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CMS eases scope of practice regulations for PAs as part of NPP advancement

11/18/2019

The final 2020 Medicare physician fee schedule features multiple advances in the regulations governing non-physician practitioners (NPPs), suggesting CMS’ growing awareness of and support for these providers’ roles in delivering health care.

Care managed: CMS aims for changes that will close gaps in patient care

11/18/2019

by: Julia Kyles

Practices that report chronic care, complex chronic care or transitional care management (TCM) services will find the news for next year is good, better or best.

Payment, policy, coding changes in final 2020 Medicare physician fee schedule

11/18/2019

by: Part B News Staff

Along with payment and policy updates for 2020, the final 2020 Medicare physician fee schedule contains a wide range of regulations your practice needs to know about for the coming year.

QPP: Slight MIPS, APM updates for 2020 signal a calm before the storm

11/18/2019

by: Roy Edroso

The Quality Payment Program (QPP) and Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) sections of the physician fee schedule final rule continue to ratchet up pressure on providers and point to a potentially seismic change with the Pathways plan for 2021.

Specialty winners and losers: Who’s up, who’s down under 2020 fee schedule

11/18/2019

by: Richard Scott and Laura Evans, CPC

Ophthalmology and vascular surgery are among the specialty groups expected to take a payment hit in 2020, while clinical social workers, clinical psychologists and podiatrists are slated for a reimbursement bump.

Chart your course for 2021: E/M add- on codes add revenue opportunity

11/14/2019

by: Julia Kyles, CPC

You’ll have two add-on codes to go with the new descriptors, documentation standards and coding guidelines for codes 99202-99215 taking effect Jan. 1, 2021. But that may come as a relief: CMS was considering the creation of three add-on codes, some of which would have been reported based on specialty.

Make a ‘wokeplace’ to attract and keep up-and-coming female providers

11/11/2019

by: Roy Edroso

As evidence accrues that general attitudes toward female providers are not advancing as quickly as are women themselves in the profession, you can steal a march on other practices by offering a more women-friendly workplace.

2020 fee schedule confirms E/M overhaul, updated rates, new codes and more

11/11/2019

by: DecisionHealth staff

The vast reshaping of E/M documentation standards and payment changes took a significant step closer to reality as CMS put a stamp of approval on its previous proposals to overhaul how medical practices report office and outpatient E/M services in 2021.

Clouds clearing: CDC issues official coding guidance for vaping injuries, illness

11/11/2019

by: James Dresbach

Now that some of the smoke has cleared, you’ll discover new coding guidance from the CDC on how to track and report illnesses, injuries and deaths linked to the emerging public health crisis of e-cigarette use, or vaping. Altogether, you’ll find 30 ICD-10-CM codes and additional guidance to fill in previous gaps when coding such encounters.

Smoking cessation codes use grows – and so do denials

11/11/2019

by: Roy Edroso

As new coding guidelines emerge for vaping and e-cigarette use, you may find it instructive to look at how the codes for treatment for non-electronic smoking have fared over the years. In short, practices have ramped up activity but denial rates have increased, too.

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