Interesting News from CMS…
CMS Today issued a proposed rule that would increase rewards paid to Medicare beneficiaries and others whose tips about suspected fraud lead to the recovery of funds. In addition, the rule would allow the agency to deny Medicare enrollment to providers affiliated with any entity that has unpaid Medicare debt; deny enrollment or revoke billing [...]
Co-Pay Collection Policies
During a recent webinar, Roberl Liles of Liles Parker (General Compliance Counsel for the American Medical Billing Association) stated the following: Having a blanket policy to address going after small balances, say $10 or less is a problem. You must not have a policy that says, “XYZ Practice will automatically write off $10 or less balances because it [...]
CMS describes how sequester will be applied to Medicare payments
Unless Congress acts to change the sequester, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will reduce Medicare fee-for-service payments by 2% for service/discharge dates and durable medical equipment/supply dates starting April 1, the agency announced Friday. CMS said it will apply the 2% reduction to all claims after determining coinsurance and any applicable deductible and [...]
ICD-10 Coding Transition
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently posted checklists and timelines to help small hospitals, physician practices and payers transition to ICD-10 for reporting patient diagnoses and inpatient procedures. Under a final rule issued in August, hospitals and other entities covered by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act must transition to the ICD-10 [...]
Medicare and Sequestration
Sequestration is set to cut big hunks of spending from hundreds of federal activities, from the Head Start program to a second carrier for the Persian Gulf, with March 1 as the start date for putting the actual reductions in motion. But under the law requiring the sequester, the Budget Control Act of 2011, the cut [...]
February 28 Deadline for Medicare EHR Incentive Payment Quickly Approaching
In or to receive an incentive payment for the 2012 calendar year, Medicare eligible professionals must register and attest participation in the 2012 Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) by Thursday, February 28. For more information, go to http://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/EHRIncentivePrograms/index.html?redirect=%2Fehrincentiveprograms%2F
5010 Compliance Extended
Today, March 15, 2012 CMS’ Office of E-Health Standards and Services (OESS) is announcing that it will not initiate enforcement action for an additional three (3) months, through June 30, 2012, against any covered entity that is required to comply with the updated transactions standards adopted under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of [...]
Health Insurance Deductibles
January 1, 2012 means deductibles start over again for many health insurance policies including Medicare. The 2012 Medicare Part B deductible will be $140.00. Medicare Part B beneficiaries who do not have a supplemental plan may be responsible for 20% of the Medicare approved amount for services after meeting their deductible.
Aetna Network for Behavioral Health now Open
Aetna’s Behavioral Health network is now open in Colorado’s Larimer and Weld counties. To become a provider with Aetna go to Aetna’s Provider Enrollment page (click this link) and complete the Application Request.
