A federal judge in Texas blocked United Healthcare and Next Health from escaping a suit claiming Next Health ran a $100 million kickback scheme, according to Law360.  By Rachel Popa - 7/23/18

Healthcare organizations announced a record-breaking 115 merger and acquisition transactions in 2017, and that number will likely be matched or surpassed this year, RevCycle Intelligence reports.  By Angie Stewart - 7/23/18

Medtronic entered into a value-based partnership with Revo Health with an undisclosed investment, the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports.  By Eric Oliver - 7/20/18

ASCs saved the Medicare program and its beneficiaries $7.5 billion in a four-year period without diminishing services or quality, Advancing Surgical Care reports.  By Angie Stewart - 7/20/18

The Alabama Workers' Compensation Division published updates to its ASC fee schedule.  By Angie Stewart - 7/20/18

In-network ASCs should clearly document and communicate contract terms with payers so both parties understand their obligations to each other, according to Mnet Health Services CEO David Hamilton.  By Angie Stewart - 7/20/18

Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin, R, is reinstating Kentucky Medicaid beneficiaries' vision and dental benefits after cutting the incentives in July, ABC News reports.  By Eric Oliver - 7/20/18

The three biggest fraud cases involving ASCs so far this year amounted to $29,180,000 altogether.  By Angie Stewart - 7/19/18

A Quest Diagnostics study suggests value-based care implementation has slowed to a stop.  By Eric Oliver - 7/19/18

A coding audit is critical to helping ensure ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) receive appropriate payment for services provided to patients. This process, which is a review of codes submitted to payers and the comparison of those codes against what is supported in the documentation, must be performed on a regular basis or ASCs risk making coding errors that can leave money on the table.  By Mandeara Frye, Director of Coding, Surgical Notes - 7/19/18

The CDC published 29 human trafficking-related codes enabling medical professionals to document sex and labor exploitation.  By Angie Stewart - 7/18/18

Stark Law and anti-kickback statutes create obstacles to developing alternative payment models suited for independent specialty practices, Large Urology Group Practice Association President Neal Shore, MD, told EHRIntelligence.com.  By Angie Stewart - 7/17/18

Certified Professional Coder Maggie Fortin discussed common reasons for denied claims at ASCs during a 2017 American Academy of Professional Coders meeting, according to Eye Care Leaders.  By Angie Stewart - 7/16/18

ASCs observing negative changes in accounts receivable days, net collection rates or statement and charge lags can launch an internal revenue cycle audit to help get finances back on track, according to Regent RCM Revenue Cycle Management Director Erin Petrie.  By Angie Stewart - 7/13/18

President Donald Trump's administration is making major cuts to funding for groups that help Americans select ACA health plans or direct those with low incomes toward Medicaid, The Washington Post reports.  By Angie Stewart - 7/12/18

Measuring accounts receivable can help ASCs collect money more efficiently, according to Serbin Medical Billing.  By Angie Stewart - 7/12/18

More patients, higher debt levels, lower reimbursements, increased competition, labor shortages — it's never been more difficult to run a hospital or health system. A Moody's Investors Services report released in April showed that median operating cash flow margins at nonprofit and public hospitals dropped to 8.1 percent in 2017 from 9.5 percent in 2016, press reports indicate.  By By Angela Mattioda, vice president of revenue cycle management services, Surgical Notes RCM - 7/12/18

Medtronic and Minnetonka, Minn.-based UnitedHealthcare partnered for a value-based program centered on improving outcomes for patients with diabetes, and initial results found the program improved outcomes and reduced hospital admissions, HIT Consultant reports.  By Eric Oliver - 7/12/18

It wasn't long ago when patient collections were viewed as a minor concern in ASCs. After all, reimbursement was strong, and what patients owed for their care was relatively low. No one wanted to leave a $50 co-pay and $250 deductible on the table, but if only some of this could be collected and the rest written off, it wasn't the end of the world. Patient financial responsibility accounted for a small percentage of what ASCs expected to collect for a procedure, so even if collections came up a little short in this area, profit on the case would still be high.  By Randy Bishop, Partner, Surgical Funds - 7/11/18

  Cliffside Park, N.J.-based Surgery Center of Cliffside alleges Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey underpaid the center for a lesion procedure by $58,120.40, court documents show.  By Angie Stewart - 7/11/18