How to Address ICD-10 Issues
With the Oct. 1 ICD-10 implementation date behind us, the AMA has revised its online ICD-10 information and resources. If physicians experience any problems with the processing of claims or other administrative transactions, they should take the following steps. Medicare: The AMA has created an ICD-10 complaint form,…
HHS issues new meaningful use regulations despite calls for reassessment
Late in the afternoon of Oct. 6, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued two major regulations pertaining to the electronic health record (EHR) meaningful use program. “The Medicare and Medicaid Programs Electronic Health Record Incentive Program–Stage 3 and Modifications to Meaningful Use in 2015 through…
State receives three months to check wages of Medicaid recipients
by Andy Davis, Arkansas Online Arkansas has been granted a three-month extension, until Dec. 31, to finish checking the incomes of 600,000 Medicaid recipients who have been enrolled for at least a year, the director of the state Department of Human Services said recently. Human Services Director John…
Obama signs ACA small-business legislation
The AP (10/8) reports that President Obama yesterday signed legislation “aimed at preventing premium increases that some smaller businesses were expecting next year under his signature health care law.” The new law keeps the ACA’s definition of small business at one to 50 workers but allows states to…
Bipartisan push to halt ACA small business rules gains momentum
Modern Healthcare (9/30, Subscription Publication) reports on the momentum building in Congress “to halt an Affordable Care Act mandate requiring employers with 51 to 100 employees to offer plans on the small-group market.” The House on Monday unanimously passed the Protecting Affordable Coverage for Employees (PACE) Act, which…
How to handle ICD-10 issues starting Oct. 1
As the Oct. 1 implementation deadline for ICD-10 quickly approaches, physicians need to be prepared for handling any claims processing issues that result from using the new code set. In July, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that the AMA secured flexibilities for physicians to…
Payment Recoupments for Private Option Patients
AMS has been notified of Blue Cross Blue Shield issuing letters of recoupment to several physicians involving Private Option patients. As you know, the Department of Human Services has been conducting a revalidation process for patients covered by the Private Option. For many patients, this process has been…
Medicaid limbo catches 31,400 in Arkansas
Article by By Andy Davis of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 9-10-2015 As of Aug. 2, as many as 31,400 Arkansans had been waiting longer than the maximum time allowed for word that their applications for Medicaid had been approved, according to numbers from the state Department of Human Services.…
Jonesboro Hospital Honors AMS Member with Memorial Dedication
Dr. Micheal Hong practiced as an OBGYN at the NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital for over 17 years and served as a member of the Arkansas Medical Society for 15 years. In honor of his dedication and extraordinary patient care, over 100 of his friends, colleagues and family members…
Fewer Americans skipping care because of cost, survey finds
The Huffington Post (9/1) reports that during the first quarter of this year, “4.4 percent of Americans surveyed said they went without health care at some point in the past 12 months because they couldn’t afford it, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention research released on…
AMS Welcomes 94 New Members
By joining the Arkansas Medical Society (AMS) over the last two months, the physicians listed below have illustrated their commitment to improving health care in their communities and our state. “As AMS members, these physicians are part of a statewide network of over 4,300 Arkansas physicians, residents and…