To support clinicians during the COVID-19 public health emergency, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is extending the 2020 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances Exception application deadline to Feb. 1, 2021. For the 2020 performance year, CMS will be using its Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances policy … [Read more...] about Extreme Circumstances Exception application deadline stretched to Feb. 1
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CMS announces historic changes to physician self-referral regs
CMS has finalized changes to the Physician Self-Referral Law. The law prohibited physicians from making referrals to an entity, for certain health care services, if the physician had a financial relationship with the entity. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced the changes to outdated federal regulations it says have burdened health care providers with … [Read more...] about CMS announces historic changes to physician self-referral regs
Warn your patients not to fall for COVID-19 scams
Pharma companies, diagnostics manufacturers, labs and other parts of the healthcare industry have done a commendable job in pivoting in response to the current public health crisis. Sadly, it seems that you can say the very same thing can also be said about the scammers. On Nov. 23, the OIG issued a new alert warning the public about fraud schemes related to COVID-19. The face … [Read more...] about Warn your patients not to fall for COVID-19 scams
What I really wanted for Christmas
By Lynne Curry bio “What I really wanted for Christmas,” the woman said, “Wasn’t a turkey or a ham. It’s communication. The management around here keeps us in the dark, but then expects us to carry out their last minute orders without knowing the full story.” Have you thought about how you could have wished your employees happy holidays this year? Did you throw them an … [Read more...] about What I really wanted for Christmas
The new paradigm for physician compensation: payment for value/quality v. volume
By John McDaniel bio How will physician compensation arrangements be impacted by quality incentive payments with respect to determining Fair Market Value and commercial reasonability? The enactment of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) in November 2016 set forth future options for payment from Medicare, those being participation in the Merit‐Based … [Read more...] about The new paradigm for physician compensation: payment for value/quality v. volume
OSHA says cloth face coverings are not “PPE”
By Mike O'Brien bio In an update to its FAQ, OSHA has stated that cloth face coverings do not constitute personal protective equipment (PPE). According to OSHA, there isn’t enough information currently available to determine if a particular cloth face covering provides sufficient protection from the coronavirus hazard to be PPE under OSHA’s standard. OSHA’s determination is … [Read more...] about OSHA says cloth face coverings are not “PPE”
2018 performance info now available on Medicare Care Compare and in Provider Data Catalog
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has added new performance information to the Doctors & Clinicians section of Medicare Care Compare and in the Provider Data Catalog (PDC), the successor websites to Physician Compare and the Physician Compare Downloadable Database. Medicare patients and caregivers can use the Care Compare website to search for and … [Read more...] about 2018 performance info now available on Medicare Care Compare and in Provider Data Catalog
Professionals working from home logging long hours including weekends
Although your practice is open to patients, some of your office staffers may be working from home. And they may be putting in longer hours than usual. A new study by global staffing firm Robert Half shows employees are working around the clock while at home. More than half (55 per cent) of professionals who transitioned to a remote setup as a result of the pandemic said they … [Read more...] about Professionals working from home logging long hours including weekends
Technical issues and too many participants are biggest virtual meeting pet peeves
If you're tired of video meetings, you're not alone. A new study by global staffing firm Robert Half shows video calls may be wearing on workers. Almost three-quarters of professionals surveyed (72 per cent) said they participate in virtual meetings. Those respondents reported spending about a quarter of their workday (24 per cent) on camera with business contacts or … [Read more...] about Technical issues and too many participants are biggest virtual meeting pet peeves
OIG issues fraud alert on pharmaceutical company in-person speaker programs
Before the pandemic put the chill on live conference events, it was fairly common for pharmaceutical companies, device makers and diagnostics companies to offer healthcare professionals fees for in-person speaking appearances. Such practices raise red flags under the federal Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) when those speakers recommend the products of those companies to their … [Read more...] about OIG issues fraud alert on pharmaceutical company in-person speaker programs