Part B News | Part B News

Stave off privacy risks when patients use payment apps to pay you

01/17/2022

Payment apps have become a popular and convenient way for patients to pay providers (see story, above). While providers are not obligated to accept payment via this method, many have been adding this option to foster patient engagement and satisfaction.

ACA proposed rule might spur provider contracts, SDOH coding

01/17/2022

by: Roy Edroso

While a new proposed rule on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) mainly affects health plans, providers who contract with them may feel an impact in patient population and Z-coding if it’s finalized as written.

SCOTUS restores CMS vaccine mandate, but OSHA rule stay remains

01/17/2022

by: Roy Edroso

The Supreme Court has ruled on two vaccine mandates — against one that requires vaccination in businesses with 100 or more employees, but for another that would require many if not most health care workers to be vaccinated.

CMS issues HCPCS code for remdesivir medication

01/17/2022

by: Richard Scott

You’ll find a new HCPCS codes, J0248 (Injection, remdesivir, 1 mg), for remdesivir antiviral medication used to treat COVID-19, but you should check with your Medicare administrative contractor (MAC) about coverage eligibility and payment terms.

Phone E/M codes exploded in ’20, easing office visit shortfall

01/17/2022

by: Richard Scott

As in-person E/M visits cratered during the first year of the COVID-19 health crisis, practices successfully turned to phone-based encounters (99441-99443) and brought in millions in payments.

At last minute, CMS gives clarity on No Surprises estimates, convening terms

01/10/2022

by: Roy Edroso

As parts of the new No Surprises rules go into effect, CMS has responded to appeals from providers to clarify some points that had been left unclear. These include how to handle good faith estimate (GFE) notification times in the case of urgent care and the requirement that “convening” providers must provide estimates of other providers’ care costs in the case of procedures with multiple touch points.

3 questions clarify split or shared and critical care modifiers

01/10/2022

by: Julia Kyles, CPC

Question: Where is Medicare’s detailed guidance for the new modifiers for critical care services during a global surgical period and split or shared visits? We can’t find anything in the final 2022 Medicare physician fee schedule.

Extra predictions: Medicare Advantage, therapy assistants, direct contracting

01/10/2022

by: Roy Edroso

In the Jan. 3 issue, Part B News issued a series of 2022 predictions about resonant trends likely to have a significant impact on the medical practice industry (PBN 1/3/22). Below you will find bonus predictions assessing additional areas of heightened focus.

2022 CPT update: Navigate musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, digestive updates

01/10/2022

by: Sarah Gould

In October 2021, the AMA announced 405 updates to the 2022 CPT Manual, including 249 new codes, 63 deletions and 93 revisions (PBN 10/14/21). To get ready for novel codes, review significant updates to the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and digestive chapters of the CPT Manual.

Providers turned to 59 less in 2020, but revenue jumped on most-used codes

01/10/2022

by: Roy Edroso

In 2020, providers used modifier 59 (Distinct procedural service) less frequently, but the top 15 codes used with the modifier earned higher payments than they had in the previous year.

Login

User Name:
Password:
Remember me Forgot password
Welcome to the new Part B News Online. If you are a returning user having trouble logging in, please click here.