Archive for November 2018
Medicare Improper Payments Fall to Lowest Level in Eight Years
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced last week that its efforts to reduce improper payments is working. CMS noted that it paid out an estimated $31 billion in improper payments during fiscal year 2018, down from $36.2 billion a year earlier. That’s the lowest level since 2010. CMS noted this is the…
Read MoreOpioid Law Includes New Kickback Penalties for Drug Treatment Facilities/Labs
Last month, President Trump signed into law a bill designed to address matters relating to opioid use and abuse. Dubbed the “Support Act†an acronym for Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment, it includes a broad assortment of provisions to address the nation’s opioid crisis. One of the more significant provisions is…
Read MoreCMS 2019 Medicare Fee Schedule Designed to Reduce Administrative Burdens
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released its 2019 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and the Quality Payment Program (QPP) rule, which the agency says will “address provider burnout and provide clinicians immediate relief from excessive paperwork tied to outdated billing practices.†However, a controversial payment component of the plan will be delayed…
Read MoreCMS to Draft Rule Requiring Prior Authorization for Chiropractors
Look for a proposed rule later this year that could make it harder for some chiropractors to submit Medicare claims. The Centers for Medicare & Medical Services is looking to require chiropractors with high rates of claim denials to obtain prior authorization before treating a patient. Chiropractors impacted will have to submit a request for…
Read More