In previous posts, we have discussed the MIPS Eligibility Online Lookup Tool, where providers can enter their NPI numbers and find out their MIPS eligibility status. Well, the CMS has officially released a new version for 2018. With it, providers can discover their participation status for the MIPS 2018 performance year, and therefore determine whether or not they are eligible for financial incentives/penalties in 2020. Click the button below to utilize this tool

Reminder – The CMS has raised the eligibility threshold for 2018 to providers who:

• accumulate $90,000 in Medicare Part B allowed charges

AND

• provide covered professional services to 200 Medicare Part B-enrolled beneficiaries

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2018 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
In November, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized the 2018 Physician Fee Schedule. The most broadly relevant change is that to the payment Conversion Factor. The CMS has increased the payment rate by 0.41%. This change is the result of “the 0.5% update established under the Medicare Access and Chip Reauthorization Act (MACRA) of 2015, which has been reduced by 0.09% due to the misvalued code target recapture amount, required under the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act of 2014″.

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Here at Valletta, we constantly strive to meet the true needs of medical providers. While not every provider shares the same set of needs, there are a few basic factors that most clinicians agree are essential to a successful billing program. To name a few:

• Collect maximum fair reimbursement
• Get rid of mistakes and inefficiencies
• Have smooth, timely patient payments (and payer reimbursement)
• Receive clear revenue cycle data for proper business evaluation
• Receive informed, responsive customer service from biller
• Be able to customize billing services to address specific needs

While there are many other factors to competent billing, most physicians share these common goals. The difficult part is figuring out how to achieve them. For those looking to outsource their revenue cycle, researching billing companies online can be a pain. How do you know if a specific company is capable or trustworthy? In the following paragraphs, we provide some tips to help you more successfully distinguish between the various types of RCM companies online.

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On the final day of HBMA’s 2017 Compliance Symposium, a few of us at The Valletta Group had the opportunity to meet with members of Congress to discuss various healthcare issues. It’s no secret that healthcare policy is currently in a state of volatility. In times of heated debate such as this, often only the most serious and divisive issues receive attention. Unfortunately, this can cause lesser-known, yet equally important issues to get overlooked.

Thus, the time is critical for RCM companies like ourselves to further relationships with our leaders and stand up for the policies that protect our clients and their patients. So when The Valletta Group and other HBMA members visited Capitol Hill, we spoke up for these lesser-known, bipartisan issues. These are the policies that help ensure a level playing field between insurance payers and physicians/patients.

Two of these issues are discussed below.

The Valletta Group’s Executive VP’s, Gilbert Johnston and Cal LaGroue, meet with United States Senator, Luther Strange.

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