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New Physician Specialty Code for Epileptologists
We are pleased to announce the implementation of a new physician specialty code, F6, used to indicate the specialty designation for an epileptologist. The new code, created by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) is the result of a collaborative effort among specialty societies that included submitting a [...]
NAEC Resources on Long-Term EEG Monitoring
Beginning on January 1, 2020, the CPT coding structure for long-term EEG and EEG with video monitoring (VEEG) changed dramatically. NAEC has been working with AAN, ACNS, and AES to provide summaries of the coding changes, webinars, and an analysis of the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule’s treatment of the [...]
CMS Releases Medicare Proposed Regulations for 2023
This month, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released proposed rules for 2023 on the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) and the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (HOPPS). Both rules are open for comments until mid-September and the final rules are typically released in November. Changes in policy [...]
HHS Extends Public Health Emergency through April and Medicare Conversion Factor Increased by Congress
On Monday, January 11, the Secretary of Health and Human Services extended the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency declaration for an additional 90 days. This will extend the telehealth and other flexibilities and waivers under Medicare and Medicaid until April 21, 2021. In addition, CMS has recalculated the Medicare Physician [...]
CMS Releases Rules Providing Flexibility to Providers during the COVID Emergency
On March 30, 2020 and April 30, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued Interim Final Rules providing significant flexibility in Medicare coverage and payment for hospital and physician services and waivers on other Medicare and Medicaid requirements. Most of these changes were made effective as [...]
CMS Announces Change in Medicare Telehealth Benefits & HIPAA Policy during COVID-19 Outbreak
Expanded Telehealth Benefits On March 17, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) expanded telehealth benefits for Medicare beneficiaries during the COVID-19 outbreak to allow individuals to receive a wider range of healthcare services without having to travel to a healthcare facility. Clinicians can bill immediately for dates [...]
2019 Medicare Final Rules on Physician Fee Schedule and Hospital Outpatient Payment System Released
In early November, CMS released the final regulations for the CY 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) and Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (HOPPS). NAEC has prepared summaries of the rules and charts showing payment for epilepsy center services, which can be found here: NAEC 2019 Final MPFS Summary [...]
MS Releases Proposed Rule on Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System for 2019
NAEC has prepared a brief summary of the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (HOPPS) proposed rule for 2019. In general, the rule provides for a 1.25% update in hospital outpatient payment rates in 2019. Hospitals that fail to meet the hospital outpatient quality reporting requirements will receive a 2% reduction [...]
