Category: Healthcare News

Medicare Advantage contract

Avoiding Medicare Advantage Contract Pitfalls: A Guide for Physician Practices

It’s a story many physician practice owners know all too well. A hardworking doctor secures a promising Medicare Advantage contracts with a major payer, expecting substantial revenue—100% of Medicare fee-for-service rates. The new contract seems like a win: more resources for staff, improved facilities, and better patient care. Table of Contents Common Contractual Pitfalls Best […]
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Hospital Price Transparency Compliance

Hospital Price Transparency Compliance Drops Significantly

Compliance with federal price transparency rules among hospitals dropped significantly, from 34.5% in February to 21.1% in November 2024, per a report by Patient Rights Advocate (PRA). This decline highlights the challenges in achieving full Hospital Price Transparency Compliance. The drop is attributed to weak federal enforcement, which has allowed hospitals to obscure pricing information […]
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Healthcare payment integrity

How AI and Automation are Revolutionizing Payment Integrity in Healthcare

Healthcare payment integrity is a crucial aspect of efficient claims processing, and its improvement can significantly reduce costs and improve patient care. Healthcare costs continue to climb, burdening patients, providers, and insurers alike. A significant driver of this issue is the inefficiency of healthcare administration, particularly in claims processing. Despite standardized claim formats, outdated systems […]
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medicare telehealth policy changes

Medicare Telehealth Policy Changes: What Patients and Providers Need to Know

Medicare Telehealth Policy Changes are set to reshape the landscape of telehealth services. As the COVID-19 public health emergency ends, Medicare will revert to pre-pandemic policies, imposing stricter rules for telehealth services starting January 1, 2025, unless Congress intervenes. Key changes include: Geographic Restrictions: Patients must generally live in a health professional shortage area, a […]
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Medicare Physician Pay Cuts

CMS Finalizes MPFS with 2.9% Medicare Physician Pay Cuts

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has finalized its 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, which includes a 2.9% Medicare Physician Pay Cuts to physician payments. This decision, despite opposition from major industry groups, will impact healthcare providers and potentially patient access to care. The rule also includes several positive provisions, such as expanded […]
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DSMT and MNT

 DSMT and MNT: A Comprehensive Guide for Healthcare Providers

As diabetes prevalence increases, the importance of diabetes self-management training (DSMT) and medical nutrition therapy (MNT) becomes undeniable. To empower patients, optimize health outcomes, and ensure sustainable access, healthcare systems must integrate DSMT and MNT into diabetes care protocols. This article highlights the critical role of registered dietitians (RDs) and nutrition professionals in providing these […]
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Medicare appeals process

New CMS Rule: Medicare Appeals Process for Reclassified Patients

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 […]
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Medicare Physician Reimbursement Cuts

Medicare Physician Reimbursement Cuts Threaten Patient Access to Care

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% […]
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Healthcare fraud in medical coding

Healthcare Fraud in Medical Coding: Upcoding, Unbundling, and Emerging Challenges

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 […]
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