Got a problem with your office? Chances are it's one of a half-dozen common problems for medical offices. Here are the problems and suggested solutions. 1 Streamlining Appointment Scheduling Problem: Patients often experience long wait times and confusion during the appointment scheduling process. Solution: Implement an online appointment scheduling system that allows … [Read more...] about 6 common problems in medical offices, and suggested solutions
Billing & collections
CMS posts info on the No Surprises Act for patients
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) made available new consumer-friendly web pages for people with easy-to-read information regarding the consumer protections in the No Surprises Act. The No Surprises Act protects people covered under group and individual health plans from receiving surprise medical bills when they receive most emergency services, … [Read more...] about CMS posts info on the No Surprises Act for patients
Be smart about scheduling to retain hourly employees
Staff scheduling can significantly impact the success of your practice. While scheduling may seem like a routine administrative task, its importance in retaining your valuable hourly employees cannot be overstated. A well-designed and thoughtful scheduling system can lead to increased job satisfaction, higher productivity, and improved staff retention rates. . Depending on the … [Read more...] about Be smart about scheduling to retain hourly employees
4 strategies for more effective medical billing
By Isaac Smith The medical billing process can be a time-consuming endeavor, but there are several ways you can improve your practice’s revenue flow. Here are five strategies for increasing your medical billing efficiency. 1 Ensure transparency in payments Whether you provide in-network or out-of-network services, patients are looking for more transparency from their … [Read more...] about 4 strategies for more effective medical billing
Model Policy: Patient Billings Collection and Financial Policy
The centerpiece of juggling all of these requirements is to establish a financial policy that tells patients how they will be billed for the services they receive. In addition to laying the legal groundwork for billing and collection, including by a third party collection agency, a well-crafted financial policy plays a key role in providing effective communications with … [Read more...] about Model Policy: Patient Billings Collection and Financial Policy
Reminder: 2022 MIPS data submission period ends March 31
MIPS Eligible clinicians can submit their 2022 data through March 31. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has opened the data submission period for Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) eligible clinicians who participated in the 2022 performance year of the Quality Payment Program (QPP). Data can be submitted and updated until 8 p.m. ET March 31. How … [Read more...] about Reminder: 2022 MIPS data submission period ends March 31
Proposed rule would standardize how to send health care attachments
It might get easier for your medical office to send healthcare attachments and electronic signatures. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), has issued a proposed rule, “Adoption of Standards for Health Care Attachments Transactions and Electronic Signatures, and Modification to Referral Certification and Authorization Transaction Standard (CMS-0053-P).” If … [Read more...] about Proposed rule would standardize how to send health care attachments
Jan. 3 deadline for MIPS Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances application
The deadline to submit a MIPS EUC Exception application for the 2022 performance year is 8 p.m. ET on Jan. 3, 2023. If you believe you’ve been affected by an extreme and uncontrollable circumstance (such as the public health emergency triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic), you can apply whether reporting traditional MIPS or the APM Performance Pathway (APP). MIPS eligible … [Read more...] about Jan. 3 deadline for MIPS Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances application
CPT update for COVID-19 boosters adapted to omicron
The American Medical Association has announced an update to Current Procedural Terminology (CPT)®, that includes eight new codes for the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine booster doses from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech. The updated boosters are adapted for the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants and the original coronavirus strain in a single dose. Four of the eight CPT codes (91312, … [Read more...] about CPT update for COVID-19 boosters adapted to omicron
Telehealth policy to change after the COVID-19 public health emergency
The COVID-19 public health emergency has been extended to Oct. 13. Of particular interest to medical practices is the continuation of telehealth flexibilities, which will expire at the end of the public health emergency. US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra officially renewed the declaration in mid-August. The emergency declaration has been in … [Read more...] about Telehealth policy to change after the COVID-19 public health emergency