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3 Min Read

5 trends that will impact how quality of care is measured

As ever-increasing amounts of data impact how practices are evaluated and paid, one expert points to trends that every physician should follow.

Payment & Delivery Models
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3 Min Read

5 Medicare payment policy updates you need to know for 2016

With the release of a nearly 1,360-page final rule, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued the policies that will govern physicians’ Medicare payments in 2016. From the comprehensive list of updates, we’ve identified five particularly noteworthy changes you should know.

Medicare & Medicaid
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5 Min Read

5 contracting keys for success in an alternative payment model

Physician practices across the country are weighing a variety of payment models presented by commercial payers. If you’re trying to determine whether these models, which are meant to improve patient care while lowering overall costs, will work for your practice and patients in the long run, don’t miss these key factors.

Payment & Delivery Models
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3 Min Read

Supreme Court to weigh insurer payment transparency

Health insurers are fighting a state law that would create transparency for physicians and patients when it comes to health insurance payments. A case before the Supreme Court of the United States will determine whether a technicality will stand in the way of reform efforts and keep the insurance payment process cloaked in mystery.

Judicial Advocacy
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2 Min Read

How to handle ICD-10 issues

With the arrival of the Oct. 1 implementation deadline for ICD-10, you need to be sure your practice can take care of any claims processing issues that result from using the new code set. The AMA’s ICD-10 Web page allows you to report any issues your practice is experiencing with how Medicare is processing claims now that the ICD-10 code set is in effect.

Claims Processing
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3 Min Read

ICD-10 code mapping tools--can you trust them?

The Oct. 1 compliance deadline for ICD-10 implementation is just days away, and many physician practices may be relying on the aid of coding tools to help ease the transition from the ICD-9 code set. Experts caution that you should verify the accuracy of these tools and make sure the code best represents the patient’s diagnosis.

Claims Processing
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5 Min Read

8 ways Medicare payment policies could soon change

Numerous payment policies could see significant changes under the 2016 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule. Among these changes are eight issues physicians are urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to correct or improve before the rule is finalized in November.

Medicare & Medicaid
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3 Min Read

How to get the power of numbers—even if your practice is small

Are you interested in improving health outcomes, taking advantage of performance-based payment programs, lawfully bargaining collectively with payers or raising capital to implement health IT in your practice? Then collaboration with other physicians and medical practices may be a good option for you.

Payment & Delivery Models
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3 Min Read

Your last-minute guide to prepping for ICD-10

Only 28 days stand between now and Oct. 1, the deadline to implement the ICD-10 code set. Here’s what an expert with more than 20 years of experience in health care payment, billing and coding, recommends you do right now.

Claims Processing