Code Encounters

Changes were made for RHCs and FQHCs Friday April 17^th 2020.

Daily change is part of our healthcare careers and even more so with the COVID-19 national emergency.  Here are a few items you and your staff need to know during this time.

In the current times I rest assured saying COVID-19 is creating a lot of chaos and confusion and is at the forefront of everyone’s minds.   Medical providers are trying to determine ways to help patients without compromising public health, patient’s health and putting high risk patients at further risk.  CMS has recognized this and enacted relief through 1135 Waiver.

On March 13^th American Medical Association (AMA) editorial panel published a special edition CPT Assistant Fact Sheet of which announced CPT code 87635 (infectious agent detection by nucleic acid [DNA or RNA]; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 [SARS-CoV-2] [COVID-19], amplified probe technique) is now available for reporting the testing for COVID-19.

Make sure your staff knows about these. You may use the previous versions through the end of March, but you are required to use the new versions beginning April 1. 

“The age of volume-driven fee-for-service medicine is gradually giving way to value-based care.” This is what Kathy Whitmire had to say about transforming healthcare leadership in order to improve revenue cycles.