The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed changes that would increase the amount of time that doctors and other clinicians can spend with their patients by reducing the burden of paperwork that clinicians face when billing Medicare. The proposed rules are intended to help restore the doctor-patient relationship by empowering clinicians to use their … [Read more...] about CMS proposes changes to modernize Medicare and aid the doctor-patient relationship
Medicare
Physicians lack time and tools to discover hidden risks in patients with chronic conditions
The vast majority of primary care physicians don't have the time or tools to adequately address the needs of their patients with multiple chronic conditions, leaving some patients to struggle with health-related social and behavioral issues on their own, according to new research from Quest Diagnostics. The findings are based on an independent survey commissioned by Quest of … [Read more...] about Physicians lack time and tools to discover hidden risks in patients with chronic conditions
How telehealth can help medically complex elders achieve better outcomes while also reducing healthcare costs
A recent study conducted by Seniorlink, Inc. found that medically complex patients age 65 and older had dramatically lower rates of hospitalizations, emergency room visits, and falls when family caregivers and clinicians engaged with each other through a technology-enabled care plan. The analysis also revealed that this approach resulted in a significant reduction in healthcare … [Read more...] about How telehealth can help medically complex elders achieve better outcomes while also reducing healthcare costs
2018 Medicare Reimbursement: Final Rule
By Elizabeth Woodcock, Guest Contributor bio Just hours within the release of the Final Rule concerning the 2018 revisions to the Quality Payment Program (QPP) on November 2, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published the ruling that governs the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) for the coming year. Although overshadowed by the QPP … [Read more...] about 2018 Medicare Reimbursement: Final Rule
Quality Payment Program (QPP) Final Rule Released November 2
By Elizabeth Woodcock, Guest Contributor bio According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), flexibility is the purported theme of the QPP Final Rule, which was issued under its official title, the Medicare Program; CY 2018 Updates to the Quality Payment Program; and Quality Payment Program: Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstance Policy for … [Read more...] about Quality Payment Program (QPP) Final Rule Released November 2
CMS grants exceptions for providers affected by Hurricane Maria
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is granting exceptions under certain Medicare quality reporting and value-based purchasing programs to the following providers located in areas affected by Hurricane Maria, due to the devastating impact of the storm: inpatient psychiatric facilities, skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, hospices, inpatient … [Read more...] about CMS grants exceptions for providers affected by Hurricane Maria
2018 Health Insurance Exchanges Issuer County Map
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has posted an update to the Health Insurance Exchanges Issuer County Map. This map is of projected issuer participation on the Health Insurance Exchanges in 2018 based on the known issuer public announcements through August 23, 2017. Participation is expected to fluctuate and does not represent actual Exchange application … [Read more...] about 2018 Health Insurance Exchanges Issuer County Map
OIG Report: CMS dished out $729.4 million in wrongful EHR incentive payments & we’re going to get that money back
Wrongful payments of Electronic Health Records (EHR) incentives are at the focus of two of the month's biggest stories in health care compliance. The first came down on May 31 when the Justice Department announced that one of the biggest EHR software vendors in the country, eClinicalWorks, had settled false claims charges stemming from allegedly overstating the capabilities of … [Read more...] about OIG Report: CMS dished out $729.4 million in wrongful EHR incentive payments & we’re going to get that money back
Now available: 2017 CMS QRDA III Implementation Guide for Eligible Clinicians and Eligible Professionals, Schematron, and sample files
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has published the 2017 CMS Quality Reporting Document Architecture Category III (QRDA III) Implementation Guide (IG) Version 1.0 (7/07/2017) for Eligible Clinicians and Eligible Professionals (EPs) Programs with Schematron and sample files. This version replaces the 2017 CMS QRDA III IG for Eligible Clinicians Reporting … [Read more...] about Now available: 2017 CMS QRDA III Implementation Guide for Eligible Clinicians and Eligible Professionals, Schematron, and sample files
AMA launches campaign to maximize physician success in MACRA
The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) promises to reshape how Medicare pays physicians under the Quality Payment Program (QPP). Yet, a survey of 1,000 practicing physicians who have been involved in practice decision-making related to QPP shows that fewer than one in four physicians feel well prepared to meet its requirements in 2017, according to a … [Read more...] about AMA launches campaign to maximize physician success in MACRA