As COVID-19 infection rates continue to surge across the nation, U.S. medical facilities are facing increasing pressure to implement vaccine mandates for all employees. A blanket mandate may seem like the right call to curb infection rates and reduce hospitalization numbers, but the reality isn’t quite so black and white. Medical facilities are currently experiencing […]
Updated December 22, 2020: The COVID pandemic has had tremendous emergent impact upon medical care, testing and supplies. In response, the AMA’s CPT Editorial Panel has had to rapidly create and establish new CPT codes for COVID reporting, tracking and analysis to support data-driven planning and resource allocation. On December 12, 2020, the Pfizer COVID […]
It has taken 30 years, but the AMA and CMS have performed a complete overhaul of the Evaluation and Management (E/M) documentation and coding guidelines and they are set to be implemented January 1, 2021. The hope is that the burden associated with meeting the 1995 or 1997 guidelines will finally be lifted and patient […]
Updated 8/27/2020 The Family First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA), which went into effect March 18, 2020, waives cost-sharing (i.e., coinsurance and deductibles) by patients receiving COVID-19 testing-related services, as well as the testing itself. This Act applies to group and individual health plans including Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, CHIP, and private payers. The Coronavirus Aid, […]
Updated 12/22/2020 On May 24, 2020 the Department of Health and Human Services presented a COVID-19 Strategic Testing Plan to Congress which describes, among other things; detailed information on various testing methodologies; medical device and test availability; and, research and advice designed to inform the government as plans for re-opening the country are made and […]
Updated 10/6/2020 On April 17th, CMS released the much anticipated Medicare Learning Network Matter article (SE20016) as guidance for health centers regarding telehealth reimbursement during the COVID-19 and 1135 Waiver Public Health Emergency (hereafter “COVID PHE”). Health centers had been waiting for this directive since March 17th when expanded language around Medicare billing was provided […]
By: Ken Christensen, CEO PMG, Inc. I’d like to take this opportunity to offer my perspective on a topic of intense interest to many of our clients: Overlooked Revenue Cycle Optimization Opportunities There are unique challenges facing operators in the community-based setting which can impede optimal revenue cycle performance and impact cash flow. Through organizational […]
The Challenge A large Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in the Southwest was concerned about their lack of visibility into claim denials and overall claims activity. This is a common story in the industry; according to a survey conducted at HIMSS19, less than 24% of healthcare executives leverage their data daily. The FQHC’s Chief Financial […]
Part 4 in the PMG Series: Key Strategies for your health center By: Robert B Skeffington, PMG Partner and Co-Founder As my colleagues and I travel around the country visiting Community Health Centers (CHCs), a common concern bubbles up: “I hate month end”. We are hearing this more often than in past years and from […]
