PECOS, not Pecos...

First of all, yes, Pecos is a picturesque town located near Santa Fe, New Mexico.  But I'm writing about a different PECOS.

If you're interested in New Mexico, click here.

According to the Federal Government, "PECOS supports the Medicare provider and supplier enrollment process by capturing provider/supplier information from the CMS-855 family of forms. The system manages, tracks, and validates enrollment data collected in both paper form and electronically via the Internet."  For more information, see here.

It turns out that this second PECOS is a big deal. 

From an email I just sent to all staff (forwarding one from VNAB Vice President of Quality & Regulatory Affairs, Ginny Tritschler):

I’d like to add my own note of urgency to this request. This issue does have a very real potential to negatively impact our organization and those who rely upon us for health care services. Our election delegation might listen if a few of us write. They will for sure listen if all of us write.

Please consider speaking up for our patients and for the VNA of Boston. It will only take a few minutes but will make a very real difference.

Thank you. We’ll keep you posted.

Rey

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From: Tritschler, Virginia

WE NEED YOUR HELP

Contact your congressional representatives regarding the following:

Effective July 6, 2010, all physicians who do not have an approved enrollment record in PECOS (Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System), Medicare will not pay for the patient’s home health or DME services. Although, the physician will be paid for their services.

VNAB has verified that approximately 1,100 out of the ~ 3,200 physicians who have signed orders in 2009 and 2010 are in PECOS. Out of 900 physicians with patients on caseload today almost 300 are not in PECOS. This means after July 6th Medicare can deny payment on those patients.

What is the VNAB doing? We are sending letters to the 2,200 physicians not in PECOS informing them about this rule; we are going to go to the media with this story; we are calling the Senators and Representatives who are known supporters of home care; and finally we are asking for your help.

Please click on link to email your congressman and urge them to delay this action. Explain the consequences if patients do not receive services because home care will not be paid. You can use the letter provided by NAHC or adapt to your words.

http://www.congressweb.com/cweb2/index.cfm/siteid/NAHC/action/TakeAction.Contact/lettergroupid/207

THIS IS AN URGENT MATTER AND WE NEED ALL EMPLOYEES TO TAKE THE TIME TO EMAIL THEIR REPRESENTATIVE.