CMS Revises Hospital Inpatient Admission Order Documentation Requirements

On August 17, 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published its Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems final rule for Fiscal Year 2019 (Final Rule). The Final Rule contains a number of important updates to Medicare Part A that take effect October 1, 2018.

Among other provisions in the Final Rule, CMS finalized its proposed update of the regulations that govern hospital admissions under Medicare Part A (42 C.F.R. § 412.3). Specifically, the Final Rule revises language in 42 C.F.R. § 412.3(a) to remove the current requirement that …

Medicare Proposes Revised Telehealth Services and Payments

By Erica Youngerman and Leslie Levinson on August 23, 2018 Posted in Academic Medical Centers, Accountable Care Organizations, Health Information Technology, Home Health Agencies, Hospice, Hospitals and Health Systems, Long Term Care and Nursing Homes, Medicare and Medicaid, Nursing Facilities, Physicians and Allied Health Professionals, Reimbursement

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently published a Proposed Rule, primarily intended to modify certain Medicare payment policies. The Proposed Rule contains several provisions that address the growing use of telehealth. CMS noted that it had received many suggestions regarding the expansion of access to telehealth as well as appropriate pay for the same, in response to its call for comments in the CY 2018 Medicare physician fee schedule (PFS) proposed rule.…

CMS Announces Change to Student Documentation Requirement Intended to Reduce Burden on Teaching Physicians

By Conor Duffy on February 14, 2018 Posted in Academic Medical Centers, Fraud and Abuse, Government Enforcement, Hospitals and Health Systems, Medicare and Medicaid, Physicians and Allied Health Professionals, Reimbursement

On February 2, 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released Transmittal 3971 (Change Request 10412), which revises a section of the Medicare Claims Processing Manual (Manual), that provides guidance regarding billing for Evaluation and Management (E/M) services involving students. According to CMS, the Change Request is part of a broader goal to reduce the administrative burden on practitioners.…