CMS finalizes changes to packaged services and E/M coding for clinic visits
by Jaclyn Fitzgerald, Associate EditorCMS finalized changes to packaged services and evaluation and management (E/M) CPT® codes for clinic visits with the much-anticipated November 27 release of the...
View ArticleQ&A: Can we still report a modifier for device credits?
Q: Will we need to continue appending the modifier when we receive credit for a device from the manufacturer in 2014? We have pacemakers and other devices that are recalled and replaced on occasion and...
View ArticleMedicare Benefit and Policy Manual Updated
On November 29, CMS issued a transmittal stating in accordance with the Jimmo v. Sebelius Settlement Agreement, CMS has agreed to issue revised portions of the relevant chapters of the program manual...
View ArticleCMS proposes new meaningful use Stage 2 deadline
by Jaclyn Fitzgerald, Associate EditorCMS recently proposed a new Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Program timeline that extends meaningful use Stage 2 through 2016. The revised timeline also pushes...
View ArticleQ&A: Are there changes for skin substitute reporting in 2014?
Q: Are there any changes for skin substitute application reporting for 2014? We are hearing rumors that there are a lot of changes this year.A: There are changes for reporting skin substitute...
View ArticleReminder: Medicare Benefit and Policy Manual Updated
On November 29, CMS issued a transmittal stating in accordance with the Jimmo v. Sebelius Settlement Agreement, CMS has agreed to issue revised portions of the relevant chapters of the program manual...
View ArticleOIG releases 2014-2018 strategic plan and top management issues
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has released their strategic plan for 2014-2018. Their goals include:Fight fraud, waste, and abusePromote quality, safety, and valueSecure the futureAdvance...
View ArticleOIG report targets EHR copy-paste functionality
by Jaclyn Fitzgerald, Associate EditorPlease note: This will be the last issue of HIM-HIPAA Insider for 2013. All of us at HCPro wish you a safe and happy new year.Hospitals that use the copy-paste...
View ArticleQ&A: Are there any drugs which had pass-through status in 2013 that won?t in...
Q: Did any drugs lose pass-through status for 2014? A: Yes, 14 drugs and biologicals that received pass-through payment for 2013 will not for 2014. The packaging threshold for drugs/biologicals was...
View ArticleCMS issues proposed rule to improve provider emergency preparedness
On December 27, CMS issued a proposed rule that would establish national emergency preparedness requirements for Medicare and Medicaid participating providers and suppliers to ensure that they...
View ArticleWEDI report reveals minimal ICD-10 implementation progress
by Jaclyn Fitzgerald, Associate Editor Many providers and health plans made progress toward completing an ICD-10 impact assessment last year, although vendors are lagging where product development is...
View ArticleMaterials from Jimmo v. Sebelius provider call available now
On January 24, 2013, the U. S. District Court for the District of Vermont approved a settlement agreement in the case of Jimmo v. Sebelius, involving skilled care for the inpatient rehabilitation...
View ArticleMaterials from Jimmo v. Sebelius provider call available now
On January 24, 2013, the U. S. District Court for the District of Vermont approved a settlement agreement in the case of Jimmo v. Sebelius, involving skilled care for the inpatient rehabilitation...
View ArticleOIG report finds EHRs are being improperly reviewed by CMS
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) recently released a report titled, “CMS and Its Contractors Have Adopted Few Program Integrity Practices to Address Vulnerability in EHRs” that finds that few...
View ArticleOIG reports on CMS' failure to address EHR vulnerabilities
by Jaclyn Fitzgerald, Associate Editor The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (OIG) recently released another report on the use of electronic health records...
View ArticleUnderstanding policies and procedures
Every agency struggles with the amount of things it needs to do in a very limited amount of time. In the ever-changing world of homecare, it can be difficult to not only comply with new regulations,...
View ArticleQ&A: Which edits did CMS discontinue for 2014?
Q: Did CMS discontinue the device-to-procedure and radiopharmaceutical-to-nuclear medicine procedure edits for 2014? CMS said these would be discontinued in the proposed rule. A: CMS did propose to...
View ArticleCMS makes Jimmo v. Sebelius clarification
On January 14, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) replaced Transmittal 176 with Transmittal 179 to correct an error in Chapter 8, Section 30.4.1.1.The revisions in Transmittal 176...
View ArticleGAO report takes aim at federal data breach response
by Jaclyn Fitzgerald, Associate Editor Eight federal agencies including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) developed but failed to implement consistent data breach response policies...
View ArticleCMS announces LUPA payments have been put on hold
In the most recent MLN Connects, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that low utilization payment adjustments have been put on hold. MLN Connects states: Medicare...
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