Medicare SGR Cuts of 24% Averted – SGR Repeal Gaining Momentum
As 2013 came to a close, the U.S. House and Senate approved a $1.012 trillion dollar 2014 budget. Included in the budget deal was a three-month .05% Medicare physician payment increase in lieu of the 24% cut created by the SGR (sustainable growth rate) formula. The three-month deal is…
Legislators Press ABCBS on Fee Changes
In a public hearing on November 4, legislators on the Joint Interim Committee on Insurance & Commerce pressed representatives of ABCBS on their decision to reduce their current fee schedule by 15 percent for "non-primary care" specialties. The reduced fee schedule applies to the new products being offered…
Six Counties in South Arkansas will Benefit from Investment in Healthcare
DUMAS, Ark. – The Delta Regional Authority will announce today (December 3) an investment of $175,000 for healthcare training at the Delta Technology/Education Center (DTEC) in Dumas. This crucial training program will be provided by the Greater Alliance for Health in areas including insurance education, safety training and…
ABCBS Adjusts Reimbursement for Individual Metallic Plans
Physicians and other medical providers are receiving contract amendments from Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield (ABCBS) laying out how they plan to begin reimbursing for services under the new health care plans. This information was shared with AMS staff recently. The network affected by the amendments is…
Patient-Centered Medical Home Town Hall Meetings
A message from Medicaid Managed Care Services (A division of Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care): Arkansas Medicaid’s Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) program was officially launched on October 1st. PCMH seeks to transition primary care in Arkansas to a more comprehensive, coordinated patient-centered practice model. They are writing now…
Arkansas Physicians Receive EHR Incentive Payments
CMS recently released monetary figures reflecting incentive payments paid to Arkansas physicians who have achieved meaningful use. These physicians adopted, implemented, or upgraded to a certified EHR through new technology. The figures include payments made since 2011. Payments for meaningful use from Medicaid to 933 physicians was $16,719,507. …
PCP Supplemental Payment
It is not too late to attest for the PCP Supplemental Payment with Arkansas Medicaid. Arkansas Medicaid is participating in a federal program that allows for supplemental Medicaid payments to certain physician specialties for primary care services for calendar years 2013 and 2014. To qualify for the payment,…
Update on Walgreens’ Policy Regarding Narcotic Prescriptions
The Arkansas Medical Society participated in a series of conference calls with the DEA, AMA and several other states regarding recent developments over Walgreens' new policy to require that pharmacists request diagnostic codes, explanations of alternative therapies and medical records before filling certain prescriptions. The Drug Enforcement Agency…
Allergist Added to List of Eligible Providers for Medicaid Enhanced Payments
Due to national advocacy, CMS has clarified that allergists can attest to board certification and receive enhanced payments for a number of E&M codes as well as immunizations under the Medicaid enhanced payment program. The Arkansas Medical Society asked for DHS to review the list of eligible physicians…
Medicaid Primary Care Payment Error
Physicians who have attested to participate in the "enhanced" Medicaid primary care payment project may have received a lessor amount than was expected due to an error in processing. The ACA contained a provision requiring state Medicaid programs to increase payments to primary care physicians for primary care…
Kids who undergo CT scans may face higher cancer risk later in life.
Article from the AMA Morning Rounds, 6-11-13 Research on the potential health risks of CT scans in children received moderate coverage in print and online, and on one of last night’s national news broadcasts. Although many sources portrayed the findings as alarming, they also pointed out that there…