Tagged with Hospitalist Billing

New York Health + Hospitals Expands Health Program for the Uninsured

On October 4, New York City’s public hospital system, NYC Health + Hospitals, established a new program to provide health care to New York City’s uninsured, called NYC Care. The program originally launched in August and has a current enrollment of 5,000 people, and will expand into Brooklyn and Staten Island in January 2020.

Texas to Receive Increase in Federal Funds for Uncompensated Care

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission announced, on October 1, that the state will be given $11.6 billion over the next three years to help reimburse health care providers for indigent services and is intended to benefit hospitals, clinics, public ambulance, and dental providers.

Proposed Legislation Aims to Improve Provider Directories Accuracy

Two physician lawmakers have proposed new legislation that aims to improve the accuracy of information in health plan provider directories and protect patients from surprise out-of-network bills. The Improving Provider Directories Act (HR 4575) would require health plans to provide an avenue for people to report errors in provider directories, in a “highly visible way”.

Executive Order Issued to Protect Traditional Medicare and MA Plans

The president, on October 3, signed an executive order directing the Department of Health and Human Services to increase efforts to provide more insurance plan options under Medicare Advantage and to remove regulations that are considered burdensome to health care providers. The order is intended to protect traditional Medicare and private Medicare Advantage while ramping up alternative payment models, time spent with patients, access to innovative technology and reducing the regulatory burdens on providers.

House Approves CR, Senate Unveils Draft HHS Bill

The House, on September 19, approved a short-term spending measure that will keep the government funded through mid-November and avoid a shutdown at the beginning of October. Additionally, the Senate, on the 18th, released the FY2020 subcommittee chairman’s recommendation for the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS) Appropriations bill.

Improper Payment for Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy Planning Services

In a recent report, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) determined that payments for outpatient Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) did not comply with Medicare billing requirements. Specifically, hospitals billed separately for complex stimulations when they were performed as part of IMRT planning. Overpayments occurred because hospitals are unfamiliar with or misinterpreted CMS guidance.

CMS Releases 2018 ACA Risk-Adjustment Data

CMS, on June 28, released its report summary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) risk adjustment program for the 2018 benefit year. The analysis found that 572 health insurers offering ACA plans participated in the program in 2018, and transfers between the companies totaled $10.4 billion.

CMS Expands Medicare Coverage of Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring

CMS announced, on July 2, that it finalized its national coverage policy for Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM), extending coverage of blood pressure monitoring devices to all Medicare beneficiaries suspected of reporting abnormal blood pressure levels when administered in clinical settings.

CMS Issues FAQs on BPCI Advanced Model

CMS, on June 21, issued several new or updated frequently asked questions documents on the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement (BPCI) Advanced Model, an Advanced Alternative Payment Model launched last October that will run through 2023.

New York Out of Network Surprise Hospital Bill Passes State Senate

A new legislation has been introduced, that is intended to protect New York residents from unexpected surprise bills from hospital emergency department visits would give insurers the ability to pay hospitals outside their networks what they consider reasonable for emergency care, rather than what the hospital charged.

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AdvantEdge