Nurse Practitioners of Oregon FP3

The NPO will be working to improve the service provided to members and those seeking care by redesigning this website to make the information easier to access and provide a place for nurse practioners to learn about issues they are facing throughout the state. As we work to create a better website from the ground up, the current site will continue to be here and be updated, but the updates may not be as abundant as in the past. Please be patient as we work to create a better resource for all NPs. If you have any suggestions for improvements to the site, please feel free to give us your input via e-mail here.

The 2010 NPO Conference will be held from September 30 - October 3, 2010 at Salishan Lodge on the Oregon coast. More information will be coming as the event nears.

Changes in Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) consultation codes effective January 1, 2010

MLN Matters #MM6740: Revisions to Consultation Services Payment Policy

This MLN Matters article pertains to Change Request (CR) 6740, which alerts physicians and non-physician practitioners that effective January 1, 2010, the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) consultation codes (ranges 99241-99245 and 99251-99255) no longer are recognized for Medicare Part B payment. Effective for services furnished on or after January 1, 2010, physicians and non-physician practitioners should code a patient evaluation and management visit with E/M codes that represent where the visit occurs and that identify the complexity of the visit performed. For more information, please view the article located at: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM6740.pdf on the CMS website.

NURSE PRACTITIONERS OF OREGON AND OREGON NURSES ASSOCIATION STATEMENT ON NEW BREAST CANCER RECOMMENDATIONS

Click to read about the issue here

Study: Kids 14 Times More Likely
than Elderly to Get Swine Flu.

Many Oregon NPs have expressed disappointment and frustration that some of the stimulus funding for implementation of electronic health information technology is not available for NPs. Please see below for programs that would directly benefit NPs in individual or small group practice.

Subject: RE: Vice President Biden Announces Availability of Nearly $1.2 Billion in Grants to Help Hospitals and Doctors Use Electronic Health Records.

Based on the factsheet (link below) on the non-profit HIT Regional Extension Centers, they will support at least 100,000 primary care providers, through participating non-profit organizations, in achieving meaningful use of EHRs. In part, the factsheet indicates as follows: "The Regional Centers will focus their most intensive technical assistance on clinicians (physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners) furnishing primary-care services, with a particular emphasis on individual and small group practices (fewer than 10 clinicians with prescriptive privileges)."

States and Qualified State Designated Entities (SDEs)

In part, the factsheet (link below) indicates: "Over the next several months, cooperative agreements will be awarded through the State Health Information Exchange Grant Programs to states and qualified State Designated Entities (SDEs) to develop and advance mechanisms for information sharing across the health care system. States may choose to enter into multi-state arrangements. A cooperative agreement is a partnership between the grant recipient and the Federal government. States and SDEs will be required to match grant awards beginning in 2011. to support the development of mechanisms for information sharing within an emerging nationwide system of networks."

This Groupsite will enable NP's to share, network and coordinate our efforts. All information provided through this platform is maintained for the use of NPO Groupsite members.
Please click the link below so you may quickly and easily participate in NPO Groupsite.

Signup is simple and takes less than a minute. Join our NPO Groupsite powered by the Groupsite.com.com platform for groups. Go to http://www.Groupsite.com Then chose Groupsite Directory at the top. Type in NPO to find our site.

WCD requires all NPs to complete application to provide Workers Comp Care
All nurse practitioners treating Oregon injured workers, whether treating in lieu of an attending physician or under the supervision of an attending physician.

Required informational materials: Nurse Practitioners' Guide to Oregon On-the-Job Injuries and other relevant administrative rules, bulletins, and forms, can be reviewed at the following WCD web address: