On November 2, CMS issued a final rule that includes updates to payment policies, payment rates, and quality provisions for services furnished under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) on or after January 1, 2018. The overall update to payments under the PFS based on the finalized CY 2018 rates will be +0.41 percent. This…
Unfortunately, many healthcare providers are missing out on things like electronic billing, email capture. A new survey by the Medical Group Management Association suggests providers, especially hospitals, are missing out on key areas to improve when it comes to patient billing, payments and satisfaction. The Digital Payments Progress report, a product of a partnership with…
The list of ICD-10 code updates is extensive and Myocardial Infarctions got a makeover with this year’s revision. Code category I21 has been renamed from “ST elevation and non-ST elevation myocardial infarction” to “Acute myocardial infarction”. Additional specificity options now include type 1, type 2, and other MI types.
WASHINGTON — President Trump reversed course Wednesday and threw cold water on a new bipartisan congressional health care plan designed to maintain subsidies for health insurance exchanges, thereby temporarily propping up the Affordable Care Act. A day after signaling support for the plan developed by Sens. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Patty Murray, D-Wash., Trump tweeted…
With the implementation of QPP, the deadline for submitting 2017 performance data is approaching fast! Eligible providers can submit performance data for dates of service starting on January 1, 2017 – October 2, 2017. Data submission to CMS must be done by March 31, 2018. If your practice chooses not to submit data for 2017…
GOP Senators are working quickly in an effort to garner votes to replace the ACA (Affordable Care Act). Check out the most important things to note about this replacement effort, below. Republican efforts in Congress to “repeal and replace” the federal Affordable Care Act are back from the dead. Again. While the chances for this…
Effective for claims with dates of service on or after Oct. 1, 2017, UnitedHealthcare will reimburse the appropriate evaluation and management (E/M) procedure code which describes the office visit, hospital care, nursing facility care, home service or domiciliary/rest home care reported in lieu of a consultation services procedure code. This notification will be the first…
As a result of the many provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), the CMS Innovation Center (CMMI) was created to promote quality healthcare, stronger health outcomes, and encourage fiscal responsibility. CMMI acts as the facilitator for designing the most efficient payment methodology for reimbursing healthcare providers based on value rather than volume. CMMI also…
CMS released a proposed rule earlier this month that could cancel two bundled payment programs, and significantly limit a third. Two bundled payment programs could be canceled before they begin, and the scope of a third will be significantly limited if a proposed rule released by CMS August 17 is finalized. The agency proposes cancellation…
The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) is leading to changes in the realm of clinical and operational demands in health care. Read more, below, to learn about balancing reporting requirements while simultaneously ensuring optimum patient care. Concerns over the cost of health care and apparent lower health outcomes in the United…