CMS, CDC Create Provider Payment for COVID-19 Counseling
CMS said it will use existing evaluation and management payment codes to reimburse providers who are eligible to bill CMS for counseling services regardless of the testing venue, including doctors’ offices, urgent care clinics, hospitals and community drive-thru or pharmacy testing sites.
PHE is Extended: Blanket Waivers Continue for Now
The waivers modify or temporarily suspend certain CMS and HHS regulatory requirements as long as the PHE is ongoing. Hospitals, for instance, have used the blanket waivers to expand the use of telehealth, delay some testing and maintenance of non-critical systems, and use temporary facilities as ways to ease the financial and daily burden of meeting the surge of COVID-19 patients.
Home-Based Medical Care in High Demand During Coronavirus Pandemic
During the COVID-19 pandemic, patients have been reluctant to visit healthcare facilities due to concerns over coronavirus infection. In April, a Medical Group Management Association survey found that physician practices had experienced a 60% average decrease in patient volume.
Cleveland Clinic Facility Could Play Key Role in Fighting Viruses Like COVID-19
Joseph P. Iannotti, MD, PhD, interim CEO & president, and chief of staff of Cleveland Clinic Florida, talked to HealthLeaders about the role of this type of virus research and why therapeutic innovations are essential to improve the future of healthcare.
Survey: COVID-19 ‘Has Turned The Healthcare Industry Upside Down’
The LocumTenens.com survey was conducted in June and highlights information collected from 940 healthcare professionals in 35 medical specialties.
How to Implement Curbside Check-In and Contactless Registration for Patients
The COVID-19 pandemic has made patients hesitant about visiting doctor offices due to fear of infection. In April, a Medical Group Management Association survey found that physician practices had experienced 60% average decrease in patient volume.
Blood Test Claims to Find Cancer 4 Years Earlier than Current Methods
The test, which detects stomach, esophageal, colorectal, lung and liver cancer, also found cancer in 88% of samples from 113 patients who were already diagnosed when the samples were collected, and recognized cancer-free samples 95% of the time, according to the study, which was published this week in Nature Communications.
Coronavirus Antibodies Drop Precipitously 3 Months After Mild Cases
UCLA researchers wrote that a small study of 34 patients, with a median age of 43, found that the antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 — the virus that causes the disease — decreased by roughly half every 73 days, and would disappear entirely within a year at such a rate.
Researchers Examine Death Risks for Coronavirus Patients in ICUs
The new research, which was published by JAMA Internal Medicine, is based on data collected from more than 2,000 adults diagnosed with COVID-19 who were admitted to ICUs at 65 hospitals across the United States from March 4 to April 4.
Physician Fatigue Linked to Electronic Health Record Use
EHR use has been directly linked to physician burnout. For years, physicians have complained about click-intense and data-busy EHR interfaces. Excessive EHR screen time has been associated with medical errors.