Archive for July 2016
Telemedicine gaining acceptance among payors
Although not entirely embraced by insurers, telemedicine is slowly becoming a more acceptable means of providing care. Even the federal government is starting to recognize telemedicine’s benefits. Earlier this month, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed increasing telehealth coverage by adding new CPT codes for services beginning January 1, 2017 as part…
Read MoreCMS Proposes Changes to Meaningful Use Reporting Period
A reprieve could be on the way for the more than 200,000 healthcare providers who have been struggling to meet their electronic health reporting (EHR) requirements under the Meaningful Use Program. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) has announced a proposed rule that would  allow clinicians, hospitals and critical access hospitals to use a…
Read MoreWill proposed rule change clear Medicare appeal claims logjam?
The Department of Health and Human Services late last month took a small step toward easing a very big problem. The agency issued a proposed rule designed to help reduce the backlog of more than 700,000 Medicare claims stuck in the appeals process. The proposed changes to the Medicare appeals process would “streamline administrative processes,…
Read MoreFeds Step-up Crackdown on Fraudulent Billing for Compounded Meds
The recent indictment of a St. Petersburg physician who was charged with receiving illegal kickbacks for writing prescriptions for compounded medications serves to further highlight the federal government’s increased level of scrutiny over the industry. The facts of the latest case are as follows: Dr. Anthony Baldizzi was charged on June 23 with one count…
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