to share their experience with you.

CHC Information Sharing
From: Kim McFarlane, PA-C
Green River Medical Center
For written prescription pads we use the free http://www.medi-scripts-services.com/ pads.  They will allow us to have the tamper proof prescription pads. 
We currently use Medical Manager electronic prescribing, but for the controlled scripts that have to be printed we do not have an answer yet. 
There is security paper that you can purchase but you would either have to load a sheet for each prescription or have a dedicated printer for prescriptions.  But I have been told that if it is sent by fax it can be the regular printed script and then faxed and all you need to worry about is the ones you give to the patient. 
I would appreciate any other suggestions for the Medical Manager controlled substance scripts that are given to the patients. 

CMS has released guidance through a State Medicaid Director Letter  providing baseline requirements to States to define and implement tamper-resistant prescription pads as required by law.

For additional background information open this file: Medicaid Tamper Resistant Prescription Information for State Policymakers

Medicare Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI)
2008 PQRI Information


Medicare Preventive Services
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have launched A Healthier US Starts Here campaign, which is an initiative focused on motivating seniors and others with Medicare to make the most of Medicare’s prevention services and maintaining healthy lifestyles.

Throughout 2007 there will be events and programs designed to promote conversations between people with Medicare, families, caregivers, health professionals, and community organizations about prevention services that Medicare covers to help keep beneficiaries healthy.

Medicare currently covers:

	A one time “Welcome to Medicare” physical (including an abdominal aortic aneurysm screening for qualifying individuals)
	Cardiovascular screenings
	Cancer tests – mammogram breast cancer screening, pap test and pelvic exam cancer screenings, colorectal cancer screenings, and prostate cancer screening
	Shots and vaccines – flu, Pneumococcal, Hepatitis B
	Bone mass measurement
	Diabetes screening, glucose monitoring supplies, and self-management training
	Medical nutrition therapy for people with diabetes or kidney disease
	Glaucoma test
	Smoking cessation counseling

The 2nd Edition of The Guide to Medicare Preventive Services for Physicians, Providers, Suppliers, and Other Health Care Professionals is now available in downloadable format from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Medicare Learning Network (MLN). This comprehensive guide provides fee-for-service health care providers and suppliers with coverage, coding, billing and reimbursement information for preventive services and screenings covered by Medicare. This guide gives clinicians and their staff the information they need to help them in recommending Medicare-covered preventive services and screenings that are right for their Medicare patients and provides information needed to effectively bill Medicare for services furnished. To view online, go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/mps_guide_web-061305.pdf  (5.05MB) on the CMS website.

CMS has also developed a quick reference chart that provides the codes for your office staff to use in billing for preventive services. To download, view and print a copy of the quick reference chart, go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/MPS_QuickReferenceChart_1.pdf.

You can also go to www.cms.hhs.gov/healthierUS for a copy of a comprehensive toolkit that includes information for patients.

You can also get information about coverage, coding and billing of Medicare-covered preventive services from the Medicare Learning Network Preventive Services Educational Products web page located at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/35_PreventiveServices.asp

Medicare Part D
Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage Notices

Low Income Subsidy Outreach Toolkit

Low Income Subsidy Outreach Toolkit

Medicare Advantage In 2007