The Office of Inspector General (OIG) will be taking a closer look at how health risk assessments influence Medicare Advantage risk scores and risk-adjusted payments, according to its recently updated Work Plan.
Like other services covered by Medicare, observation must be reasonable and necessary or, in other words, medically necessary. The physician must document that they assessed patient risk to determine that the patient would benefit from observation services.
To enhance efforts to combat the opioid crisis in America, CMS policy allows for a new benefit under Medicare Part B concerning Opioid Treatment Programs.
As we move into a new decade, the burgeoning partnerships between giant tech companies and healthcare organizations bring great promise and many questions.
