Category: Healthcare News

Gender-affirming care coding

Impact of Policy Changes on Gender-Affirming Care Coding

The landscape of healthcare policy in the United States has recently been shaken by an executive order issued by the U.S. President, introducing significant potential shifts, particularly concerning Gender-Affirming Care Coding. This has ignited widespread concerns about insurance coverage, general medical coding practices, and compliance obligations for hospitals and healthcare facilities nationwide. On January 28th, […]
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Medicare Physician Reimbursement Cuts

Medicare Physician Reimbursement Cuts: Doctors Warn of Healthcare Crisis

Physicians have expressed strong opposition to the newly proposed federal spending plan, which fails to address a crucial issue: the 2.83% reduction in Medicare Physician Fee Schedule reimbursement for 2025, representing significant Medicare Physician Reimbursement Cuts. While the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee introduced the bill on March 8, with an anticipated floor vote this […]
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MIPS performance disparities

MIPS Performance Disparities: How Individual Radiologists Are Impacted

A recent study published in the Journal of the American College of Radiology reveals stark MIPS performance disparities, with individual radiologists facing significant disadvantages compared to those participating in group reporting or Advanced Payment Models (APMs) within the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). The research, analyzing data from […]
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Statistical extrapolation in healthcare audits

Statistical Extrapolation: Navigating Multimillion-Dollar Healthcare Audits

Imagine the chilling realization that a review of a mere 100 patient claims could trigger a demand for multimillion-dollar repayments from your healthcare organization. This is not a hypothetical scenario; it’s a stark reality faced by healthcare providers nationwide, driven by the potent auditing technique known as statistical extrapolation in healthcare audits. While the underlying […]
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healthcare compliance issue Logs

Healthcare Compliance Issue Logs & Risk Assessment

Troubleshooting and insurance: These are the dual purposes of maintaining a detailed Healthcare Compliance Issue Logs, according to a senior compliance executive. Speaking at AAPC’s HEALTHCON Regional, the senior compliance executive highlighted the Office of Inspector General’s (OIG) new voluntary compliance guidance, emphasizing its importance even for organizations already familiar with the seven elements of […]
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medical necessity documentation

Medical Necessity Documentation: A Guide to Reducing Claim Denials

Claim denials are a significant headache for healthcare providers, impacting revenue and administrative efficiency. While denials can stem from various issues, a large majority are rooted in documentation errors, particularly those related to demonstrating medical necessity. Defining Medical Necessity: The American Medical Association (AMA) defines medical necessity as healthcare services or products provided to a […]
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Clinical validation Queries

Enhancing Clinical Validation Queries to Address Rising Denials

The volume of clinical validation denials is increasing, yet clinical validation queries have not kept pace. One key reason for this discrepancy is the complexity involved in constructing clinical validation queries, which require precise and thorough documentation to ensure accurate coding and reimbursement The Unique Challenges of Clinical Validation Queries Unlike traditional queries that request […]
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Prior Authorization reforms

CMS Prior Authorization Reforms: A Step Forward, But More Needed

The updated CMS regulations on prior authorization have been lauded as a significant step toward reducing administrative burdens for physicians. However, critics argue that the changes fall short of addressing the broader issues. Accelerating Prior Authorization and Enhancing Transparency Issued in January, these regulations mandate federally regulated health plans to enhance electronic health information exchange […]
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HIPAA cybersecurity regulations

HHS Proposes Enhanced HIPAA Cybersecurity Regulations

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has introduced proposed regulations aimed at strengthening cybersecurity in the healthcare sector. Issued by the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), the proposed rule seeks to amend HIPAA to enhance the safeguarding of individuals’ protected health information (PHI) in compliance with HIPAA cybersecurity regulations. Content Highlights: Overview of […]
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