In anticipation of an emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the American Medical Association (AMA) has created Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes for AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine. AMA assigned Category 1 CPT code 91302 to the vaccine manufactured by the Cambridge, United Kingdom (UK) company, as well as vaccine administration CPT codes […]
Now that a COVID-19 vaccine is approved, providers need to execute a medical billing and coding strategy to sustain vaccination efforts. For many providers, the end of the pandemic is in sight with the recent emergency use authorization of a COVID-19 vaccine. And while this may be true, it is just the start of a COVID-19 vaccine […]
The current pandemic continues to affect the healthcare supply chain continuum, such as by disrupting the flow of critical supplies and equipment such as PPE, ventilators, and masks. Due to the increased demand for critical supplies, providers are incurring additional costs as they work to meet the needs of patients and staff. COVID-19 has […]
In today’s healthcare industry today, there is a lot of buzz and hype surrounding automation. Large healthcare networks, medical facilities, and revenue cycle management service providers alike are looking to achieve a more efficient, robust revenue cycle through automation technologies. Any technology that can free employees to focus on high-value tasks and make revenue cycle […]
Major changes are found in the 2021 Evaluation and Management guidelines. As we enter the final quarter of 2020, I hope everyone is committed to being prepared for the 2021 evaluation and management (E&M) changes, because they’re locked in, and the focus going forward should be on education for coders, auditors, and providers. Many articles […]
Erratic claim volumes and confusion over COVID-19 coding and claim requirements are the top issues impacting revenue cycle operations, according to a new survey of financial leaders at US hospitals and health systems. Conducted through the Healthcare Financial Management Association’s (HFMA) Pulse Survey program, the survey commissioned by Alpha Health asked 587 chief financial officers and revenue cycle leaders […]
Providers need a mechanism to be accurately reimbursed for the time and effort that they expend in providing care. Evaluation and Management (E/M) leveling has been the standard method in which to provide appropriate, defensible payments for services. However, it has been successfully argued that the 1995 and 1997 E/M guidelines in place today are […]
The American Medical Association (AMA) has recently expanded its Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code set to include four additional codes for coronavirus testing. These new codes facilitate providers in reporting a wider range of laboratory tests for the novel coronavirus on medical claims. The newly introduced CPT codes are as follows: •86408: SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody […]
Every year, the Trends in Healthcare Payments Annual Report is distributed to start a conversation about the current state of the industry and shine a light on areas where change is needed. For healthcare providers, the report has consistently found that more of their revenue is dependent on out-of-pocket payments from consumers and less is covered […]
Reimbursement details have not yet been established. The American Medical Association (AMA) CPT® Editorial Panel has made adjustments to one code and introduced two new codes to enhance the specificity of serology laboratory testing. These codes, released on April 10, are immediately applicable. Reimbursement arrangements for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) are […]