The Physician Compare 60-day Preview Period is officially open as of June 22. You can now preview your 2018 Quality Payment Program performance information before it will appear on Physician Compare profile pages and in the Downloadable Database. You can access the secured Preview through the Quality Payment Program website. Access the resource below on how to preview your … [Read more...] about Physician Compare Preview Period open until Aug. 20
Health care reform
Feds Take Down $2.1 Billion Medicare Genetic Test Fraud Scheme
You know that a branch of lab testing has gone from fad to mainstream when it becomes the subject of a major federal enforcement takedown. Accordingly, the newly announced breakup of a $2.1 billion genetic billing fraud scam, one of the largest Medicare frauds ever undertaken, signifies that genetic testing has officially arrived. Operation Double Helix Known as Operation … [Read more...] about Feds Take Down $2.1 Billion Medicare Genetic Test Fraud Scheme
HIPAA enforcement takes a dramatic new direction
Historically, HIPAA enforcement has focused predominantly on the failure of covered entities to keep protected health information (PHI) private and secure; but now the scope is broadening to encompass keeping PHI too private and too secure. The HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR), the agency that enforces HIPAA rules, has broken new ground by fining a Florida hospital for failing … [Read more...] about HIPAA enforcement takes a dramatic new direction
Getting that new patient info into EHR before appointment
Here are some reader tips for getting new patient information into the electronic health records prior to an appointment. They come from Tina Wheeler, Practice Manager for General and Laparoscopic Surgical Associates in Maryville, Il. This busy multi-physician general surgery office has four physicians and one nurse practitioner, with patients scheduled among these five … [Read more...] about Getting that new patient info into EHR before appointment
CMS releases 2020 Proposed Rule for the Quality Payment Program
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released its proposed policies for the 2020 performance year of the Quality Payment Program via the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM). Key proposals for 2020 performance year of the Quality Payment Program include: Increasing the performance threshold from 30 points to … [Read more...] about CMS releases 2020 Proposed Rule for the Quality Payment Program
MIPS bonuses are easy to earn—IF you can get into the program
The Centres for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced the results of 2018, Year 2 under the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). Bottom line: The total number of clinicians participating declined from 1.06 million to 916,058. However, the success rate of participants was higher with 97.6% earning an upward payment adjustment on their Medicare Part B claims … [Read more...] about MIPS bonuses are easy to earn—IF you can get into the program
Deadline to submit a MIPS Targeted Review Request is this month
If you participated in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) in 2018, your performance feedback, which includes your MIPS final score and payment adjustment factor(s), are now available for review on the Quality Payment Program website. The MIPS payment adjustment you will receive in 2020 is based on your final score. A positive, negative, or neutral payment … [Read more...] about Deadline to submit a MIPS Targeted Review Request is this month
Doctors pay $1.1 million to settle genetic test kickback claims
Kickbacks for genetic test referrals has become a focus of recent federal enforcement action. The most recent case involves three doctors and a cardiology practice that allegedly accepted bribes from a now-bankrupt genetic testing company in the Seattle area. The DOJ claims that Natural Molecular Testing Corporation (NMT) paid doctors as much as $10,000 per month in consulting … [Read more...] about Doctors pay $1.1 million to settle genetic test kickback claims
Tell your patients about the new eMedicare app launched this year
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has launched an app that gives consumers a modernized Medicare experience with direct access on a mobile device to some of the most-used content on Medicare.gov. The "What's Covered" app lets people with Original Medicare, caregivers and others quickly see whether Medicare covers a specific medical item or service. … [Read more...] about Tell your patients about the new eMedicare app launched this year
Top 4 trends shaping the healthcare industry
By Leora Borgenicht bio Before the healthcare industry can ambitiously transform to offer more accurate and personalized patient care, certain stepping stones must be reached. These four trends are inevitable if the healthcare industry is to reach its goals. Trend #1: Interoperability The transformation towards value-based healthcare care and a more personalized … [Read more...] about Top 4 trends shaping the healthcare industry