Coding spine and pain procedures can be a complex and confusing process for both new and veteran coders.  By Brooke Murphy - 6/22/18

When companies acquire ASCs, they typically adjust the pricing for out-of-network centers, according to HealthCare Appraisers 2018 ASC Valuation Survey Results.  By Laura Dyrda - 6/22/18

It's hard to believe 2018 is halfway through, especially for practices still trying to understand this year's new additions to the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act before next year.  By B.K. Kohn, Nextech's senior professional services consultant - 6/21/18

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Indiana is adding Munster (Ind.) Specialty Surgery Center to its preferred list of care providers for two Medicare Advantage plans.  By Angie Stewart - 6/20/18

Carrum Health added Orange County, Calif.-based Hoag Orthopedic Institute Surgery Center to its bundled payment program.  By Eric Oliver - 6/20/18

Physicians' offices don't get properly reimbursed due to constantly changing regulations governing what payers cover and insufficient training for office staff, according to Tranquilmoney President and Co-founder Karun Philip, PhD.  By Angie Stewart - 6/20/18

Somerset, N.J.-based healthcare information technology company MTBC held its annual meeting June 15 and shareholders voted on three proposals.  By Angie Stewart - 6/19/18

The World Health Organization's fully-electronic 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases contains 55,000 codes, compared to the 14,400 in ICD-10, Medscape reports.  By Angie Stewart - 6/19/18

Insurance companies will reject claims for even the smallest mistake, according to Tranquilmoney President and Co-founder Karun Philip, PhD.  By Angie Stewart - 6/19/18

Providers can ensure their vital medical billing and coding processes run smoothly by addressing three key challenges, according to RevCycle Intelligence.  By Angie Stewart - 6/18/18

Republicans are abandoning attempts to overhaul Medicare as House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., prepares to leave his post, Politico reports.  By Eric Oliver - 6/18/18

Correct coding for any surgical service provided in an ASC is critical to ensuring proper reimbursement, reducing denials and avoiding potential compliance issues. One could argue that the stakes are even higher when the service is far and away the most frequently provided service in ASCs, with even small errors having potentially large implications on a facility's bottom line.  By Mandeara Frye, Assistant Director of Coding & Auditing, Surgical Notes - 6/18/18

The World Health Organization is releasing its new International Classification of Diseases, ICD-11.  By Angie Stewart - 6/15/18

Aetna's online provider directory now allows members to search for surgeons who use low- or no-opioid pain management techniques.  By Angie Stewart - 6/15/18

Kristin Held, MD, penned a column for the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons calling for CMS to repeal value-based care.  By Eric Oliver - 6/15/18

A Bloomberg column argued the regulatory environment is ripe for an Anthem-Humana merger, which would position Anthem to be a larger player in the Medicare Advantage market.  By Eric Oliver - 6/14/18

Healthcare organizations can use non-physician documentation to support ICD-10 coding for common socioeconomic issues not typically included in clinical diagnoses, according to the American Hospital Association.  By Angie Stewart - 6/14/18

With the rapid rise in deductibles and co-pays, coupled with declining reimbursement and increased expenses, ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are under great pressure to collect all the money patients owe for their surgical care. Faced with such tight margins, even leaving a small percentage of a patient's responsibility on the table could eliminate the profitability from a procedure.  By Randy Bishop, Partner, Surgical Funds - 6/6/18

ASCs saw increased business, revenue and patient satisfaction one year after posting prices for surgical procedures online, according to a study published in The American Surgeon.  By Angie Stewart - 6/13/18

HHS officials are meeting with pharmaceutical companies in an attempt to get the companies to voluntarily lower their drug prices, The Hill reports.  By Eric Oliver - 6/12/18