On February 5 of this year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a National Coverage Determination (NCD) for Medicare coverage by adding a screening for lung cancer with low dose computed tomography (LDCT) if certain eligibility requirements are met.

The California Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) -- known as Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System (CURES) -- has been upgraded in conjunction with Senate Bill 809 andCalifornia Health & Safety Code §11165.1.

In early July, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that for a period of one year, it will allow for flexibility in the claims payment, auditing and quality reporting processes as the medical community gains experience using the new ICD-10 code set.

It is important to have a clear, methodic process in place to ensure continuity of care when a patient is referred to a specialist or on-going care is transferred to another physician. 

In October, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released its final rule for Stage 3 of the Electronic Health Record Incentive Program, along with numerous changes to Stages 1 and 2, as well as 2015 EHR certification criteria.