Month: January 2021
Struggling with 2021 E/M Codes
Getting paid for some of the most routine outpatient office visits becomes a new challenge on January 1st, when guideline and code descriptor changes for E/M services.
Remember to take a quick look at MGMA’s E/M Quick Reference
Or Visit the Complete MGMA Tool Kit Located In The Business End File.
Revenue cycle check-up:
Assessing the Internal Components to get a Clear Picture of Your Practice’s Financial Health
From MGMA Connection January 2021
With fee-for-service almost in the rearview mirror and pay for quality now a reality, it’s time to transform the revenue cycle.
The drudgery of antiquated manual processes and the accumulated effects of burnout from a year of pandemic challenges may have you wondering where to begin with transforming from volume to value.
That’s where an internal revenue cycle assessment can be useful. Some activities, such as financial assessment, may require monthly review. Others — such as SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analyses — are performed annually.
Click to view the full article here in the Ink file called “The Business End”.
HSConnect Headache??
THERE IS RELIEF INSIGHT!!
To align with the recent extension of the federal public health emergency (PHE) period, Cigna is again extending the cost-share waiver for COVID-19 testing and testing-related services through April 20, 2021.
- Referrals requirements for in-network providers & out-of-network providers are waived through 04/20/2021.
- Providers do not have to go into HSConnect/MHK for referrals, but they will need to continue doing pre-certs for any services that require them.
- Specialists should accept members without a referral during this time. Referral requirements for in-network providers & out-of-network provider are waived through 04/20/2021.
For the most up to date information please go to https://medicareproviders.cigna.com/
Eliminating Staff Gossip
Here are some tips to make your office a gossip-free zone.
Creating a winning team culture in an office is a key to success that cannot be overlooked. Most team builders come in with a lot of buzzwords, flashing lights, and games in order to engage staff members; often times their solutions dwindle and fade as fast as they arrived. There are simple solutions that create a unified team environment that can become permanent. One of the easiest ways to build team unity is a no gossip policy.
The policy is simple- gossip once and you will be warned, gossip again and you will be released. You could implement a few different versions, and with a problematic and bickering staff, you may have to add a few additional steps prior to releasing an employee.
Gossip is dishonest, contagious, and breeds disloyalty for your medical practice and within your team. All of the standard bullet points about building a great culture within your company are affected by gossip. Typically, team members that gossip about each other, gossip about everybody: staff, physicians, patients, and business. It is not “healthy” for your office to allow gossip and having an office full of gossip is a quick way to experience legal and professional ramifications.
When you bring a policy like this into an existing office dynamic, it is imperative that you don’t hand this out in a memo or e-mail. It is imperative to hold a team meeting, with a detailed explanation, and an opportunity for your team to ask questions.
This policy may not be well-received by all of your staff or team members at first. Your biggest culprits will be the most vocal and try to win over the others. Quality people do not gossip, and after the initial implementation phase of this policy, you will be left with quality people, who monitor and remind each other to remain gossip free.
To read the article on the web. https://www.physicianspractice.com/view/eliminating-staff-gossip-at-your-practice
Cigna Offices Closed 1/18/2021 for MLK day.
This includes HealthSpring.
CMS has confirmed that the new 2021 conversion factor
To follow up with more information from the recent legislation which added $3 billion to the Physician Fee Schedule and delayed implementation of G2211 (add-on complexity code), CMS has confirmed that the new 2021 conversion factor will be $34.8931 instead of $32.4085. CMS also updated the 2021 RVU file.
We expect to see a formal announcement regarding these developments in the near future.
We also expect CMS to communicate the new conversion factor and payment rates to local Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs), who will update their schedules accordingly. For accurate rates based on your geographic area, we recommend checking with your local MAC.
MGMA Government Affairs would like to invite all of you to the next session of our GovChat Live series
Happy New Year! Given that 2021 is finally upon us, MGMA Government Affairs would like to invite all of you to the next session of our GovChat Live series to discuss the latest issues we are following in the new Congress and incoming administration.
We will focus on the government funding and emergency COVID-19 relief package that was signed into law late last month that made changes to several programs including Medicare payment, the Provider Relief Fund, the Paycheck Protection Program, and also introduced new rules around surprise billing. We will also discuss the issues on our radar with the incoming Biden Administration and how we will approach advocacy this year.
When: Jan 14, 2021 02:00 PM Eastern Time
Topic: GovChat Live: COVID-19 Relief Package & Advocacy in 2021
Register in advance for this webinar: mgma.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_6w-BBIZsRcubBwe7TXPFOQ
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
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