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New code preview: Spine, nerve and cardio code changes coming in 2024

07/24/2023

Medicare’s proposed 2024 physician fee schedule provides a sneak peek at CPT code additions for next year as CMS proposes valuations for them. Based on this early look, practices can expect numerous codes to migrate from Category III to Category I next year, including two types of spine procedures, new peripheral nerve stimulation codes, and a number of cardiovascular imaging codes.

CMS rejects 31 permanent telehealth requests, accepts its own proposal

07/24/2023

by: Julia Kyles, CPC

Medicare received and denied the requests to add 31 codes to the list of permanent telehealth services for coverage in 2024, according to the proposed fee schedule. However, it plans to add 30 of the codes on a temporary basis through the end of that calendar year.

Gatekeeping: CMS seeks to close more gaps in enrollment standards

07/24/2023

by: Julia Kyles, CPC

You may think of the CMS enrollment process as the mechanism allowing providers and suppliers to bill Medicare. However, CMS also uses the enrollment process to fight fraud.

Proposed PFS round-up: More coding, billing, policy changes

07/24/2023

by: DecisionHealth Staff

2024 projections: 10 specialties up at least 2% in RVUs, 18 down

07/24/2023

by: Richard Scott

A glimpse ahead to 2024 payment rates reveals an up-and-down outlook for physician specialties and their allowable charges. Setting the bar at a 2% gain or loss, 10 specialties find themselves on the positive side of the ledger in combined relative value unit (RVU) impact, while 18 specialties are projected for cuts.

After deadly drop-down case: Fail-safe your EHR medication orders

07/17/2023

by: Roy Edroso

A recent drop-down error that, authorities suggest, contributed to a patient’s death is a reminder to keep up with electronic health record (EHR) safety improvements from your vendor, and to make sure everyone at your practice is empowered to speak up when something seems amiss.

CMS issues surprise changes to post-PHE enrollment, frequency limit waivers

07/17/2023

by: Julia Kyles, CPC

The COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) ended at 11:59 p.m., May 11. CMS and other Health & Human Services (HHS) agencies left several waivers in place. But that wasn’t the end of the PHE story.

Watch for 6 updates hiding in the new ICD-10-CM guidelines

07/17/2023

by: Julia Kyles, CPC

Watch for invisible changes when you prepare for the new ICD-10-CM guidelines. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting FY 2024 on July 5. The new guidelines will go into effect Oct. 1 and replace the guidelines that went into effect April 1.

AMA joins others in downgrading BMI; prepare for questions

07/17/2023

by: Roy Edroso

The AMA is the latest and best-known authority to suggest body mass index (BMI) may not be a relevant measure of health for many patients. Whether or not this means it’s time to reconsider its use, it’s certainly time to prepare to answer patient questions about it.

Bundling policies likely to block pay for 99000

07/17/2023

by: Julia Kyles, CPC

Question: Our practice performs and bills for simple tests in our CLIA-waived lab. For more complex tests, the patient comes to the practice, we collect the specimen and send it to an outside lab. In both cases, storing and handling specimens takes extra time and expense. Can we bill 99000 (Handling and/or conveyance of specimen for transfer from the office to a laboratory)?

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