Providers should be preparing for another rulemaking cycle from CMS as we hit April, with the IPPS rule expected to include a discussion on how the existing payment system can address new and emerging cellular and gene therapies.
The shift from fee-for-service to value-based programs for outpatient payment systems has increased the need for outpatient CDI staff to review documentation for pertinent clinical factors.
With the expansion of telehealth services, providers for both the originating site and distant site can also count on the expansion of Medicare contractor audits.
This week’s Medicare updates include several corrections to transmittals issued regarding April 2018 payment system updates, four new resources for those participating in the Quality Payment Program via an alternative payment model, an OIG review of outpatient physical therapy billing, and more!
Many hospitals find that their Patient Safety Indicator (PSI) ratios remain high despite doing a spectacular job of addressing these events and exclusions. That may be because they fail to realize that the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has a risk-adjustment methodology that predicts each of these PSIs and is dependent upon the documentation and coding of PSI-sensitive risk factors.
CMS instructed Medicare Administrative Contractors (MAC) to review previously denied 2018 outpatient therapy claims reported with modifier -KX. However, because MACs might not automatically review all denied therapy claims, providers will need to initiate the process.
