Posts Tagged ‘coding updates’
Update on Billing COVID-19 Vaccine: CMS Issues IFC for No-Cost Coronavirus Treatment
COVID-19 vaccines that have been approved by the FDA will be covered by Medicare and most private insurers once they are available, according to CMS (2020). An IFC was released to establish that any COVID-19 vaccine that receives FDA authorization via an EUA or licensed under a Biologics License Application (BLA) will be covered at no cost to beneficiaries.
Read MoreTwelve New ICD-10-PCS Hospital Procedure Codes Released for COVID-19 Treatment
The unprecedented events of the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in another unprecedented event: the release of new ICD-10-PCS codes that will be put in use immediately – effective with discharges on or after August 1, 2020, rather than the usual effective date of October 1 (CMS, 2020).
Read More2021 ICD-10-CM Updated Codes & Official Coding Guidelines Released
The National Center for Health Statistics released the 2021 ICD-10-CM code set and guidelines, both of which will be effective October 1, 2020 (CDC, 2020). Details on the 2021 ICD-10-CM Updates Webinar from YES HIM Education will be coming soon. The presentation will include a comprehensive review of the changes to the guidelines and codes with important clinical background information. The code set includes 490 new codes, 47 revisions, and 58 codes that have been deleted. Guideline changes include the updates for COVID-19 and Vaping-related disorders that were released in April and other changes.
Read MoreTelehealth Resource Center for Revised PHE Coding & Billing Policies Due to COVID-19
The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) expanded the payment guidelines for professional telehealth services provided to Medicare beneficiaries during the Public Health Emergency (PHE) declared for COVID-19 (CMS, 2020). The temporary protocol expansion was deemed necessary to aid healthcare reimbursement, and will be active only during the PHE. To keep coders and auditors up-to-date on the expanded services and reimbursement guidelines, YES HIM Consulting has gathered all the latest updates to form a telehealth resource center.
Read MoreReview the Temporary Physician-Based Telehealth Policies & Regulatory Revisions for COVID-19
Due to the ongoing PHE regarding the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, CMS has issued an interim final rule (IFC) to provide guidance on the updated telehealth policies and other services (CMS, 2020). The current PHE has relaxed many supervision requirements, allowing for supervision to be provided through audio/video telecommunications. Telehealth policies and procedures have been expanded further, and now include E/M services for emergency department visits, critical care services, nursing facilities, End State Renal Disease (ESRD) services, psychological/neuropsychological testing, and radiation treatment management (CMS, 2020).
Read MoreReview the 2021 IPPS Proposed Rule’s MS-DRG & Other ICD-10 Coding Updates
The 2021 Proposed Rule for Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) was released on May 11, and will be published in the May 29, 2020, Federal Register (2020). Provisions in the rule increase the Medicare IPPS rate for hospitals that report quality data and are meaningful users of EHRs by approximately 3.1%, resulting in an increase of $2.07 billion in spending. With other adjustments, the overall payment increase for inpatient hospitals will be around 1.6%. The Proposed Rule adjusts the payment rates, MS-DRG codes, and other provisions, including new ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS codes.
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