Tip: Update compliance checklists to ensure your agency meets deadlines. With the new Nondiscrimination in Health Programs and Activities final rule taking effect on July 5, home health and hospice agencies have no time to waste when it comes to [...]
Courts aren’t afraid to levy big CMPs for ‘willful violations.’ A Virginia home care agency is learning the hard way that it can’t skirt overtime laws. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia has directed 1st Adult [...]
The latest omnibus budget legislation extended Public Health Emergency waivers for telehealth, but not for hospital-at-home programs. A new piece of legislation now seeks to make that change. The Hospital Inpatient Services Modernization Act (H.R. 7053) introduced on March 9 [...]
Question: I am hoping to get some advice coding this surgery. The ob-gyn performed laparotomy, de-torsion left ovary, left ovarian cystectomy, left salpingectomy. For the laparotomy, the ovary had a large cyst and was high in the abdomen. The ovary [...]
OCR isn’t the only watchdog now. Your lab can’t afford to get complacent about HIPAA violations that could bring down the HHS Office for Civil Rights’ (OCR) ire. Heads up: Now you might also need to steer clear of State [...]
Check your state’s rules to ensure compliance. The HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) defines, interprets, and enforces HIPAA, but interestingly enough federal enforcement of the rules may be declining. However, as the feds target other systemic problems, states have [...]
Tip: Review state rules before you outline your compliance plan. HIPAA compliance remains a steady focus of the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR), but interestingly enough federal enforcement may be declining. However, as the feds target other systemic problems, [...]
If you happen to find yourself excluded, there are specific guidelines to follow to be reinstated under CMS. It is also important to remember that exclusion may affect other areas of your healthcare work and life. Take a look at [...]
Question: What are the diagnosis code changes anticipated for ovarian cysts in 2017? New Jersey Subscriber Answer: The ICD-10-CM changes are soon approaching. There are likely reforms in codes for ovarian cysts. The following four codes will be deleted from Oct 1, [...]
Question: What would be the diagnosis code for folic lymphoma? New Mexico Subscriber Answer: If the diagnosis is follicular lymphoma, the correct ICD-9 code will be 202.00 (Nodular lymphoma unspecified site, extranodal and solid organ sites) for unspecified site. This [...]
