The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is pushing clinicians to participate in the Quality Payment Program to contribute scientific research and evidence to aid in the fight against the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. According to a news release, those who participate in COVID-19 clinical trials and report information may now earn credit in the Merit-based […]
As an effort to understand what changes hospitals are making in response to COVID-19, HBI is currently surveying revenue cycle professionals on how their organizations have altered, might alter, or will not alter revenue cycle processes. The following are highlights of HBI survey results as of April 3, 2020. We will continue to update these […]
The President signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act on Friday, March 27, formalizing a piece of legislation meant to support and stimulate the economy in the midst of the global pandemic, to the tune of over $2 trillion. This article will address provisions of the CARES Act that will assist healthcare […]
The pandemic crisis is disrupting the revenue cycle, including the revenue ramifications of cancelling elective procedures. The global COVID-19 pandemic has sent the entire world into turmoil, including negatively affecting the U.S. economy, causing a ripple effect down to healthcare organization revenue cycles. Many elements of this crisis are already changing the revenue cycle, from […]
Doctors are fond of complaining that they didn’t go to medical school in order to practice business, but independent physicians do spend much of their time on their practices’ finances. That requires mastering revenue cycle management (RCM), the financial process practices use to administer all the functions associated with claims processing, payment, and revenue generation. […]
Denials, automation, and surprise billing are perennially tricky & common revenue cycle issues, but new twists on those topics add an extra layer of complexity. When it comes to revenue cycle management, a handful of common revenue cycle issues are nearly always a struggle, year after year. For instance, denials, automation, and surprise billing are […]
COVID-19 is creating unique healthcare revenue cycle challenges around billing and coding, patient financial responsibility, and resource allocation. As entire nations encourage their populations to stay inside to avoid COVID-19, healthcare providers are more active than ever in response to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. This activity is having a significant impact on the […]
CMS is proposing changes and a three year extension to the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Model (CJR), which provides a flat set of payments to hospitals for an episode of care through 90 days past patient discharge. The program was due to expire at the end of this year. The agency also wants to include outpatient […]
The American Hospital Association has filed a lawsuit to block the rule. On Nov. 15, 2019, the Trump Administration proposed a new healthcare price transparency rule that would basically require hospitals to explain how much a medical service would cost before a patient receives treatment. This rule is due to become effective in January 2021. The […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that would update Medicare Advantage plan (MA, or Part C) and the Medicare prescription drug benefit (Part D) program. In years past, CMS has also issued a “call letter,” not subject to the regulatory process, to provide additional information for plans to use […]