Part B News | Part B News

In first MIPS year, advanced APM benefits will be rare — and risky

06/06/2016

You may be glad you and most Part B providers have to perform quality reporting through the merit-based incentive payment system (MIPS) instead of advanced alternative payment models (APMs) in 2017.

Estimates peg 346,000 losers, 412,000 winners in MIPS-associated payments

06/06/2016

by: Richard Scott

Early cost estimates associated with the merit-based incentive payment system (MIPS) may have put a scare into small practices because CMS predicted that nearly nine out of 10 solo practitioners (87%) would receive a penalty as high as 4% of total Medicare payments in the first year of the program.

Don’t use ABNs on Medicare Advantage patients – and watch that ‘waiver’

05/23/2016

by: Roy Edroso

Question: Can I give an advanced beneficiary notice of non-coverage (ABN) to Medicare Advantage patients when I don’t expect payment on a service?

4 questions to ask to challenge the government’s use of extrapolation

05/23/2016

by: Marla Durben Hirsch

Government auditors and investigators use extrapolation frequently to calculate the extent of a provider’s overpayment. But that doesn’t mean you should automatically accept their findings, warns attorney Ross Burris with Polsinelli in Atlanta.

Prepare for nondiscrimination rule compliance now, expect changes from payers

05/23/2016

by: Julia Kyles

The provisions of the new nondiscrimination in health programs and activities rule go into effect July 18, so conduct a compliance walkthrough to determine where your organization needs to make changes.

14 best practices to avoid, handle cyberattacks on your practice’s systems

05/23/2016

by: Marla Durben Hirsch

Coast to coast, recent high-profile hacks of hospital computer systems have highlighted the unfortunate reality that ransomware attacks on health care providers are no longer isolated events.

Dispel 4 common E/M coding myths to enhance core coding compliance

05/23/2016

by: Richard Scott

Do away with preconceived notions you may have about E/M coding, such as the required number of elements you must document for established patients, to lower your audit risk and get those frequently issued claims through the door.

Don’t use scribes for CPOE if you want to meet meaningful use

05/23/2016

by: Roy Edroso

Question: From the point of view of meaningful use, is there any problem with scribes or transcriptionists entering information in the medical record?

Don’t use ABNs on Medicare Advantage patients — and watch that ‘waiver’

05/23/2016

by: Roy Edroso

Question: Can I give an advanced beneficiary notice of non-coverage (ABN) to Medicare Advantage patients when I don’t expect payment on a service?

Homeless patients should get treatment — but somewhere else

05/23/2016

by: Roy Edroso

Question: Any advice on treating homeless people who come to the practice and ask to be seen by a doctor?

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