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Work in creative ways to continue provider education during COVID-19

08/31/2020

While the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has changed our lives for the foreseeable future and possibly for years to come, it has also shined a light on some changes that we need to consider in our professional behavior and practices during this, and any other crises that may lie ahead

A guide to determining when to report individual, famly psychotherapy in CPT

08/31/2020

by: Sarah Gould

Question: Would it be appropriate to use family psychotherapy CPT codes 90846-90849 to report therapy for the benefit of one person that involves input from family members?

Big gains for phone E/M codes, immunizations part of select few with 2021 increases

08/31/2020

by: Richard Scott

You can welcome a handful of triple-digit gainers among codes taking a fee increase in 2021. But such pay gains project to be something of an anomaly next year, according to code valuations CMS released alongside the proposed 2021 Medicare physician fee schedule.

CMS considers nixing bulk of telehealth services added during the PHE

08/24/2020

by: Julia Kyles, CPC

Practices that want to maintain a telehealth presence when the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) ends should manage their expectations about enduring coverage and policies in a post-PHE world. That’s one of the key takeaways from the proposed 2021 Medicare physician fee schedule, released Aug. 4.

CMS diverges from CPT guidance on time rules for new prolonged code

08/24/2020

by: Julia Kyles, CPC

You may need to keep track of two different times for the new prolonged service code — currently held by placeholder CPT code 99XXX — when it debuts in 2021. CMS will not follow the time ranges that the AMA released in its guidelines for office E/M visits and prolonged services.

Telehealth outlook: 5 key questions — and answers — from the proposed PFS

08/24/2020

by: Julia Kyles, CPC

Get a better understanding of what’s at stake for telehealth this year and next with five questions and answers about the telehealth section of the proposed 2021 Medicare physician fee schedule.

PFS news and notes: Final rule likely delayed, scope of practice loosened and much more

08/24/2020

by: DecisionHealth Staff

The proposed 2021 Medicare physician fee schedule, released Aug. 4, sets a new direction for core E/M office visit services starting Jan. 1. But that’s just a slice of what’s on the books for next year. CMS outlined a broad range of proposals, from implementation dates to scope of practice trends and a whole lot in between. Here you’ll find a comprehensive analysis of the proposed rule, and you can start by marking your calendar:

2021 list of fees for ‘selected procedures’ shows deep, steady cuts

08/24/2020

by: Richard Scott

You won’t find many plus signs on the list of “selected procedures” that CMS released alongside the proposed 2021 Medicare physician fee schedule. Except for E/M services, reduced fees dominate.

Chorus of opposition builds against planned 2021 Medicare rate cuts

08/17/2020

by: Richard Scott

In the wake of CMS’ plan to cut the Medicare physician fee schedule conversion factor (CF) by 11% in 2021, a host of specialty societies and advocacy organizations are leading calls for federal intervention.

CMS keeps E/M coding, documentation update on track for 2021; payments mixed

08/17/2020

by: Richard Scott

You won’t find any deviations or sidesteps from the planned changes coming to the E/M office visit code set (99202-99215), after CMS confirmed them in the proposed 2021 Medicare physician fee schedule. That means you can mark your calendar now: The largest overhaul to E/M coding and documentation guidelines in 25 years will go live Jan. 1, 2021.

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