The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is modifying its Medicare coverage policy for continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) to support their use in conjunction with smartphones, including the data sharing function CGMs provide. Medicare coverage of therapeutic CGMs began in January 2017, but the policy limited their use in conjunction with smartphones. CMS is […]
A decade ago, CMS enacted Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS), a policy that penalizes hospitals for hospital-associated conditions (HAC) not present during admission. Recent research published in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology has shown the program has had minimal impact on hospital reimbursement. The researchers also found associated billing codes were “rarely used” by […]
Physician reimbursement is being increasingly impacted by patient satisfaction scores. Once, this was something only hospitals had to worry about, but now it’s affecting practices of all sizes. If you are participating in Medicare payment reform, known as MACRA, it may impact you even more. But for those who are exempt, value-based reimbursement is the […]
A major shift in the reporting of transgender issues is at hand. They’re here, but it won’t be until sometime until after 2022 that the United States is expected to adopt the codes of ICD-11 – the new International Classification of Diseases, Version 11 – released by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva. According […]
Modifier 74 description: Modifier 74 is used in the medical billing and coding field to indicate that a surgical procedure performed in an outpatient setting was terminated due to extenuating circumstances. When this modifier is applied to a billing code, it signifies that the procedure was initiated but discontinued before completion due to reasons beyond […]
Appealing a denied insurance claim can be frustrating, but don’t give up! By following these steps and understanding the process, you can increase your chances of getting the coverage you deserve. Here’s a detailed guide: 1. Understand Why Your Claim Was Denied (and Know Your Rights) Review the Denial Letter Carefully: This document should clearly […]
An international team of researchers say they have developed an artificial intelligence system that diagnoses skin cancer more accurately than trained dermatologists. For the study, a team of researchers from Germany, the U.S. and France trained an AI system to identify skin cancer using 100,000-plus images, including images of malignant melanomas and benign moles. The […]
Patients’ financial responsibility for their healthcare is on the rise and showing no signs of slowing down. Long gone are the days of $25 co-pays and $250 deductibles. A TransUnion Healthcare analysis showed that patients experienced an 11 percent increase in average out-of-pocket costs during 2017, rising from $1,630 in the last quarter of 2016 […]
Here’s a summary of the changes for the July update to the 2018 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Database (MPFSDB). Changes are effective for dates of service on and after July 1, 2018. Indicator Change for RHC and FQHC Care Management Codes. For the following two HCPCS Level II codes, the PC/TC indicator is changed to […]
Brief: CMS Administrator Seema Verma on Tuesday said the agency will not approve any state requests to put lifetime coverage limits on Medicaid beneficiaries. Earlier this month, CMS rejected Kansas’ request to place a three-year lifetime limit on Medicaid benefits. Still, four other states have requested similar Medicaid waivers: Utah, Arizona, Maine and Wisconsin. Despite […]