AMS has learned that the state’s largest insurance carrier, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield will reduce reimbursements to its provider network effective January 1, 2018.  The reduction applies only to the carrier’s individual metallic health plans (i.e. not group health plans), which include the Arkansas Works Medicaid expansion program.  The reductions apply to all network providers and will impact nearly 200,000 insureds or approximately 25% of the carrier’s insured customers. Reimbursement for Evaluation and Management Services will remain unchanged.… Read More

New MMIS Healthcare Portal Official Go-live Date is November 1, 2017. This is the new way claims will transmitted to Medicaid.  In preparation for this transition, many activities leading up to November 1 will be… Read More

USA Today (3/20, Groppe) reports that Republicans released a modified bill Monday night “in an attempt to shore up support among both conservatives and moderates.” The revised bill would allow states “to require able-bodied Medicaid… Read More

The Wall Street Journal (3/3, Peterson, Hackman, Armour, Subscription Publication) reported the House Energy and Commerce Committee is drafting legislation to reshape Medicaid that would allow states which expanded the program under the Affordable Care… Read More

CMS has announced that the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) of 2015, requires the removal of Social Security Numbers (SSNs) from all Medicare beneficiary cards by April 2019. A new randomly generated Medicare… Read More

The Wall Street Journal (12/16, Evans, Walker, Subscription Publication) reported that the Obama Administration has scrapped a controversial plan to alter how Medicare reimburses physicians for Part B drugs which they administer in their offices… Read More

AMS will continue to provide our physicians with updates on MACRA as new information becomes available. The AMA has some resources here. Below are some other resources you might find helpful: MACRA website – Includes a… Read More

Nearly a third of physicians could be exempt from Medicare’s new merit-based incentive payment system under a final rule CMS issued on October 14, 2016, for implementing the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA). CMS… Read More

From AMA Morning Rounds, 9/12/16. The New York Times (9/10, A14, Fink, Subscription Publication) reported that some 72,315 healthcare providers and suppliers “will have a little over a year to meet federal disaster preparedness requirements… Read More

CPC+ is a nationwide, 5-year patient-centered medical home model that will include up to 5,000 practices across 14 regions, and includes Medicare, Medicaid, and private payers.  The AMS was instrumental in supporting the application submitted… Read More

Arkansas physicians will begin to receive letters of revalidation from both Medicare and Medicaid. Instructions on how to complete the revalidation process will be included in the letter. AMS advises physicians to begin the process… Read More