A recent salary survey conducted by our sister publication Medical Records Briefing found the same trends prevail year after year: the 145 HIM professionals who responded feel they are overworked and underpaid.
A Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) study found insufficient documentation to be the cause of 97% of improper payments for certain kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty procedures, according to the Medicare Quarterly Compliance Newsletter.
CMS and the American Medical Association (AMA) may have made peace regarding ICD-10, but it seems some members of Congress didn’t get the memo. Reps. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Tom E. Price, R-Ga...
CMS announced a new incentive program designed to reduce complications from joint replacement surgery. The new proposed Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement will require bundling of reimbursement for hip and knee surgeries, with profits tied closely to costs and quality metrics.
CMS continues to move toward increased packaging with its policies in the 2016 OPPS proposed rule released July 2, with additional comprehensive APCs (C-APC) and extensive APC reconfigurations.
Multiple surveys have shown that physician practices are lagging behind in preparation for ICD-10. CMS recently released a Quick Start Guide that outlines five steps healthcare professionals should...
A survey conducted in May and June 2015 found providers have completed many steps toward ICD-10 implementation, but lag behind in testing and expect to continue managing the impact after the deadline.
Coders will find 50 new codes in ICD-10-PCS for 2016, according to the summary of changes posted by CMS . CMS also introduced a new section for ICD-10-PCS, X (new technology). In addition, guidelines B3.11b, B3.4a, B3.2b, and B4.1b were revised in response to public comment.
A Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) study found that the improper payment rate for radiation therapy planning claims was significantly higher than many other physician specialty services, according to the Medicare Quarterly Compliance Newsletter .
The American Medical Association (AMA) is trying to get a seat at the ICD-10 table by resolving to request inclusion as one of the Cooperating Parties. Mind you, today’s resolution at the AMA annual...
CMS provided plenty of proposed refinements to quality measures in the 2016 IPPS proposed rule, but did not suggest any changes to the 2-midnight rule. Kimberly A.H. Baker, JD, CPC, James S. Kennedy, MD, CCS, CDIP, and Shannon Newell, RHIA, CCS, highlight the most significant proposed changes.
CMS declared its second week of ICD-10 end-to-end testing , held from April 27 through May 1, a success. Approximately 875 participants submitted 23,138 test claims during the week and CMS accepted...
A Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) contractor special study found improper payments on Medicare Part B claims including HCPCS code 84999 (unlisted chemistry procedure) submitted from October to December 2013, according to the latest Medicare Quarterly Compliance Newsletter .
Providers have one last chance to volunteer for ICD-10 end-to-end testing, with CMS extending the deadline to sign up for the July testing period through May 22.
An automated Recovery Auditor review of discharge status codes identified improper payments, according to the Medicare Quarterly Compliance Newsletter . However, CMS did not report the prevalence of the errors.
CMS released updated I/OCE specifications in January with several changes that could require providers to examine claims submitted early in 2015 that include comprehensive APCs (C-APC) to ensure proper payment.
A Recovery Auditor automated review of claims for cardiovascular nuclear medicine procedures found potential incorrect billing due to lack of medical necessity, according to the latest Medicare Quarterly Compliance Newsletter.
