CMS released Transmittal 836 on October 19, clarified language in Chapter 6 of the Medicare Program Integrity Manual regarding medical review of diagnostic laboratory tests.
A retrospective study recently published in the Journal of Pediatric Surgery found that 59% of reviewed cases across four institutions contained discrepancies between operative dictation and CPT coding for pediatric abdominal surgeries.
The most recent quarterly update to the influenza virus vaccine code set includes a new HCPCS influenza virus vaccine code approved for use in 2019, according to CMS Transmittal 4127.
The American Medical Association recently released the 2019 CPT code set, which includes 335 code changes, primarily for skin biopsies, fine needle aspirations, and central nervous system assessments. All changes take effect January 1.
The October 2018 OPPS quarterly update introduced two new HCPCS codes and granted passthrough payment status to eight separately payable drugs and biologicals.
CMS’ 2019 OPPS proposed rule continues the agency’s efforts to enforce site-neutral payments and reduce drug payments by introducing policies to reduce reimbursement for hospital outpatient clinic visits at off-campus, provider-based departments (PBD) and expanding last year’s payment reductions for drugs purchased under the 340B discount pricing program by nonexcepted PBDs.
The 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) proposed rule, released July 12, introduces policies that focus on expanding the framework for reporting E/M visits and removing certain process measures under the Quality Payment Program (QPP).
CMS exceeded its goal of 90% participation in the first year of the Quality Payment Program (QPP), according to a May blog post from CMS Administrator Seema Verma.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the fiscal year 2019 ICD-10-CM code changes on Monday, June 11. The update includes 279 code additions, 143 revisions, and 51 deletions.
Despite considerable opposition from hospital systems, on June 1, the Health Resources and Services Administration finalized its decision to delay the implementation of a 340B rule on drug ceiling prices and civil monetary penalties for manufacturers.
At the 2018 American Hospital Association (AHA) Annual Membership Meeting on Monday, May 7, CMS administrator Seema Verma focused on the agency’s efforts to reduce regulatory burdens and continued move from a fee-for-service to value-based system.
While oral arguments in the American Hospital Association’s (AHA) lawsuit against CMS for its cuts to 340B drug payments in the 2018 OPPS final rule don’t begin until May 4, providers may want to take steps now to preserve their appeal rights if the AHA’s lawsuit is successful.
CMS held a listening session March 21 to gather input from stakeholders on potential updates to the E/M documentation guidelines. The current guidelines are considered outdated in light of medical advances and the advent of the electronic health record.
In response to ongoing criticism from physicians and the government’s own advisory panel against the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA), the U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health held a hearing Wednesday, March 21, to defend the administration’s implementation strategy for the new physician payment program.
CMS released Transmittal 3997 March 8, outlining HCPCS drug and biological code updates. These changes include updates to specific biosimilar biological product HCPCS codes, modifiers used with these biosimilar biologic products, and an autologous cellular immunotherapy treatment.
The World Health Organization is preparing for the official release of the 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases, or ICD-11, in June.
CMS released Transmittal 3950 on January 12 describing updates to a list of the HCPCS codes for Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractors and Part B Medicare Administrative Contractor jurisdictions.
Medicare fee-for-service claims had a 90.5% accuracy rate and a 9.5% improper payment rate for all claims submitted between July 1, 2015- June 30, 2016, according to a recent CMS Comprehensive Error Rate Testing report.
With providers continuing to expand clinical documentation improvement efforts into outpatient settings, ACDIS has published a position paper offering guidance to outpatient CDI departments for performing queries.
