News Briefs: Financial and operational challenges still hamper hospitals 2.5 years into the pandemic
As published in hfm magazine, a monthly roundup of top news for healthcare finance professionals.
Recent changes to E/M coding mean time-based billing could be advantageous for longer visits, study finds
Depending on patient volumes, clinics could benefit from incorporating time-based billing instead of relying on CPT coding approaches.
TransUnion’s Transfer DRG solution simplifies the underpayment process
One company reviews how its SaaS solution can simplify identifying transfer DRG underpayments for hospitals.
As revenue cycle challenges accumulate, a new survey suggests hospitals are taking a closer look at automation
For hospitals and health systems, survey results show that the ongoing labor crunch in revenue cycle operations has provided an impetus to expand process automation.
Even as costs surge, Medicare physician payments are scheduled to decrease in 2023
Medicare physician payments would decrease by more than 4% in 2023, according to a proposed rule.
Digestive diseases led increase in treatment costs over the last two decades, analysis finds
A new study quantifies the extent to which treating disease has become increasingly expensive since just before the turn of the century.
Hospitalists are more likely than other physicians to choose high-intensity codes for inpatient care, study finds
The billing and coding practices of hospitalists may contribute to the rising cost of hospital care in the U.S., according to conclusions of a new study.
Some Medicare payments to hospitals for bariatric surgery may be inappropriate, OIG finds
Medicare could have saved nearly $48 million in bariatric surgery payments to hospitals during an 18-month period if coverage rules and guidance were better implemented at the contractor level, according to the HHS Office of Inspector General.
Revenue Cycle Insights: May 2022
No Surprises Act implementation continues. Though arbitration cases are expected to be addressed in a slow fashion at first, there may be some related regulatory changes that favor providers, Nick Hut reports.
A best-practice approach to coding, coding quality and compliance improves reimbursement
Healthcare providers need to ensure they are accurately paid for the care provided, and that starts with timely, correct and consistent coding. This critical revenue cycle process codifies the clinical care performed and documented.