CMS (Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services) is getting on board with stopping identity theft and fraud by issuing new Medicare cards. The Problem: For years, Medicare has used patient’s social security numbers as the basis of the member’s ID. The SSN is currently printed on every patient’s Medicare insurance card, which makes patients more […]
New Medicare Insurance Cards to be Issued Read More »
We have the opportunity to work with many different clients and each practice has specific needs regarding medical record keeping. Some of our clients are entirely paperless and exclusively use an Electronic Health Records (EHR). Some of our clients are bucking the trend toward electronic records and maintain the tried-and-true record keeping developed over the
Medical Billing Options Whether Your Practice Uses an EHR or Not Read More »
Below is a look at some of the key changes that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued in its final rule on October 31, 2014. These changes will become effective January 1, 2015. This summary is informed by CMS’ 10/31/2014 published “Fact Sheet: Policy and payment changes to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule 2015.”
Key Medicare Physician Changes for 2015 Read More »
2015 will bring some well-deserved additional reimbursement for primary care physicians and other providers that manage some of the most difficult patients in the healthcare system: those with multiple chronic illnesses. Beginning in 2015, Medicare is going to begin to make separate, monthly payments to physicians for chronic care management (CCM) services. These services include
Medicare to Pay Doctors for Chronic Care Management Read More »
On Wednesday, April 9, 2014, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services made a historic release of the most detailed data that it ever has on procedures billed and payments received by each individual physician. Historically, the AMA has been opposed to such a release, as it was seen as a potential for privacy violations
CMS Releases Detailed, Individual Provider Data Read More »
The House of Representatives voted “YES” yesterday, March 27, 2014, on a bill that would delay ICD-10 implementation until October 1, 2015. The vote will now go to the Senate, and if passed, will move to the President’s desk for signature or veto. The bill was originally designed to delay the hefty 24% cut in Medicare
ICD-10 DELAY? Congress Deliberates Read More »
The federal Fiscal Year 2014 began on Tuesday, October 1st, at 12:01 AM with a partial government shutdown. The Congress and the President could not – and still have not – agreed upon an appropriations bill that fully funds the operation of the federal government. As a result, hundreds of thousands of federal employees have
Federal Shutdown Will NOT Affect Medicare Payments Read More »
We have been actively following PQRS developments with a watchful eye for the most efficient and effective way for Medicare providers to avoid the 2015 PQRS penalty. An option that may be a good solution for both group practices and individual providers is the CMS-calculated administrative claims reporting option. This option was presented by CMS
PQRS & CMS-Calculated Administrative Claims Option Read More »
We are less than six months away from a major shift in the way consumers and small-business owners shop for healthcare insurance. On October 1, 2013, enrollment begins for the state insurance exchanges, as prescribed in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. While the goal of the exchanges is to allow the currently insured
Navigating the New Health Insurance Marketplace – Preparing for Oct 1, 2013 Read More »
On December 19, 2012, CMS distributed the following message to healthcare providers accepting Medicare: Attention Health Professionals: Information Regarding the 2013 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule The negative update of 27% under current law for the 2013 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2013. Medicare Physician Fee Schedule claims for
A message from the CMS for Health Professionals: SGR 2013 Read More »
