Newsletter Archives

Hospices Will Continue To Struggle Under Inadequate Rate Bump

By Rachel Dorrell

In CMS

Aug 4th, 2023

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CMS bats down argument to correct inflation underestimation. The slight increase in hospices’ 2024 payment rates, as compared to the amount proposed back in March, isn’t going to be enough to stave off hard times for many hospices. So say industry representatives after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its final rule ...

COVID-19 PHE to End May 11

By Rebecca Johnson

In CMS

Feb 3rd, 2023

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After 12 PHE declaration renewals, the feds’ wind-down will drop a significant workload on providers. The Biden administration has been signaling the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) since late last summer, but now there’s a concrete end date — which means you need to start preparing for it immediately. In an August ...

Emergency Preparedness Testing Requirements Clarified

By Rebecca Johnson

In COVID-19

Jul 6th, 2022

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Check updated survey memo to ensure your facility is working in compliance. With the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) fully into its third year, providers have been wondering about their ongoing responsibilities for emergency preparedness (EP) testing. Now they have an answer. How Often to Providers Have to Conduct EP Testing? In a final rule ...

7 Top Tips for Mastering ICD-10-CM 7th Characters

By Deborah Marsh

In Coding

Feb 19th, 2020

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Diagnosis coding brings the unique challenge of knowing when to use a 7th character on your ICD-10-CM code and then determining which character applies. These tips will help you refine your diagnosis coding skills. Tip 1: Don’t Ignore 7th Character Requirements If ICD-10-CM indicates a code requires a 7th character, you must report a seven-character code. Payers will not ...

Translate CPT® 2020 Tissue Grafting Code Descriptors for Accurate Claims

By Deborah Marsh

In Coding

Dec 5th, 2019

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“Other” tissue graft code 20926 turned into a sort of catch-all code over the years, but that will change with the  CPT® 2020 code set. On Jan. 1, 2020, you’ll have five new medical codes to use in place of 20926. Be ready with these helpful pointers. Look at 15769–15774 Instead of 20926 In the CPT® 2019 code set, ...