What's New

Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractors (DME MACs) in Jurisdictions C and D began accepting Power Mobility Device (PMD) Prior Authorization requests through esMD on January 7, 2013.  The DME MAC in Jurisdiction A began accepting PMD Prior Authorization requests through esMD on January 9, 2013. The DME MAC in Jurisdiction B began accepting esMD transactions on February 22, 2013. For more information on PMD click the link called "PMD Prior Authorization" and to view a list of which HIHs offer this service, click the link called "HIHs that offer Prior Auth submission services" in the 'Related Links' section below.

Moratorium

There is currently a moratorium on the onboarding of new HIHs to esMD, while CMS works to optimize the esMD infrastructure.   The task is targeted for completion in April 2013, and HIH onboarding is expected to resume after April 30, 2013.

CMS esMD celebrates one year anniversary!

The CMS esMD First Annual Report can be accessed from the 'Downloads' section below.

New Video

To see a 5 minute video overview of esMD click on "Melanie Introduces Provider to esMD Video" below under related Links inside CMS.

Twitter

The CMS esMD Timeline is now on Twitter! Follow us at #CMS_esMD to follow esMD specific news and information. 

Presentations

Joyce Davis presented at HIMSS 2012 in Vegas on February 23, 2012. Slides for this presentation can be found below in the 'Downloads' section.

New Email Address

The CMS esMD Team has a new email address: esMDTeam@QSSInc.com.

Latest DURSA update

As of September 15, 2012, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will no longer require Health Information Handlers (HIHs) to sign an attestation obligating them to a Data Use & Reciprocal Service Agreement as part of the CMS On-boarding Process and CMS Electronic Submission of Medical Documentation (esMD) certification.

esMD Timeline of Completed Activities

• May 2010: CMS released esMD XDR Profile v1.0 (allowing medical documentation payloads in HITSP C-62 format).
• July 2010: CMS awarded esMD Content Transport Services contract to CAS Severn. Click the link below for more information on CAS Severn.
• August 2010: CMS awarded esMD Gateway contract to QSSI. Click the link below for more information about QSSI.
• January 2011: CMS began testing CMS' esMD connection with the review contractors.
• March 2011: CMS plans to begin testing CMS' esMD gateway with HIHs' esMD gateways.
• September 15, 2011: CMS esMD Gateway went live at 4pm.
• May 2012: There are 13 CERTIFIED CMS esMD HIHs.
• January 2013: There are 18 CERTIFIED CMS esMD HIHs.
• January 2013: CMS began accepting PMD Prior Authorization requests through esMD.
• January 2013: DME MACs in Jurisdicitons A, C, and D began accepting PMD Prior Authorization requests through esMD
• February 2013: DME MAC in Jurisdiction B began accepting PMD Prior Authorization requests through esMD.

esMD Timeline of Future Activities 

CMS plans to implement the following esMD activities:

• Spring 2013: More HIHs will begin to accept PMD Prior Authorization requests through esMD.