Tag: medical-billing

Surprise Medical Bills

Insurers, Providers Spar Over Solution to Surprise Medical Bills

America’s Health Insurance Plans called on Congress to set a fixed reimbursement rate based on what insurers pay in a region. Providers are pushing back against an insurer proposal for legislation to set reimbursement rates to avoid surprise medical bills. In a letter to Senate and House leaders this week, America’s Health Insurance Plans and 16 other […]
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21 New HCPCS Level II Codes

21 New HCPCS Level II Codes for April

The new codes include drugs for migraines, to initiate blood-clotting in patients on certain coagulants, chronic and hairy cell leukemia, and folic acid for chemotherapy patients. The home health codes help facilitate the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) Pioneer ACO initiative. New HCPCS Level II Codes […]
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Diagnostic Accuracy

ICD-10, Diagnostic Errors & Payment Reforms to Improve Diagnostic Accuracy

In October 2015, physicians across the United States transitioned from the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Ninth Revision to the tenth revision (ICD-10-CM, the US version of the World Health Organization [WHO] ICD-10). Although the ICD-10-CM was a new concept for physicians in the United States, the international variant has been available since […]
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Patient Satisfaction

How to Drive Patient Satisfaction and Financial Results with a Modern Medical Billing Process

Most industries embrace the motto “the customer is king.” They are acutely aware their success is driven by it. While the complexity of the healthcare business model has made it challenging for provider organizations to adopt such an ethos, the recent rise of consumerism in the industry necessitates that providers prioritize the patient experience if […]
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New Rules Issued for Modifiers 59, XE, XS, XP, and XU

New Rules Issued for Modifiers 59, XE, XS, XP, and XU

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a policy change modification to the claims processing logic for Modifier 59 Distinct procedural service (and the optional patient-relationship modifiers XE, XS, XP, and XU) on February 15, 2019. These modifiers are only processed when applied to the Column 2 code in a bundled pair, per Correct Coding Initiative […]
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Medicare Advantage Plans and the Two-Midnight Rule

Medicare Advantage Plans and the Two-Midnight Rule

Controversy continues to swirl around this subject. A recent article of mine focused on the argument that Medicare Advantage (MA) plans have to follow the two-midnight rule. It certainly generated buzz; I received a number of emails with comments and questions. First, I want to note that I love getting comments and questions. I can’t […]
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“Defensive” Undercoding Is Indefensible

“Defensive” Undercoding Is Indefensible

Undercoding, or reporting a lesser service than was performed and documented, is sometimes employed as a defensive strategy to stave off claims denials or audits. But, undercoding can make a provider an outlier, and may create consequential patient care, compliance, and financial liabilities. For example: Undercoding Leaves Money On The Table, Driving Down Provider Reimbursement […]
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3 Key Strategies to Increase Healthcare Revenue Cycle Efficiency

3 Key Strategies to Increase Healthcare Revenue Cycle Efficiency

As providers engage in complex payment models and collect more from patients, they must learn to automate key functions to improve healthcare revenue efficiency. The healthcare revenue cycle has many moving parts. From patient access and registration to medical billing and coding, provider organizations of all sizes must achieve revenue cycle efficiency to ensure providers […]
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Preparing Providers For Value-Based Care

Preparing Providers For Value-Based Care, Consumerism In Healthcare

Technology can transform data into actionable insights for providers needing to meet the demands of value-based care and consumerism in healthcare. Transforming raw data into actionable information is crucial to the financial future of provider organizations, especially as pressure builds on providers to align their care delivery approach with value-based care and consumerism in healthcare. […]
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