On April 27, 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a proposed rule for the fiscal year (FY) 2022 Medicare Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS). The proposed rule includes CMS proposals for certain annual Medicare payment policies and rates as well as certain quality and value-based programs for FY 2022. Stakeholders must submit […]
Patient access is the first point of contact for patients and the first time staff can get key information right for revenue cycle management success. Patient access is generally the first encounter a patient will have with a healthcare organization, making it central to the patient experience. But this aspect of healthcare is also […]
The COVID-19 pandemic created a host of challenges for revenue cycle management leaders, from widespread service line shutdowns to shifting staff to work at home and increasing self-pay balances. These pressures have heightened inefficiencies in A/R processes and productivity. While these challenges took a massive financial toll on healthcare organizations—to the tune of $323 billion […]
Cold antibody hemolytic anemia is a rare autoimmune disorder characterized by the premature destruction of red blood cells by autoantibodies at temperatures of approximately 0 to 10 degrees Celsius. Q: What is the difference between cold, hot, and mixed type autoimmune hemolytic anemia, as described by 2021 ICD-10-CM codes D59.11-D59.13? A: ICD-10-CM code category D59.- (acquired […]
The Covid-19 pandemic is transforming how physicians practice medicine and bill for it. Physicians who take a consumer-oriented approach to their billing cycle may adapt the best, says John Behn III, MPA, president of Stroudwater Revenue Cycle Solutions and a principal of Stroudwater Associates, a national healthcare consulting firm based in Portland, Maine. “We’ve seen […]
Practices have been creative during COVID-19 to ensure safe patient access: Telephone visits. Curbside immunizations. Drive-up virus testing. Even checking patients in for their in-office visits while they wait in the car. However, each of these scenarios poses one significant challenge: Collecting copayments and coinsurance. “With COVID-19, you’ve got to find ways to meaningfully engage […]
The COVID-19 pandemic has proven that fast, meaningful change is both possible and necessary for healthcare revenue cycles to keep up with a changing world. But to make truly meaningful change within the revenue cycle, the industry will need to embrace even more changes, such as payer partnerships, greater automation, and standardization across payers. Payer-provider […]
New patient evaluation and management (E/M) claims are being denied when the patient was previously seen by a specialty physician assistant or specialty nurse practitioner on staff. This is happening when another provider of a different specialty in the same multi-specialty group sees the patient for the first time and bills a new patient E/M […]
The right revenue cycle management technology can create a transparent, seamless patient experience, which benefits the bottom line. For the longest time, revenue cycle management has been the man behind the curtain. Healthcare organizations have focused on improving the clinical experience using technology and provider education while telling patients and providers to pay no attention […]
CMS’ reworked the Merit-based Incentive Payment System, to simplify reporting requirements for providers in its 2020 Physician Fee Schedule Quality Payment Program Final Rule.Patient billing disputes result in more work for hospital staff and can potentially stand in the way of timely payment for services. However, many organizations are making efforts to avoid or reduce […]









