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Watch payment, staffing trends for red flags as medical bankruptcies soar

11/20/2017

An annual survey of bankruptcies shows risk for medical practices is rapidly growing; protect your practice by performing some basic financial self-assessment exercises to check for red flags that announce you’re heading for trouble.

CMS limits medical home risk standard, requires more sites participate to gain bonus

11/20/2017

by: Richard Scott

While you’ll find a number of benefits if you opt to participate under the Quality Payment Program (QPP) as a patient-centered medical home (PCMH), take note of some wrinkles that could change how you or your group gets graded in 2018. While you’ll face less risk, more of your sites will have to participate.

Check your MAC’s rules on date of service when spanning two calendar days

11/20/2017

by: Richard Scott

Question: Recently, I saw an article from National Government Services (NGS), our local Medicare administrative contractor (MAC), stating that when an anesthesia case spans two calendar dates, you should use the date of service the case ended. That is not our current practice, and I am curious to know how others are handling those scenarios.

Former Lilly executive Azar nominated to head HHS

11/20/2017

by: Roy Edroso

President Donald Trump announced via tweet Nov. 13 that he would nominate Alex Azar as the next HHS secretary. “He will be a star for better healthcare and lower drug prices!” the president said.

Alert staff to new set of designated health services to avoid Stark penalties

11/20/2017

by: Julia Kyles

Make sure your list of designated health services (DHS) that are covered by the strict Stark physician self-referral law is up to date. In recent months, the Department of Justice has accused two physician practices of violating Stark as well as the anti-kickback statute and levied large settlements.

Winners, losers from 2018 Medicare physician fee schedule pay changes

11/20/2017

by: Karen Long

If providers at your practice implant neurostimulator electrode arrays, you could be in for a financial windfall in 2018. But if you perform a lot of allergy scratch tests, you’ll likely take a hit.

From the Part B News blog

11/20/2017

Take note of the news that happens between Part B News issues by checking out the free Part B News Blog. Here’s a sampling from recent days:

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