Category: Medical Billing

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

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 […]
New E/M Billing Guidelines for Unreimbursed Services

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 […]
Value-Based Payment makes up 6.7% of Primary Care Revenue

Value-Based Payment makes up 6.7% of Primary Care Revenue

Value-based payment is severely lacking as a percentage of total medical revenue across practices as providers face scheduling and billing challenges. The transition to value-based payment is moving at a snail’s pace despite healthcare’s long journey with the transition away from fee-for-service, new survey data indicates. Value-based payment made up just 6.74 percent of total […]
CA Healthcare Organizations Settle False Claims Act Violations

CA Healthcare Organizations Settle False Claims Act Violations

The False Claims Act settlements alleged that the healthcare organizations knowingly submitted improper Medicaid claims for services provided to California’s Medicaid expansion population. A California county organized health system and three healthcare providers have reached a $70.7 million settlement to resolve allegations that they violated the False Claims Act by submitting fraudulent claims to California’s […]
Biden Administration Releases Final Surprise Billing Rules

Biden Administration Releases Final Surprise Billing Rules

The final surprise billing rules downgrade the weight the QPA has on out-of-network payment determinations and establishes documentation requirements for down coding situations. The Biden Administration has released final surprise billing rules implementing the No Surprises Act, a federal law enacted in January 2021 that protects patients from out-of-network medical bills when they seek care […]
Prior Authorizations and MedPAC Recommendations: MGMA’s view

Prior Authorizations and MedPAC Recommendations: MGMA’s view

Prior authorizations and Medicare reimbursements are some of the most consistently cited sources of issues at primary care practices. Anders Gilberg, senior vice president of government affairs for the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), joined us in April to discuss his organization’s lobbying efforts. The following interview has been edited for length and clarity. Medical […]