The COVID-19 pandemic created the opportunity for hospitals and health systems to innovate in a short amount of time. Learning how to advance and scale those opportunities will be the key to redesigning the health system of the future, said CommonSpirit Health Senior Vice President and Chief Strategic Innovation Officer Rich Roth, and CommonSpirit […]
Clinicians who served more patients with social risk factors such as low income performed worse in the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System’s inaugural payment year, and therefore, received unfavorable value-based reimbursement, according to a new study. The study recently published in Health Affairs found that out of 510,020 clinicians participating in the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) in […]
With telehealth reimbursement flexibilities set to expire following the public health emergency period, providers are calling on HHS and policymakers to continue payment parity beyond COVID-19. Telehealth use has increased dramatically in a matter of weeks, enabling providers to continue seeing patients despite social distancing and shelter-at-home restrictions due to COVID-19. But these advancements could […]
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 […]
Sound accounts receivable (A/R) management is integral to the financial health of a medical practice. The ability to maximize collections and profitability depends on it. Thus, it’s important that practices know what processes they can implement to ensure a smooth-running AR operation. David Norris, MD, MBA, an anesthesiologist in Wichita, Kan. and author of The […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed changes to the payment structure for sinus endoscopy services in the 2020 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) proposed rule (page 53). Specifically, CMS intends to apply multiple endoscopy rules, similar to those used for colonoscopies, to sinus endoscopy reimbursements. This approach is detailed in MLN Matters […]
In the crowded healthcare market, smart healthcare leaders must find patient satisfaction advantages everywhere they can. When it comes to patient satisfaction, providing excellent clinical care is a no-brainer. But in a crowded and competitive healthcare market, smart healthcare leaders know that they need an edge everywhere, including an efficient revenue cycle. That’s the case […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing changes to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and the Quality Payment Program as part of its effort to reduce provider burden. “Clinicians are drowning in paperwork and reporting requirements caused by cumbersome government rules and regulations,” said CMS Administrator Seema Verma in a press […]
President Trump issues an executive order on kidney disease and a new payment model for radiation therapy. As reported by Dr. Ronald Hirsch on the RACmonitor.com Monitor Mondays webcast, last week the president issued an executive order on kidney disease. The executive order was touted by many in the medical community because all are aware […]
OPPS claim edits slated to take effect this month will now start in October to give providers more take to adjust to billing changes for off-campus provider-based departments. CMS is postponing the implementation of outpatient prospective payment system (OPPS) claim edits that would require hospitals and health systems with multiple locations to list provider addresses […]