Physicians are currently facing challenging times. The existing shortage of doctors, compounded by the pandemic, has exacerbated the patient-to-physician ratio. With an increase in patients, there’s a corresponding surge in administrative tasks for doctors. Consequently, this diminishes the time available for patient care and heightens stress levels among physicians. Furthermore, this situation often leads to […]
Medicare beneficiaries are increasingly drawn to Medicare Advantage plans due to the perception of cost savings and added benefits compared to Original Medicare. The pivotal choice when navigating annual Medicare decisions revolves around opting for Original Medicare or embracing a Medicare Advantage plan (also referred to as Medicare Part C) provided by private health insurers. […]
Last week, during the onset of the summer recess, the House Ways and Means Committee introduced a healthcare reform bill. Regrettably, this legislation lacks the same potential impact as the competing bill presented by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, known as the Patient Act. What are the shortcomings of this new bill? It falls […]
Implementing HIPAA Compliance Demands Multiple Measures from IT, with Added Complexity Due to Mobile Devices. Adhere to These Crucial Steps for Ensuring Mobile HIPAA Compliance Adhering to HIPAA necessitates a vigilant approach from IT administrators, and the presence of mobile devices can amplify this challenge further. HIPAA stands as an encompassing federal statute that defines […]
In the world of healthcare, medical coding plays a crucial role in ensuring accurate billing and reimbursement for services provided to patients. As we look ahead to 2023, there are several trends that are expected to shape the landscape of medical coding. Here are five of the most significant trends to watch for: 1. Increased […]
Newly introduced as of July 1, 2023, are updated CPT® codes detailed in MLN Matters 13210, issued on June 13. Accompanying this, a supplementary document, Change Request 13210, offers more comprehensive insights. Included in the fresh set of codes are those related to COVID vaccination and its administration. Specifically, 0174A pertains to administering the Pfizer-BioNTech […]
Ensuring precise claims processing and prompt reimbursements, healthcare practitioners rely heavily on efficient medical billing and coding procedures. The act of streamlining these functions holds the potential to not only heighten overall effectiveness but also to curtail administrative burdens and mitigate the risk of errors. Within this article, we will delve into a selection of […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have released the Final Rule for Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (IRFs) on July 23. The new rule updates payment policies, IRF Quality Reporting Program (QRP) requirements for the 2024 fiscal year (FY), and modifies the conditions for Excluded Units. This allows hospitals to open a new IRF unit […]
The medical billing industry is constantly evolving, with new technologies and trends emerging all the time. As the healthcare industry continues to change, so too will the way medical billing is done. Here are some of the trends that are expected to shape the future of medical billing: The increasing use of electronic health records […]
The guidelines for interpreting EKGs could vary according to the specific treatment situation. Patients presenting at the emergency department (ED) to undergo an electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) can present a coding challenge. The main issue revolves around how to accurately report the physician’s services for the patient. Is it appropriate to utilize the EKG CPT® […]