Tag: : CMS Updates

Cardiology CPT Denials

Cardiology CPT Denials: Common Reasons and Coding Solutions

Cardiology medical billing suffers from high denial rates due to the strict bundling rules of the National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI), absolute medical necessity tracking, and precise component matching. Procedures and Claim Adjustment Reason Codes (CARC) 1. Echocardiography: CPT 93306 The Denial Code: CO-16 (Claim/service lacks information) or CO-50 (Not medically necessary). The Root Cause: […]
FY 2026 IPPS Proposed Rule

IPPS Proposed Rule: Key Updates to HRRP, HAC, and VBP Programs

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has unveiled its Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 IPPS Proposed Rule, which outlines significant updates to three key Medicare hospital quality initiatives: the Hospital-Acquired Condition (HAC) Reduction Program, the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP), and the Hospital Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Program. These proposed changes, outlined in the IPPS […]
CMS Releases Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule

CMS Releases Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule

  CMS says it the goal is to support health equity while focusing on high-quality person-centered care. Increased leverage of telehealth for behavioral care, diabetes prevention and mitigation, and enhanced payment for vaccine administration were three out of many priorities cited by federal officials who announced the release of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid […]
CMS Updates Medicare Part B Drug Prices

CMS Updates Medicare Part B Drug Prices

Retroactive code pricing updates may require claims lookback. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has posted a retroactive update to the April Average Sales Price (ASP) pricing file for three Medicare Part B drugs. Also now available are the July ASP and Not Otherwise Classified (NOC) pricing files and the ASP NDC HCPCS […]