Recently, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released their Contract Year (CY) 2020 Medicare Advantage and Part D proposed rule, a wide-ranging proposal that expands access to telehealth in Medicare Advantage, updates the methodology for calculating Medicare Advantage Star Ratings, and makes policy updates to address program integrity. In the proposed rule, CMS […]
Contract Year (CY) 2020 Medicare Advantage and Part D Flexibility Proposed Rule (CMS-4185-P) On October 26, 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that updates Medicare Advantage (MA or Part C) and the Medicare prescription drug benefit program (Part D) by promoting flexibility and innovation so that MA and […]
CMS Proposes to Modernize Medicare Advantage, Expand Telehealth Access for Patients Proposed rule would strengthen the popular system for private health insurance plans to provide Medicare coverage, increase plan flexibility to offer telehealth benefits, and improve coordination for dual-eligible beneficiaries In a proposed rule issued today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) took […]
CMS finalizes calendar year 2019 and 2020 payment and policy changes for Home Health Agencies and Home Infusion Therapy Suppliers On October 26, 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule [CMS-1689-F] setting out finalized Calendar Year (CY) 2019 Medicare payment updates, finalized quality reporting changes for home health agencies (HHAs), […]
Oct 17, 2018 Tanya Albert Henry Contributing Writer Reflecting the reality that physicians and their staff spend an increasing amount of time engaging with technology to enhance and improve patient care, the 2019 Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) code set that takes effect Jan. 1 provides health professionals the codes they need to get paid for […]
Remote patient monitoring programs offer multiple clinical and financial benefits, including reducing hospital admissions among patients, according to a new KLAS Research report. KLAS Research partnered with the American Telemedicine Association to examine success factors for remote patient monitoring programs at different healthcare organizations, including hospitals, payers and home health agencies. As part of the […]
By Mary Jo Gorman, MD, MBA ON September 14, 2018 An Increasing Number of Skilled Nursing Facilities are Catching the Telemedicine Wave Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) nationwide are experiencing increasing challenges. These include sicker patients, higher turnover in staff, narrowing of referral networks, increased regulatory oversight and pressure to achieve certain clinical outcomes. Telemedicine is […]
The 2019 CPT code set includes new remote patient monitoring and internet consulting codes to encourage innovative care delivery and Medicare payment for connected health. September 07, 2018 – The American Medical Association (AMA) updated the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code set in 2019 to include new codes for connected health services in an effort to […]
CHICAGO—The American Medical Association (AMA) today announced the release of the 2019 Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) code set. There are 335 code changes in the new CPT edition reflecting the CPT Editorial Panel and the health care community’s combined annual effort to capture and describe the latest scientific and technological advances in medical, surgical and diagnostic services. […]
Remote monitoring plus machine learning by Jeff Howell September 5, 2018 The future of home health will be a daunting journey during the next few decades as the industry faces challenges never seen before. The landscape looks like this: Many boomers are about to enter their 70s. People prefer to age at home. Health care […]
CMS has proposed three new codes for RPM services, retitled “Chronic Care Remote Physiologic Monitoring,” which do a far better job reflecting how providers can more effectively and efficiently use RPM technology to monitor and manage patient care needs, including chronic care management. If finalized, these three codes would go live January 1, 2019. CMS’ […]
August 20, 2018 As skilled nursing facilities handle more complex care, the need arises for physician input before sending patients to the hospital. Study findings reported this month in The American Journal of Managed Care® show that using telemedicine for this purpose can lead to fewer hospitalizations and savings for Medicare. CRANBURY, N.J.–August 20, 2018–When doctors could […]
In its proposal to overhaul the Medicare Shared Savings Program, CMS is planning to reimburse for more telehealth and telemedicine services as it looks to revamp the Accountable Care Organization model. By Eric Wicklund August 10, 2018 – A federal effort to revamp the rules around Accountable Care Organizations includes a few nods to telehealth and […]
On August 9, 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that would set a new direction for the Medicare Shared Savings Program (Shared Savings Program). Referred to as “Pathways to Success,” this proposed new direction for the Shared Savings Program would redesign the participation options available under the program to […]
Monday, July 30, 2018 Where Things Stood Understanding the impact of what we have seen so far this year first requires an understanding of where we were at the end of 2017, with respect to both Medicare reimbursement and provider adoption of telehealth solutions. Hospitals and health systems have long understood that digital health technologies […]