On October 11th, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule establishing a new Medicare appeals process for Medicare beneficiaries who are initially admitted to a hospital as inpatients but later reclassified as outpatients receiving observation services. This rule is a result of the class-action lawsuit that sought to establish appeal […]
With over 67 million Americans—nearly 20% of the population—relying on Medicare, the program plays a crucial role in ensuring access to quality healthcare. Unfortunately, looming Medicare physician reimbursement cuts threaten to undermine this vital service, potentially leading to reduced access to care and compromised patient outcomes Medicare physician reimbursement cuts, such as the proposed 2.8% […]
Halloween is a time for fun, frights, and… the funniest ICD-10 codes for Halloween? Yes, you read that right! The International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) is a complex system used to classify diseases and injuries. While it’s a serious tool for healthcare professionals, some of its codes can be quite amusing, […]
The medical billing industry, while complex and often mired in regulatory hurdles, is experiencing a period of growth and transformation. A recent survey conducted by healthcare software company, a digital health operating system company, revealed that 65% of medical billing companies hold a positive outlook on the industry’s future. This optimism is fueled by several […]
Healthcare fraud in medical coding, particularly through practices like upcoding and unbundling, has become a major concern for medical coding and billing professionals. A recent healthcare market research survey found that 90% of respondents view upcoding as a significant ethical challenge Upcoding involves assigning higher-level codes to medical services than are warranted, leading to inflated […]
The recent ICD-10-CM and PCS code updates, let’s delve into a mixed bag of relevant topics. One significant change allows us to assign severity levels for certain eating disorder diagnoses. For anorexia nervosa (both restricting and binge eating/purging types), bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder, we can now specify the following severity levels: Mild Moderate […]
Navigating the intricate landscape of medical billing and coding demands a firm grasp of Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. One of the most commonly used yet frequently misunderstood codes is CPT 99211. This low-level evaluation and management (E/M) code is employed for services rendered by healthcare providers, typically in outpatient settings. While it might appear […]
The U.S. healthcare industry, marked by its global leadership in spending, faces mounting pressures due to evolving care models, supply chain disruptions, regulations, labor shortages, and rising costs. To navigate these challenges, healthcare leaders are prioritizing quality care delivery while also optimizing administrative operations, including revenue cycle management (RCM). Outsourcing RCM has become a key […]
Accounts receivable (AR) services are often overlooked but play a crucial role in the financial health of any business. These services involve managing the process of collecting outstanding payments from customers for goods or services sold on credit. Effective AR management can significantly impact a company’s cash flow, profitability, and overall financial stability. The Importance […]
Most Americans prefer the convenience of direct deposit for their paychecks. However, imagine if your employer deducted a 2-5% fee from each paycheck to cover the cost of electronic payments. While it seems absurd, this is the reality for many doctors in the U.S. Healthcare insurers and their payment processors often impose hidden EFT fees […]