Readmissions and How They Affect Payments

Some flareups may lead to readmissions within 30 days. We can all agree that we want to fully treat our patients’ acute problems that require inpatient hospitalization, allowing them a…

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Study evaluates the use of a diagnostic code for Long COVID

In a recent study posted to the medRxiv* preprint server, researchers evaluated the use of U09.9, an International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) code described as 'Post…

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New CMS Initiatives Spark Interest

The Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Realizing Equity, Access, and Community Health (REACH) initiative is a new model for ACOs operating under Medicare. It will be tested under the Centers for…

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CMS Updates Important Message from Medicare Instructions

The changes will become effective in about three months, giving providers time to modify processes. The staff at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have been working overtime…

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COVID-19 pushes the trend toward office-based labs

COVID-19 has spurred innovation and growth, including the trend toward outpatient care at office-based labs. As a result of increased calls to keep patients out of the hospital and safe…

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CMS E&M Changes: Some MACs are Getting it Wrong

RACmonitor launches an occasional series, “RAC Rants,” with this first post by past president of the Healthcare Business and Management Association (HBMA) Holly Louie. Entries are welcome at editor@medlearnmedia.com. The…

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CMS Reinstates COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate in 25 States

CMS announced it would be reinstating the COVID-19 healthcare worker vaccine mandate to facilities in 25 states and the District of Columbia that are not affected by the preliminary injunction.  The states…

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Read more about the article CMS Releases Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule
Displeased black healthcare worker using smartphone and reading an e-mail at doctor's office.

CMS Releases Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule

CMS says it the goal is to support health equity while focusing on high-quality person-centered care. Increased leverage of telehealth for behavioral care, diabetes prevention and mitigation, and enhanced payment…

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Medicare Advantage and TPE Audits Surge

Everyone in the industry knows about audits of healthcare providers. But what about the billing companies? Or a data-analytics company? In a complaint filed last week, a New York data-mining…

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CMS Revises 2021 Remote Patient Monitoring Rules, Issues Correction

CMS just issued a correction to its guidance on 2021 Medicare rules for remote physiologic monitoring (RPM) services. The correction is effective January 1, 2021 and revises the preamble commentary in the…

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CMS Defines “Reasonable and Necessary” Medicare Coverage

CMS has codified how it defines “reasonable and necessary” coverage for items and services that may be covered under Medicare Parts A and B in a new final rule. The…

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