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Simplifying the Management of Complex Care Patients
Simplifying the Management of Complex Care Patients It’s complicated… Having a chronic illness is tough. Having multiple chronic conditions is even tougher. Add financial, emotional, mobility or behavioral factors, and it can seem insurmountable. People who struggle with multiple ongoing health challenges (like diabetes, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorders, etc.) have complex needs […]
How to Set Up a Chronic Care Management (CCM) Program
How to Set Up a Chronic Care Management (CCM) Program (A Five-Step Guide) The Case for Chronic Care Management (CCM) If you are reading this article, I am assuming you are convinced of the value of Chronic Care Management (CCM) programs. If that’s indeed the case, please proceed to Step 1 (below), which acts as […]
Medicare needs to increase access to telehealth
Within one year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services must propose regulations that adjust the network adequacy requirements for Medicare Advantage plans to factor in access to telehealth services per a Trump Executive Order. By Dr. Amit Phull 1 Comment / Oct 14, 2019 at 9:00 AM On Oct. 3, President Trump signed an […]
Brian Donohue column: The potential of telehealth for cancer patients in Virginia
A cancer diagnosis changes everything. First, you receive this earth-shattering news and then, you enter the maze of cancer care, with countless visits to specialists and other health care providers to discuss which treatment options are appropriate for you. Fortunately, there are options, thanks to scientific research and clinical trials. But no matter where you […]
Bipartisan support keeps telehealth adoption moving forward
Over the last decade, few issues in politics have been more polarizing than healthcare. It’s driven a deep wedge between Democrats and Republicans, particularly following the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the subsequent efforts to repeal it, and has caused rifts within those parties. Yet despite all the animosity, there is one […]
Lots to Like in the Executive Order on Medicare
On October 3, President Trump issued an executive order on “protecting and improving Medicare for our nation’s seniors.” For now, it’s only a statement of intent, but there’s quite a bit to like among the stated intentions. I’ve long argued that both Republicans and Democrats focus too heavily on the demand side of health care […]
California Expands Medicaid Tele-Health Policy
The California Department of Health Care Services (“DHCS”) recently revised its Medi-Cal telehealth policy to allow providers increased flexibility in their use of telehealth as a modality for delivering medically necessary services to their patients. The policy is retroactively effective as of July 1, 2019, and fee-for-service providers must submit claims for services provided via telehealth according to […]
Telehealth Continues To Change The Face Of Healthcare Delivery – For The Better
As the federal government, via Medicare/Medicaid, and insurance companies strive to keep “heads out of beds” (e.g., patients managed into an outpatient setting [your doctor’s office] vs. inpatient/hospital settings), the need for more clinicians and better access to care grows unabated. In an effort to manage both increased demand (e.g., access) by patients and patients […]
AMA Supports Remote Patient Monitoring, Telehealth in 2020 CPT Codes
The American Medical Association is adding several new codes to its 2020 CPT code set to support remote patient monitoring and telehealth services. By Eric Wicklund September 09, 2019 – Remote patient monitoring and telehealth play prominently in the 2020 CPT codes unveiled this month by the American Medical Association. Among the 248 new codes added […]
6 new digital health CPT codes that you should know about
Six new codes that are part of the 2020 Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) code set will help physicians and others report a range of digital health services including electronic visits through secure patient portal messages. The new codes are spurred by digital health tools that are growing in popularity, such as patient portals. These tools […]
CPT changes in 2020 include new codes to allow doctors to bill for digital health
The American Medical Association (AMA) released updates to its Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes for 2020, including new codes to keep doctors up-to-date with new technology. The AMA released 394 code changes, including 248 new codes, 71 deletions and 75 revisions. The changes, which will take effect on January 1, 2020, reflect new tech-enabled patient services. […]
AMA Releases 2020 CPT® code set
CHICAGO —The American Medical Association (AMA) today announced the release of the 2020 Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) code set containing identifiers and descriptors assigned to each medical, surgical, and diagnostic services available to patients. Trusted since 1966 as the health system’s common language, the CPT code set enables accurate reporting, measurement, analysis, and benchmarking of […]