Tagged with Hospitalist Billing
New York Health + Hospitals Expands Health Program for the Uninsured
On October 4, New York City’s public hospital system, NYC Health + Hospitals, established a new program to provide health care to New York City’s uninsured, called NYC Care. The program originally launched in August and has a current enrollment of 5,000 people, and will expand into Brooklyn and Staten Island in January 2020.
CMS Advances ‘Patients over Paperwork’ Initiative Under Final Rule
On September 26, CMS issued The Omnibus Burden Reduction (Conditions of Participation) Final Rule, which advances the ‘Patients over Paperwork’ initiative aimed at reducing administrative costs in healthcare.
Texas to Receive Increase in Federal Funds for Uncompensated Care
The Texas Health and Human Services Commission announced, on October 1, that the state will be given $11.6 billion over the next three years to help reimburse health care providers for indigent services and is intended to benefit hospitals, clinics, public ambulance, and dental providers.
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Proposes New Approach to End Surprise Medical Bills
In a letter to the House Ways and Means Committee, Chairman Richard Neal has proposed that the Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), the U.S. Labor and Treasury Department, along with other interested parties, consolidate their efforts to develop standards for rates for surprise bills.
Proposed Legislation Aims to Improve Provider Directories Accuracy
Two physician lawmakers have proposed new legislation that aims to improve the accuracy of information in health plan provider directories and protect patients from surprise out-of-network bills. The Improving Provider Directories Act (HR 4575) would require health plans to provide an avenue for people to report errors in provider directories, in a “highly visible way”.
Executive Order Issued to Protect Traditional Medicare and MA Plans
The president, on October 3, signed an executive order directing the Department of Health and Human Services to increase efforts to provide more insurance plan options under Medicare Advantage and to remove regulations that are considered burdensome to health care providers. The order is intended to protect traditional Medicare and private Medicare Advantage while ramping up alternative payment models, time spent with patients, access to innovative technology and reducing the regulatory burdens on providers.
House Approves CR, Senate Unveils Draft HHS Bill
The House, on September 19, approved a short-term spending measure that will keep the government funded through mid-November and avoid a shutdown at the beginning of October. Additionally, the Senate, on the 18th, released the FY2020 subcommittee chairman’s recommendation for the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS) Appropriations bill.
Federal Judge Overturns CMS Rule to Cut Medicare Payments to Outpatient Hospital Clinics
A U.S. District Judge has overturned a CMS rule that had reduced Medicare reimbursement rates for off-campus hospital clinic visits.
Improper Payment for Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy Planning Services
In a recent report, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) determined that payments for outpatient Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) did not comply with Medicare billing requirements. Specifically, hospitals billed separately for complex stimulations when they were performed as part of IMRT planning. Overpayments occurred because hospitals are unfamiliar with or misinterpreted CMS guidance.
Cigna Preventive Care Services Policy & Precertification Updates
Cigna has made several additions and removals to its precertification list, as well as updates to its Preventive Care Services Policy.
CMS Notice on Bypassing Payment Window Edits for Donor Post-Kidney Transplant Complication Services
CMS has posted a notice for physicians, hospitals, and other providers billing Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) to ensure the payment window edits are bypassed when processing claims for donor post-kidney transplant complications services.
CMS Issues Renewed Guidance to Ensure Medicaid Program Integrity
On June 20, CMS released a renewed guidance to state Medicaid agencies that outlines the necessary assurances that states should make to ensure that program resources are reserved for those who meet eligibility requirements.
CMS Releases 2018 ACA Risk-Adjustment Data
CMS, on June 28, released its report summary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) risk adjustment program for the 2018 benefit year. The analysis found that 572 health insurers offering ACA plans participated in the program in 2018, and transfers between the companies totaled $10.4 billion.
CMS Expands Medicare Coverage of Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring
CMS announced, on July 2, that it finalized its national coverage policy for Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM), extending coverage of blood pressure monitoring devices to all Medicare beneficiaries suspected of reporting abnormal blood pressure levels when administered in clinical settings.
CMS Issues FAQs on BPCI Advanced Model
CMS, on June 21, issued several new or updated frequently asked questions documents on the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI) Advanced Model, an Advanced Alternative Payment Model launched last October that will run through 2023.
CMS Re-issues Memo to Providers about Emergency ‘Born-Alive’ Infants’ Rules
The CMS has re-issued a memorandum on emergency stabilization and treatment of newborn infants that could cause fresh anxiety for hospitals and physicians over abortion and care for pregnant women and severely disabled infants.
ICD-10-CM Coding Changes Released for FY 2020
CMS has provided ICD-10-CM coding updates for the fiscal year, starting October 1, 2019 and ending September 30, 2020.
New York Out of Network Surprise Hospital Bill Passes State Senate
A new legislation has been introduced, that is intended to protect New York residents from unexpected surprise bills from hospital emergency department visits would give insurers the ability to pay hospitals outside their networks what they consider reasonable for emergency care, rather than what the hospital charged.
Illinois Legislation Targets Medicaid Managed Care Claim Denials
The Illinois Legislature unanimously passed a health care reform package, which requires Medicaid managed care plans to pay claims within 30 days or face a penalty.
Aetna Issues ASC and Ambulatory Payment Classification (APC) Code Edit Updates
Aetna has released updates regarding how the insurer will handle certain ambulatory surgical center (ASC) and ambulatory payment classification (APC) code edits under the ASC and APC payment methodologies.
