J&J COVID-19 Vaccine: Health Alert The CDC issued a Health Alert, about the CDC and FDA’s recommended pause in the use of the J&J COVID-19 vaccine, in part, to ensure that the health care provider community is aware of the potential for adverse events and can provide proper management due to the unique treatment required with this type of blood clot. This alert includes specific recommendations for clinicians.
4 Proposed FY 2020 Payment Rules SNF Prospective Payment System: FY 2022 Proposed Rule Hospice Payment Rate Update for FY 2022 IRF Prospective Payment System: FY 2022 Proposed Rule IPF: Proposed Medicare Payment & Quality Reporting Updates SNF Prospective Payment System: FY 2022 Proposed Rule On April 8, CMS issued a proposed rule that would update Medicare payment policies and rates for Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) under the SNF Prospective Payment System (PPS) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022. [...]
Temporary Claims Hold Pending Congressional Action to Extend 2% Sequester Reduction Suspension In anticipation of possible Congressional action to extend the 2% sequester reduction suspension, we instructed the Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) to hold all claims with dates of service on or after April 1, 2021, for a short period without affecting providers’ cash flow. This will minimize the volume of claims the MACs must reprocess if Congress extends the suspension; the MACs will automatically reprocess any claims [...]
AAOS Advocacy in Action Presented key principles for finally putting an end to surprise medical bills through federal rulemaking, which will iron out details from the "No Surprises Act" that was signed into law December 2020. Expressed support for the "Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act" (S. 610, H.R. 1667). The newly introduced legislation will help reduce and prevent mental and behavioral health conditions as well as increase access to evidence-based treatment for physicians, medical [...]
News Medicare Shared Savings Program: Application Deadlines for January 1, 2022, Start Date Repetitive, Scheduled Non-Emergent Ambulance Transport: Documentation Requirements PT During COVID-19 & Response to Texas Storm Compliance Non-Physician Outpatient Services Provided Before or During Inpatient Stays: Bill Correctly Claims, Pricers, & Codes Home Health Payment Corrections MLN Matters® Articles Common Working File (CWF) Edits for Medicare Telehealth Services and Manual Update Correction to Period Sequence Edits on Home Health Claims Implementation of Changes in the End-Stage Renal [...]
AAOS Advocacy in Action Continued participation in the Surgical Coalition to discuss shared issues and advocacy interests including implementation of the ban on surprise billing, health equity and inclusion, physician wellness, Medicare programs, and prior authorization reform among others. Urged Congress to pass legislation before April 1 that will eliminate looming Medicare cuts and help ensure that health professionals have what they need to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. The Bone Beat More Episodes Conversations on health policy issues [...]
News Clinical Laboratory Data Reporting Delayed Until 2022: Reminder Comprehensive Eye Examinations: Comparative Billing Report in March Compliance Polysomnography Services: Bill Correctly Events Long-Term Care: Dementia-related Psychosis Call — March 23 Open Payments & You Call — March 25 SNF Quality Reporting Program: Achieving a Full APU Webinar- March 30 MLN Matters® Articles April 2021 Update to the Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) April Quarterly Update for 2021 Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies [...]
Biden-Harris Administration Increases Medicare Payment for Life-Saving COVID-19 Vaccine On March 15, CMS increased the Medicare payment amount for administering the COVID-19 vaccine. This new and higher payment rate will support important actions taken by providers that are designed to increase the number of vaccines they can furnish each day, including establishing new or growing existing vaccination sites, conducting patient outreach and education, and hiring additional staff. At a time when vaccine supply is growing, CMS is supporting [...]
CMS Updates Nursing Home Guidance with Revised Visitation Recommendations On March 10, CMS, in collaboration with the CDC, issued updated guidance for nursing homes to safely expand visitation options during the COVID-19 pandemic public health emergency. This latest guidance comes as more than 3 million doses of vaccines have been administered within nursing homes, thanks in part to the CDC’s Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care Program, following the FDA authorization for emergency use of COVID-19 vaccines. According to [...]
AAOS Advocacy in Action Requested $50 million in funding for the Pediatric Subspecialty Loan Repayment Program, which was reauthorized in 2020 amid COVID-19. The federal investment would help to address subspecialty and child mental health shortages in communities nationwide. Expressed support for the newly introduced Patient Access to Higher Quality Health Care Act of 2021, which would repeal the controversial moratorium on expansion and new construction of physician-owned hospitals. The Bone Beat New Episode Conversations [...]