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HHS issues warnings on info blocking; make sure you’re ready

03/30/2026

Some recent hints from an HHS official underline what’s been known for a while: That the federal government is about to step up enforcement of its information blocking rules. Make sure you have the basics in place before it happens.

Distribute the new ICD-10-CM guidelines, take note of hypertension guidelines

03/30/2026

by: Julia Kyles, CPC

Share the new ICD-10-CM guidelines with staff before the guidelines’ April 1 effective date. In particular, you should point out the revisions to the subsection on hypertension in Chapter 9: Diseases of the circulatory system.

Plaintiffs, Congress seek to end $100K fee to bring new doctors from abroad

03/30/2026

by: Roy Edroso

A bill before Congress seeks to reverse an onerous fee placed on H-1B visas for foreign-born doctors. But its chances are uncertain, so if your practice relies on out-of-country providers, you may want to consider alternatives.

Modifier mastery: Known when to use modifier 50 vs. RT/LT

03/30/2026

by: DecisionHealth staff

Modifiers 50, RT and LT are laterality modifiers that clarify a CPT code by defining which side of the body the service was performed on. But knowing when to use them is not always immediately clear.

Providers zig left, zag right with HCPCS modifiers on injection, X-ray codes

03/30/2026

by: Richard Scott

No matter which laterality modifier medical practices opted for in their claims reporting, one trend stood out: the most-reported code appended with CPT modifier 50 (Bilateral procedure) and HCPCS modifiers LT (Left side) and RT (Right side) was arthrocentesis service 20610 (Arthrocentesis, aspiration and/or injection, major joint or bursa (eg, shoulder, hip, knee, subacromial bursa); without ultrasound guidance).

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