Category: Medicare
TMA Webinar Helps Equip Physicians for 2025
Medicare Fee Schedule
With the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS’) 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule set to take effect Jan. 1, the Texas Medical Association is preparing physicians for changes in payment and coding, telemedicine, and quality and value-based care arrangements, among other areas.
Medicare Solidifies Pay Cut
In a final rule that solidifies a nearly 3% Medicare pay cut for physicians in 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) also set the trajectory for physician practices over the next year with a mixed bag of changes related to telemedicine, coding and payment, and the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), among others. ~By Phil West
While TMA analyzes what it sees as some isolated, positive changes resulting from CMS’ finalization of the 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, it is also urging physicians to act now to show their support for House Resolution 10073
CMS Increased Payment for Influenza Vaccines
On August 1, the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) increased payments to physicians for influenza vaccines and updated which codes physicians should use when billing for the service during the 2024-25 flu season.
Texas Medical Association billing and coding staff caution that to receive payment, physicians also will need to use a national drug code (NDC) associated with the current period.
Follow this link for proper CPT codes and more vaccine information.
Revisions to Medicare Part B Coverage of Pneumococcal Vaccinations Policy
New! Search Tool Helps Streamline Prior Auths
Prior authorizations are often cited as one of the top burdens for healthcare professionals. To help streamline your workflow and save time, Humana has launched a new prior authorization search tool.
Now you can search by CPT® code, procedure or drug name to determine if authorization is required. You also can find guidance on how to submit medical and pharmacy authorizations.
UHC Network News August Edition
To view these updates, click the blue button to the right.
Humana Physician News Q2 2024 Newsletter
NEW! 2024 preauthorization lists (PAL) and notification requirements Lists of services and medications, effective July 1, 2024, that may require preauthorization for patients with Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, dual Medicare-Medicaid and commercial coverage are now available.
NEW! 2024 provider manuals Humana Medicare and Medicaid provider manuals, effective March 15, 2024, are now available.*
Quality and Stars learning series Humana provides educational webinars each month, covering Quality and Stars-related topics for both learning purposes and continuing education credits.
Good News, Bad News in Medicare 2025
A first look at the 2025 Physician Fee Schedule
The 2025 Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule is a study in contrasts. If you’re the kind of person who can see both sides of an issue, this rule is for you.
Good News
Bad News
Practitioners doing telehealth from their home can continue to use the practice address instead of their home address on claims for 2025
Without an act of Congress, for real time audio/visual visits on 1/1/2025 patients can no longer receive these services in their homes in all geographic areas. Patients must be in an underserved area and go to a facility setting for telehealth. (Unless Congress changes this in their end of year Consolidated Appropriations Act.)
16 new telehealth codes that can be selected based on Medical Decision Making (MDM) or time.
Medicare has given them a status indicator of invalid.
New HCPCS code for GIDXX for visit complexity inherent to in patient and observation services associated with a confirmed or inspected infectious disease. (GIDXX is a placeholder code, not a final code.)
Limiting use. “We anticipate the HCPCS code GIDXX would be reported by physicians with special infectious disease training”
Can use G2211 when you use modifier 25 for an E/M and wellness visit on the same day, immunizations, and other preventive medicine services.
That’s the only exception.
Need Help Meeting all the Components of the Compliance Attestation. Here is Help.
Ever thought about how a confident, well-trained front office team could transform your healthcare practice?
MGMA is thrilled to present the best front-office training in practice management, designed to improve patient interactions and boost your team’s performance. Make this a priority in your onboarding process today!
Make it a Priority.
Ed Plus is the easy-button on staff training, and it’s extremely cost-effective. Courses include:
- It All Starts Here: Front Office Mastery
- An Overview of Culturally Competent Care
- Controlling Healthcare Workplace Violence
- Dealing With Disruptive Patients
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Healthcare Workplace
- Employment Law for Medical Practices
- Establishing and Maintaining a Healthcare Compliance Program
- Healthcare Fraud, Waste, and Abuse
- HIPAA Essentials for Medical Practices
- Keeping Up With Revenue Cycle Compliance
- Lean Leadership
- OSHA Bloodborne Pathogens Standard
- OSHA for Medical Practices
- Revenue Cycle Compliance and Fraud
- Safety First: Keeping Your Workplace Safe
- Sexual Harassment in the Workplace
Front Office Training Exclusively in Ed Plus, Follow this Link for more information.
G-Code Frustration
Deepening ongoing physician concerns over the implementation of Medicare’s add-on code for complex care, two major payers have either reduced payment for G2211 claims or announced plans to stop paying certain claims associated with the code altogether for particular plan members.
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