Category: Medical Billing

No Surprises Act dispute resolution challenge

No Surprises Act dispute resolution challenge

The AHA and American Medical Association yesterday filed a friend-of-the-court brief in support of a Texas Medical Association lawsuit claiming the revised independent dispute resolution process for determining payment for out-of-network services under the No Surprises Act skews the arbitration results in commercial insurers’ favor in ways that violate the compromise Congress reached in the […]
Learn More
PBMs-tend-to-Dominate-State-and-Local-Markets

PBMs tend to Dominate State and Local Markets

Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) tend to dominate state and local markets where they provide services to commercial health insurers across the United States. That could mean patients are stuck with higher prescription drug prices, according to new research published by the American Medical Association (AMA). The Policy Research Perspective report, “Competition in Commercial PBM Markets […]
Learn More
No-Surprises-Act-Compliance-as-a-New-Burden

No Surprises Act Compliance Debuted as a New Burden

Regulatory burden is on the rise yet again as practices struggle with prior authorizations, No Surprises Act compliance, and the Quality Payment Program, MGMA reports. Prior authorizations are still the top regulatory burden according to executives from group practices, while No Surprises Act compliance has debuted on the list this year as the second most […]
Learn More
Medicare-Overpayments-to-Hospitals

CMS System Edits Reduced Medicare Overpayments to Hospitals

Medicare overpayments totaled $39.3 million between September 2016 and December 2021, but most of those improper payments occurred before CMS corrected its system edits error in May 2019. CMS system edits helped reduce Medicare overpayments to acute care hospitals for outpatient services provided to beneficiaries who were inpatients of other facilities, a report from the […]
Learn More
Potential-Medicare-Payment-Cuts-for-2023

The potential Medicare payment cuts for 2023

The potential Medicare payment cuts for 2023 reflect the proposed 4.5 percent decrease in the Medicare conversion factor and the 4 percent PAYGO sequester. As medical groups expect to see Medicare payment cuts in 2023, practices are considering limiting the number of new Medicare patients and reducing clinical staff to ensure financial stability, according to […]
Learn More
Public-Coverage-Increase | Case Studies | AllZone Management Services Inc.

Uninsured Rate Falling as Public Coverage Increases

The percentage of people covered by some type of health insurance in 2021 was higher compared to 2020, with public coverage rising significantly. It stands to reason that providers are treating more patients with health insurance. The percentage of people covered by some type of health insurance in 2021 was higher compared to the previous […]
Learn More
State Surprise Billing Laws for Out of Network Payment | Case Studies | AllZone Management Services Inc.

State Surprise Billing Laws Impact Out-of-Network Provider Charges

Provider charges for out-of-network care increased by $1,157 after the passage of state surprise billing laws that allow arbitrators to consider provider charges in a surprise billing dispute. State surprise billing laws that allow arbitrators to consider provider charges when determining out-of-network payment amounts for surprise medical bills led to an increase in billed charges […]
Learn More
New EM Billing Guidelines for unreimbursed Services | Case Studies | AllZone Management Services Inc.

New E/M Billing Guidelines for Unreimbursed Services

Recent changes to evaluation and management (E/M) billing guidelines that allow physicians to bill for previously unreimbursed services are producing higher revenues for longer patient visits, according to results of a new study. The study in JAMA Network Open looks at the financial impact of CMS’s 2021 expansion of its time-based billing guidelines to include […]
Learn More