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Trump health care order a ‘signal’; Price vague on ACA replacement details in hearings

01/30/2017

After a bruising hearing before the Senate HELP Committee, President Trump's HHS Secretary nominee, Rep. Tom Price (R.-Ga.), provided mostly general answers to specific questions when grilled Jan. 24 by senators on the Finance Committee, the last stop before the full Senate floor vote on his nomination.

5 tips to succeed with the CPIA category for 2017 MIPS reporting

01/30/2017

by: Richard Scott

Understand how CMS will score the clinical practice improvement activity (CPIA) category under the merit-based incentive payment system (MIPS) and draw up a game plan to easily reach maximum points.

OIG updates guidance for providers about offering gifts to patients

01/30/2017

by: Elizabeth Pearson

OIG's Dec. 7 update should serve as a reminder to practices and other providers of the OIG’s original guidance from 2002 about the rationale for permitting items of nominal value to be provided. It’s also a good opportunity for practices to re-evaluate what the OIG considers appropriate items and services to provide beneficiaries.

OCR closure letters show most HIPAA violations are easy to make and avoid

01/30/2017

by: Marla Durben Hirsch

While ransomware and cybersecurity are making headlines, the majority of HIPAA complaints and breaches coming to the attention of HHS involve everyday, familiar violations that can — and do — occur in the ordinary course of business.

ICD-10-CM coding for tamoxifen depends on intent of the therapy

01/30/2017

by: Laura Evans

Question: The patient was diagnosed with breast cancer and is status post mastectomy. There is no active chemotherapy or radiation being administered. However, the patient is receiving tamoxifen therapy. The oncologist believes the diagnosis should be coded as active (C50-), while the gynecologist believes it should be personal history of breast cancer (Z85.3). Which is it?

High denial rates mark face-to-face prolonged services in office, hospital

01/30/2017

by: Richard Scott

Practices may be in for a steep challenge with the new non-face-to-face prolonged service codes (99358, 99359) this year if the billing sheets on previously available prolonged services are any indication.

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