It’s no secret that social factors can create sizable barriers for case managers who are working to prevent readmissions, plan for discharges, and meet length of stay targets. Unfortunately, government regulators often don’t factor these issues in when they are looking at quality measures. But that is starting to change.
This week's note from the instructor discusses ways to manage conflicting guidance from CMS regarding add-on code edits and avenues to explore when disputing these edits.
This week’s Medicare updates include an interim final rule on durable medical equipment fee schedule rates for rural and non-contiguous areas, an advisory opinion on a possible violation of the federal anti-kickback statute, a quarterly update for the clinical laboratory fee schedule, and more!
CMS is looking to reduce reporting and documentation requirements for inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRF) in the 2019 IRF payment system proposed rule, published in the Federal Register May 8. The proposed changes could come as a relief to IRFs that have seen a significant uptick in audits and denials.