Case management directors and utilization review (UR) case managers beware! In a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document released in July, CMS said it expects to discontinue enforcement discretion for Medicare fee-for-service medical reviews beginning August 3, regardless of the status of the public health emergency (PHE).
Q: As a case manager, part of my job is making sure my patients are capable of utilizing technology to access telemedicine. What are your recommendations for helping patients get up to speed with technology?
As the COVID-19 pandemic has surged, hospitals and healthcare providers have increasingly taken advantage of technology to provide routine care to patients and monitor them after discharge.
Q: How can case managers help patients, especially those dealing with chronic diseases such as diabetes, access care during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic?
Helping patients with diabetes manage their care and avoid preventable readmissions is challenging under normal circumstances, but even more so during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Q: Beginning in July, prior authorization is needed for certain hospital outpatient services such as blepharoplasty, botulinum toxin injections, panniculectomy, rhinoplasty, and vein ablation. Going forward, how should hospitals approach this change?
