Exceptional Coders | Innovative Technology

2020 presented daunting challenges to the healthcare industry, not only in diagnosing and treating COVID-19 patients, but also in transforming a healthcare delivery system to modern needs. There were hyper-growth adoptions in telehealth as more providers and the public embraced technology for patient engagement. Remote workforce, which has been common for companies like Aviacode for years, became the norm for many, who had to learn new processes if they hadn't been doing remote work before. This was true for medical coders and healthcare RCM workers alike.

Providers are facing daunting challenges during the pandemic. Not only in keeping staff and patients safe and healthy, but also in keeping practices financially sound. During these times, an increasing number of organizations, especially those with shortages of qualified medical professionals or those with fluctuating patient volume, have seen revenue cycle outsourcing as a solution. Outsourcing can help identify and implement improvements for better revenue capture and collection. A recent RevCycleIntelligence.com article on "Best Practices When Outsourcing Revenue Cycle Management" underscores the opportunities that revenue cycle outsourcing can have during these pressing times.

A report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General (OIG) earlier this month found improper physician coding of stroke patients who were transferred from traditional Medicare to Medicare Advantage, which led to overpayments of an estimated $14.4 million. The OIG found nearly all of the selected acute stroke diagnosis codes that physicians submitted to CMS under traditional Medicare that CMS later used to make payments to Medicare Advantage organizations didn't comply with federal requirements.

While hospital financial performance is starting to recover after experiencing historic lows at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, providers still face a bumpy road ahead, according to experts at Kaufman Hall. Comparing July 2020 to June 2020, hospital operating margins increased 24 percent. Operating EBITDA margins also increased by 12 percent month-over-month and were 9 percent above budget without the financial aid despite falling by 5 percent year-over-year, the firm reported.

More than 10 million COVID-19 laboratory tests have been conducted in the United States thus far. While the US testing per capita rate still lags behind several other countries, the number of tests completed continues to rise. These tests are medical coded and reimbursed just like other medical procedures. The CPT codes announced in March and April when testing became prevalent in the United States now have associated Medicare MAC payment rates.

Telehealth usage is skyrocketing during this COVID-19 pandemic, as the way people interact with each other and their healthcare providers change. The increased demand in remote video technology, or in its absence telephony, for clinical interactions has led to changes in how providers offer patient care, as well as led to changes in reimbursement policies enacted and enforced by the federal government.