Home | News & Analysis
Part B News
Growing role of psych NPs widens door for collaboration with PCPs
09/19/2022
by: Roy Edroso
A new study shows the growing role of psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNP) in filling mental health care needs, and suggests alternatives for practices accustomed to refer patients who need these services.
No Surprises IDRs stall, but new rules more likely to favor providers
09/19/2022
by: Roy Edroso
Several federal agencies recently issued a set of final rules based on the No Surprises Act (NSA) that affects out-of-network reimbursement of providers. These rules should make it easier for providers to contest payer decisions — that is, if CMS can break the logjam in its independent dispute resolution (IDR) process, which experts caution the new rules may worsen.
CMS issues two comment requests on ABNs, self-referrals
09/19/2022
by: DecisionHealth Staff
On September 7, CMS published two comment requests in the Federal Register. The first request pertains to the Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage (ABN).
Providers amped up 60-minute psychotherapy service in 2020
09/19/2022
by: Richard Scott
Many psychotherapy services dipped in 2020; however, the 60-minute therapy service code gained claims while Part B payments grew by $28 million. And aside from psychiatric specialists, nurse practitioners were most likely to report a psychiatric diagnostic evaluation when also performing a separate E/M service.
Is the PHE ending? As CMS signals yes, prepare for policy, compliance changes
09/12/2022
by: Roy Edroso
A provocative post from CMS reminds us that the COVID public health emergency (PHE), in place since Jan. 31, 2020, won’t last forever. It appears the agency is preparing for the end, and so should your practice.
E/M sections of proposed fee schedule spark demand for unified policies
09/12/2022
by: Julia Kyles, CPC
CMS is receiving pushback on its plan to create three new prolonged services codes that would take effect Jan. 1. A review of comments submitted for the proposed 2023 Medicare physician fee schedule shows that health care stakeholders, ranging from specialty societies to individual coding consultants, have urged CMS to abandon its plan.
Closeout, part II: Clear legal, financial hurdles when closing a practice
09/12/2022
by: Roy Edroso
Beyond the previously-covered handling of patient records after a practice shutters, owners or partners will have to deal with parties affected by their closing — payers, patients, creditors, the medical board and others. It’s not as simple as turning out the lights and locking up; you must prepare to accommodate the needs of all the parties involved.
Individuals, group performers saw largest quality-score losses in 2020
09/12/2022
by: Julia Kyles, CPC
Individual clinicians and practices continued to take part in the Quality Payment Program (QPP) during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there were shifts in how many participants met or exceeded performance thresholds in 2020 compared to 2019, according to a CMS fact sheet.
Inflation Reduction Act caps insulin costs, grants CMS drug negotiating power
08/29/2022
by: Roy Edroso
Many of the health care changes in the Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law by President Biden on Aug. 16, will be rolled out over time, but the effect of the insulin cost ceiling and other aspects of the law are likely to have a more immediate impact on your patients.
Focus on practitioner preference, end users when you update E/M templates
08/29/2022
by: Julia Kyles, CPC
Make sure treating practitioners and coding staff work together when the practice revises its electronic health record (EHR) templates ahead of the next round of E/M changes (PBN 7/11/22). The second E/M update will move the remaining level-based codes to the office/other outpatient model and gives your practice the opportunity to rethink and improve its templates.
Prev Next

Login

User Name:
Password:
Forgot password
Welcome to the new Part B News Online. If you are a returning user having trouble logging in, please click here.
Quick Links
Learning Opportunities
See more...
Forum

The Forum is temporarily unavailable.

click icon to expand
Back to top
Privacy Policy
|
Terms of Use
|
© 2026 DecisionHealth, an HCPro Brand