Category: Blog

Outpatient and Inpatient Consultation Services can be Tricky

Outpatient and Inpatient Consultation Services can be Tricky

The AMA updated consultation services for 2023. The American Medical Association (AMA) announced major revisions to Evaluation and Management (E&M) Services for Jan 1, 2023. The E&M categories that will undergo revision in 2023 include inpatient and observation care services, emergency department services, consultations, nursing facility services, home and residence services, and prolonged services. Revisions […]
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Hospital Expenses Have Increased 23 Percent Since 2016

Hospital Expenses Have Increased 23 Percent Since 2016

Supply chain issues, medication costs, and labor challenges sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic have contributed to the spiking hospital expenses. Hospital expenses have increased 23 percent since 2016, a spike researchers attributed to continuous COVID-19 challenges, according to a recent analysis. By analyzing American Hospital Association data, investigators noticed hospital expenses increased 47 percent in 2020when […]
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Updates to the E&M Codes and Guidelines in 2023

Updates to the E&M Codes and Guidelines in 2023

The E&M categories that will undergo revision in 2023 encompass: Inpatient and observation care services. Consultations – both outpatient and inpatient Emergency department services Nursing facility services Home and residence services Prolonged services Throughout the upcoming months, a dedicated focus will be placed on each E&M category, delving into the revisions and changes in guidelines. […]
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Automating Revenue Cycle Operations Reduces Cost-to-Collect

Automating Revenue Cycle Operations Reduces Cost-to-Collect

Health systems that used automation for revenue cycle operations had an average cost-to-collect of 3.51 percent compared to 3.74 percent for those that did not use automation. Using automation for revenue cycle operations could lower hospital and health systems’ cost-to-collect by 0.25 percent, according to a survey from the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA). The […]
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State Surprise Billing Laws Impact Out-of-Network Provider Charges

State Surprise Billing Laws Impact Out-of-Network Provider Charges

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 […]
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Low Reimbursement Rates Lead to Rural Hospital Closures

Low Reimbursement Rates Lead to Rural Hospital Closures

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 […]
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