Tag: COVID-19 pandemic

Benefits of Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM)

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for alternative healthcare delivery methods. Remote patient monitoring (RPM) emerged as a valuable complement to telehealth, allowing doctors to remotely monitor patients’ health data in real-time. How Remote patient monitoring Works RPM utilizes various devices to track vital signs like blood pressure, heart rate, and blood sugar. It can […]
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Telehealth coding

Master Telehealth Coding: A Guide to Reimbursement and Avoiding Denials

Navigating the complexities of telehealth coding is crucial for ensuring that services are properly reimbursed. This guide provides essential information and tips for coding telehealth services accurately, helping physicians avoid denials and recoupments. 1. Telephone Services: Use Cases: Suitable for straightforward problems like simple rashes, asymptomatic coughs, and medication refills. Requires a minimum of five […]
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Physician’s Prior Authorization burden

Prior Authorization Burden Still High Despite COVID Struggles

Most physicians still faced a high prior authorization burden despite treating a surge of positive COVID-19 cases this winter, the American Medical Association (AMA) reports. In a survey of 1,000 practicing physicians between Nov. 23, 2020, and Dec. 14, 2020, AMA found that 85 percent of physicians described the burden associated with prior authorization as high […]
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Non-Prescription COVID Tests

FDA Authorizes Non-Prescription COVID Tests

The FDA grants emergency use authorization for at-home, over-the-counter COVID-19 tests. On March 5, 2021, Cue Health received emergency use authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for their Cue COVID-19 Test for Home and Over The Counter (OTC) Use. The nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) detects the RNA of SARS-CoV-2, the […]
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COVID-19 Prior Authorization Relief

Covid-19 Brought Little Relief from Prior Authorizations

Despite the strain placed on physicians by the COVID-19 pandemic, insurers continued to impose prior authorization requirements which delayed care and hurt some patients. According to a news release from the American Medical Association (AMA), a new survey showed that nearly 70 percent of the 1,000 respondents showed that health insurers had either reverted to prior authorization […]
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Medicare Sequester Decision

CMS Holding Claims Until Medicare Sequester Decision

CMS is temporarily holding claims from providers in anticipation of legislation that will extend the suspension of the 2 percent Medicare sequester, according to a recent newsletter. The MLN Connects newsletter from March 30 stated that CMS has “instructed the Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) to hold all claims with dates of service on or after April […]
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Biden Appoints HHS Staff

Biden Administration Shares Latest Round of HHS Staff Appointments

Today the Biden Administration announced its latest group of appointments to the Department of Health and Human Services. The new appointees join tens of thousands of career officials throughout the agency at a time when expertise is critical to tackling the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. WHAT’S THE IMPACT? Kristina Schake will serve as HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra’s […]
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