How high is hypertension? Earlier this week a new clinical practice guideline for high blood pressure in adults was published by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the American Heart Association (AHA). It represents the first comprehensive hypertension guideline to be published in [...]

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently published and is accepting comments on the Quality Payment Program Year 2 final rule for the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA). This final rule gives updates for both Year 2 and [...]

UnitedHealthcare (UHC) recently informed its providers that it has developed a revised policy on Attended Polysomnography for Evaluation of Sleep Disorders. UHC has attempted to align its policy with the recommendations in the AASM Clinical Practice Guideline for Diagnostic Testing for Adult OSA. In [...]

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released an unpublished version of the Calendar Year (CY) 2018 Physician Fee Schedule. The final version of the fee schedule will be published Nov. 15, 2017. The AASM is reviewing the new fee schedule and [...]

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently launched two new initiatives to reduce administrative burden on physicians. On Monday, Administrator Seema Verma discussed a new approach to quality measurement called Meaningful Measures during a plenary session at the Health Care Payment Learning [...]

As the 2017 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) reporting year is fully underway, participants should verify which pathway is right for you and implement a reporting plan that complies with the program’s requirements. As a reminder, the following three pathways are offered within the [...]

The Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) of the Quality Payment Program is already underway. MIPS participants who did not start their activities by Oct. 2, 2017, are no longer eligible for a positive payment adjustment in 2019. However, MIPS-eligible clinicians can still avoid a [...]

Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) of North Carolina will implement a new sleep management program for sleep testing and therapy services on Dec. 1, 2017. The program will be administered by AIM Specialty Health®. Providers will be required to obtain preauthorization for the [...]

On Oct. 11, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) opened the “virtual group” election period for participation in the 2018 Merit-based Incentive Performance System (MIPS) performance year. Clinicians have from now until Dec. 1, 2017, to make an election. This process was [...]