For millions of Americans relying on Medicare, the specter of high out-of-pocket healthcare costs looms large. Unexpected illnesses, chronic conditions, and even routine medical needs can quickly erode savings and create significant financial strain. The idea of a Medicare out-of-pocket spending cap has long been a topic of discussion, promising a shield against catastrophic expenses. […]
In theory, prior authorization (PA) exists to ensure that healthcare services are medically necessary and cost-effective. But in practice, it has become a bureaucratic roadblock causing treatment delays, administrative overload, and provider burnout. Despite increasing pressure from physicians, hospitals, patient advocacy groups, and even bipartisan lawmakers, the health insurance industry failing on prior authorization reform […]
Revenue cycle management (RCM) is an intricate and critical aspect of the healthcare industry, encompassing the entire process from patient registration to reimbursement. However, RCM processes often face challenges, leading to pain points that can hinder efficiency, increase costs, and negatively impact patient satisfaction. Outsourcing Revenue cycle management services offers a viable solution to alleviate […]
Medicare’s trustees have issued a report (PDF) that reckons with the consequences that patients could face as a result of the physician payment system’s long-term unsustainability. Your Powerful Ally The AMA helps physicians build a better future for medicine, advocating in the courts and on the Hill to remove obstacles to patient care and confront […]
More than 400 healthcare finance leaders reported having revenue cycle workforce shortages, with almost 20 percent seeing 30 or more vacancies. Healthcare finance leaders are experiencing revenue cycle workforce shortages, with one in four reporting that they need to hire more than 20 employees to fully staff their department, according to a survey commissioned by […]
A focus on front-end revenue cycle efficiency can help to avoid costly medical necessity denials. KEY TAKEAWAYS Four words often describe the efforts to prevent denials related to medical necessity: too little, too late. Mistakes are made early in the patient’s hospital stay, and these mistakes lead to problems down the road. What remains constant […]
CMS released the fiscal year (FY) 2023 inpatient prospective payment system proposed rule with proposals for new calculations for FY 2023 rate setting. Although CMS is proposing to use FY 2021 data for FY 2023 Medicare Severity Diagnosis-Related Groups (MS-DRG) rate setting, the agency wants a modified methodology to account for the historical and potential […]