HEALTH CARE WEEK IN REVIEW: CMS Will Require Positive COVID-19 Test Results For Increased Inpatient Payment, COVID-19 Is Not Only Moving Medicine Online But Also Changing How Doctors Practice, CMS May Eliminate Most Emergency Codes for COVID-19 Telehealth Services, HHS To Send $1.4B In COVID-19 Relief Aid To Children's Hospitals
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Here's The Latest in Health Care:
• In an effort to combat fraud, starting next month, providers that want to get Medicare payments for treating a patient with COVID-19 must include a positive test in that patient’s medical record. The test must be performed within 14 days of admission, and the results must be documented in the patient’s medical record. CMS has applied a 20% add-on Medicare payment for inpatient hospital COVID-19 patients, but without evidence of the positive test result, providers will not be eligible. Read More
• COVID-19 hasn't just taken healthcare delivery virtual, it may also be changing the way doctors practice medicine, according to a recent survey. More than 60 percent of doctors surveyed said they value tools for remote monitoring their patients at home more than they did prior to the pandemic, with nearly one in five expecting that asking patients to self-administer their care may be a permanent change. Read More
• CMS is poised to eliminate most of the temporary codes created during the coronavirus pandemic to expand connected health. According to the proposed 2021 Physician Fee Schedule, CMS is planning to keep just nine codes added during the COVID-19 crisis, while adding an additional 13 new codes. But that means 74 codes are slated to end when the public health emergency is over. Read More
• HHS will distribute $1.4 billion in COVID-19 relief funds to children's hospitals around the country, with each hospital receiving 2.5 percent of their net revenue from patient care. The funding will ensure the 80 freestanding children's hospitals receive the financial relief they urgently need to offset revenue losses linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read More
Each Friday, Signor Goat reports the latest from the week in health care. Check back next Friday for your dose of our little medical corner of health care news. Brought to you by pMD, innovators in charge capture, secure messaging, clinical communication, and care navigation software.
