As of Jan. 1, 2019, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will implement several coding and documentation policies to provide immediate burden reduction to providers. The 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule (MPFS) released Nov. 1, 2018, by the CMS contained significant changes to the Medicare Part B coding and documentation policies…
Big Data Drives New Research
Big data can benefit rheumatology research. But according to experts at the 2018 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting, the data must first be accessible, interoperable and shareable…
How Decentralized Technology May Revolutionize Data in Healthcare
Rheumatologists may benefit from the decentralized technology that makes cryptocurrency possible: blockchain. According to Anh L. Ngo, MD, MBA, using blockchain in healthcare may increase payment and purchasing efficiency and revolutionize EHR management…
Tips for Limiting Missed Appointments
Missed appointments have long been a problem for rheumatology practices. A recent poll from the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) found no-shows were the single biggest challenge reported by practice leaders, with 44% of respondents citing the issue.1 If a patient does not come to the office when scheduled, it starts a cascade of events…
Impact of Medicare Billing Changes Varies by Specialty
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—The proposed collapsing of payment amounts for levels 2 to 5 evaluation and management (E/M) services by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) would have different financial impacts on different specialties, researchers report. “Specialists that tend to have more complicated and/or longer visits would lose money, and specialists that…
2018 MIPS Reporting via RISE: Are You Ready?
It’s time to prepare for 2018 MIPS reporting via the Rheumatology Informatics System for Effectiveness (RISE) registry, and the ACR is here to help. To ensure you’re ready to submit your data to the CMS, RISE users should take the following steps: Complete the survey to notify the ACR of your intent to report via…
Protect Your Practice: Action Update From the ACR’s Insurance Subcommittee
Both private and academic rheumatology practices face payer challenges that put the health of their patients and their practices at risk. To make sure the rheumatologist perspective is heard by payers, “the ACR’s Insurance Subcommittee (ISC) serves as the interface between payers and our members and ACR colleagues,” explains Sean Fahey, MD, a rheumatologist in…
How to Engage Young Adult Patients
Gaps in healthcare are common between the ages of 17 and 21. But simple collaborations between adult and pediatric rheumatologists can go a long way to help young adults stay engaged in their rheumatology care…
UnitedHealthcare Retires Fax Numbers Used for Prior Authorization Requests
Unfortunately, prior authorization continues to be a burden for providers, practices, and patients. Effective Jan. 1, 2019, UnitedHealthcare (UHC) will retire fax numbers used for medical prior authorization (PA) requests. After this date, UHC will require PA requests to be submitted through their Prior Authorization and Notification tool. Providers who can’t submit requests electronically may…
8 Ways to Help Your Patients with Medication Costs
A patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) comes to your office and needs a medication. You prescribe it, and the patient’s insurance plan covers it. The patient begins the medication and slowly but surely feels better. Prescribing drugs for a patient should be this simple but rarely is, thanks to the high cost of drugs and…
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 39
- 40
- 41
- 42
- 43
- …
- 171
- Next Page »