Tag: Healthcare providers

CMS Fights Growing Number of Appeals

CMS Fights Growing Number of Appeals

Providers are encouraged to file protective appeals. “In section XI of the preamble of the proposed rule, we discussed the growing number of Provider Reimbursement Review Board (PRRB) appeals made by providers and the action initiatives that are being implemented with the goal to decrease the number of appeals submitted; decrease the number of appeals […]
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Is It Possible to Make OB Coding Less Complicated

Is It Possible to Make OB Coding Less Complicated?

Just like our patients, proper OB coding and billing for obstetric patients can be…complicated. As a coding instructor and compliance auditor, I field a lot of questions from new students and experienced billers alike. In this article, I’ll break down a few of the most important concepts you need to understand to master obstetric coding. […]
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CMS Delays OPPS Claim Edits For Off-Campus Provider-Based Depts

CMS Delays OPPS Claim Edits For Off-Campus Provider-Based Depts

OPPS claim edits slated to take effect this month will now start in October to give providers more take to adjust to billing changes for off-campus provider-based departments. CMS is postponing the implementation of outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) claim edits that would require hospitals and health systems with multiple locations to list provider addresses […]
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Effective And Profitable Chronic Care Management

How To Deliver Effective And Profitable Chronic Care Management

Chronic care management (CCM) has an overarching clinical goal—improving the health of Medicare patients with multiple chronic conditions. Besides knowing the service parameters, pay rates and usage requirements for CCM codes, physicians must understand how to effectively bill for CCM in order to profitably achieve that goal. Medicare pays for CCM (typically, non-face-to-face) services to […]
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Medicare Advantage And The Future Of Value-Based Care

Medicare Advantage And The Future Of Value-Based Care

The Medicare Advantage (MA) program, which allows Medicare beneficiaries to voluntarily enroll in a private plan that administers health benefits, was established by the Balanced Budget Act (BBA) of 1997 as a vehicle to bring private-sector competition and innovation to Medicare beneficiaries. When the program was announced, the goal was to create greater competition on […]
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Medicare Advantage Plan Denials

Medicare Advantage Plan Denials: Is That Convoluted or What?

Medicare Advantage Plan contracts are “take-it-or-leave-it” agreements Many questions are swirling about regarding Medicare Advantage Plan (MAP) denials asking what to do about the increasing number and given reasons.  I’ve heard or read some amazing stories where payers have gone to astounding lengths to deny claims.  Answers are also swirling about based on understandings of […]
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How to Approach Emergency Department Claim Denials

How to Approach Emergency Department Claim Denials

By now, many hospitals have received denials for emergency department level-of-care coding. We could legitimately ask, “how did this happen?” Today we shall address how it started, why it’s important, and potential institutional responses. Denials for emergency care are not new. The spectrum of denials and the audacity with which payers deny claims now strains […]
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