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 […]
Low reimbursement rates, staffing shortages, low patient volumes, and regulatory barriers are some of the root causes of rural hospital closures, the American Hospital Association (AHA) explains in a new report. The report “Rural Hospital Closures Threaten Access: Solutions to Preserve Care in Local Communities” highlights the variety of causes behind rural hospital closures, which […]
Lower Medicare payments to physicians will lead to patient care by reducing access to services, according to medical groups commenting on the 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS). In July, the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the 2023 proposed rule and physician groups have been responding, including with detailed comments published […]
Although the Biden Administration claims this is the final regulation, there is evidence more is yet to come. The Biden administration released the final No Surprises Act regulation recently but advised healthcare professionals that this final version is not the final one and promised more to come. The latest final rule was narrowly focused on […]
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 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 […]
Has your billing department prepared for the upcoming 2022-2023 influenza season? As we approach the 2022-2023 influenza season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to recommend flu vaccination for everyone aged 6 months and older, with the ideal timing being by the end of October. This guidance remains consistent with previous years. […]
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 […]
The average cost per employee is estimated at $13,800 Employers are expected to pay a lot more for employee health insurance in 2023. A study by a professional services firm estimates a 6.5% increase resulting in an average of $13,800 per employee. The 6.5% increase is double the 3% most employers saw in 2021 and […]
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 […]