To code for spinal excisions and decompression procedures, coders must break down provider documentation to determine the surgical approach utilized and surgical specialists involved, and in some cases, visualize how the procedure was performed across multiple levels of the spinal column.
On January 1, 2021, hospitals will enter a new world of price transparency. CMS put hospitals on track to face expanded price transparency requirements with a final rule released November 15, 2019.
Under both the 1135 waiver and the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, CMS is increasing access to Medicare’s telehealth services to allow beneficiaries to receive professional healthcare services without having to travel to a healthcare facility.
To enhance efforts to combat the opioid crisis in America, CMS policy allows for a new benefit under Medicare Part B concerning Opioid Treatment Programs.
Like other services covered by Medicare, observation must be reasonable and necessary or, in other words, medically necessary. The physician must document that they assessed patient risk to determine that the patient would benefit from observation services.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is monitoring the rapid spread of a novel 2019 coronavirus, formally named COVID-19, first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. On January 30, the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a public health emergency of international concern due to its sustained person-to-person spread within countries and across continental borders.
The Medicine section of the CPT Manual includes codes for a variety of services including acupuncture, vaccinations, and behavioral health assessments and is divided into 33 subsections that can make it challenging to navigate.
