COVID-19 Medicare billing rules continue to evolve, so it can be challenging to stay abreast of the developments. Some recent changes have given case managers and hospitals more flexibility when it comes to treating both COVID-19 and non-COVID patients, as medical practices increasingly look to resume providing elective surgeries and other procedures.
This week's note from the instructor discusses the steps involved in the prior authorization process for certain hospital outpatient department services.
Q: Like other hospitals, we have had many patients transported via ambulance with COVID-19 symptoms. Once these patients are tested for the virus, are we permitted under HIPAA to disclose their test results to the first responders who treated them and brought them to the hospital?
This week’s Medicare updates include revisions to billing guidance for using the CR modifier and DR condition code, a table listing changes to CMS Innovation Center models, the July 2020 update to the OPPS, and more!
CMS updated its Medicare billing FAQs to include new questions related to National Coverage Determinations (NCD) during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) public health emergency (PHE).
