Given labor shortages and financial constraints, fully managed hybrid outsourcing solutions are increasingly gaining prominence. Hospitals and provider organizations grapple with staffing deficiencies across various departments, with the revenue cycle facing considerable strain. A recent survey among medical group leaders highlighted coders as the most challenging role to fill, closely followed by billers, schedulers, authorization […]
The Advance Beneficiary Notice (ABN), Form CMS-R-131, issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), holds immense importance for healthcare providers, revenue cycle teams, and Medicare beneficiaries. What is an ABN (Advance Beneficiary Notice)? An ABN, formally extended to Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) beneficiaries, precedes outpatient services like labs, imaging, physical therapy, or observation. […]
The Final Decrease Is Influenced By Add-On Codes and Regulatory Obligations On November 16th, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the finalized rule for the 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) in the Federal Register. While the policies exhibit several positives, especially in primary care, telehealth, and behavioral healthcare, CMS remains dedicated […]
Healthcare is facing an escalating crisis due to workforce shortages, expected to persist into 2024. This situation has compelled healthcare organizations to operate with constrained resources while grappling with financial strain. Concurrently, healthcare leaders acknowledge the imperative of tackling widening health inequalities and environmental issues to ensure the sustainability and inclusivity of healthcare systems. The […]
Denials within the realm of healthcare persist as a perpetual and escalating issue. By 2022, denials constituted over 11% of claims, posing a significant threat if left unaddressed, as they can severely compromise an institution’s financial well-being and prospects. The combination of outdated technology and manual processes exacerbates the burden on staff, time, and finances […]
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) within the healthcare revenue cycle play a vital role in monitoring financial well-being and optimizing revenue capture for providers. Understanding these metrics is crucial for healthcare organizations aiming to sustain access to high-quality, cost-effective care—an essential aspect of the evolving landscape of value-based care and healthcare consumerism. These KPIs offer critical […]
The Senate Finance Committee proposed that the full chamber should review a legislation that could instigate alterations in physician practices. This proposition was discussed during a 90-minute meeting on November 8, 2023, regarding the bill named “The Better Mental Health Care, Lower-Cost Drugs, and Extenders Act.” This bill encompasses diverse aspects of healthcare, including mental […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has implemented its proposal to introduce codes for the collection of Social Determinants of Health (SDOH). The latest update for the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Level II, applicable from January 2024, is now accessible on the CMS website. This update comprises significant alterations, including the […]
The final 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule includes a provision that allows health systems to bill Medicare for telehealth services provided by doctors from their homes. This extension of a crucial Medicare reimbursement for health systems using telehealth services lasts until the end of 2024, and it also grants physicians working from home added privacy […]
The 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, recently released by CMS, confirms the anticipated reduction in payments for physicians. The finalized conversion factor of $32.7442 represents a 3.4% decrease from the 2023 rates, which themselves saw a 2% reduction from 2022. In contrast, the Medicare Economic Index, a gauge of practice cost inflation, surged to 4.6%, […]