American Health Lawyers Assocaition has reported:
President Obama Signs into Law a Temporary Fix to Physicians’ Medicare Reimbursement
By Jeffrey Moore , Phelps Dunbar LLP
On December 19, 2009, President Barack Obama signed the Department
of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010 (H.R. 3326), into law, which freezes Medicare physician payments for two months, avoiding a…
To the extent possible and in consideration of possible legislative changes, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is working with Congress, health care providers, and the beneficiary community to avoid disruption in the delivery of health care services and payment of claims for physicians, non-physician practitioners, and other providers of services paid…
NYT reports that there are numerous hidden benefits in the healthcare reform bill designed to "attract" support from various Senators.
This article pertains to Change Request (CR) 6740, which alerts physicians and non-physician practitioners that effective January 1, 2010, the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) consultation codes (ranges 99241-99245 and 99251-99255) are no longer recognized for Medicare Part B payment. Effective for services furnished on or after January 1, 2010, physicians and non-physician practitioners should code…
Effective January 1, 2010, CPT Consultation Codes ranges 99241-99245 and 99251-99255 will no longer be recognized for Medicare Part B Payment. For services furnished after January 1, 2010, physicians and non-physician practitioners should code patient evaluation and management visits with E/M codes that represent where the visit occurs and identifies the complexity. CMS has published MLN Matters…
CMS Finalizes Supervision Requirements For Hospital Outpatient Services
By Joan L. Lowes, Lori A. Wink, and Regan E. Tankersley, Hall Render Killian Heath & Lyman
The waiting is over for hospitals that have been anticipating further word from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the direct supervision requirements applicable to outpatient
…
CMS has issued MAC instructions for processing purchased services. Denials are keyed to the answer to question 20 on CMS-1500 (or ANSI X12 837P – line level PS1), which is the question regarding “Outside Lab.”
CMS has issued the final rule for the 2010 Physician Fee Schedule. Among other items, it implements the 21.5% reduction (pending Congressional intervention of course) and eliminates consult billing while enhancing E&M WRVUs. Link to text below. http://www.cms.hhs.gov/apps/media/press/release.asp?Counter=3539&intNumPerPage=10&checkDate=&checkKey=&srchType=1&numDays=3500&srchOpt=0&srchData=&keywordType=All&chkNewsType=1%2C+2%2C+3%2C+4%2C+5&intPage=&showAll=&pYear=&year=&desc=&cboOrder=date
At this point, there are three comprehensive healthcare reform bills passed by key United States Congressional Committees, i.e. the Senate Finance Committee, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, and a consortium of House committees, referred to as the House Tri-Committee, consisting of the Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, and Education and…
The AMA has predicted that the proposed Medicare SGR (sustainable growth rate) physician fee schedule decrease will reduce physician Medicare participation in 22 states. Log onto the Medicare Payment Action Kit and see the predicted impact in your state.
Click here for the Medicare Payment Action Kit.
