October 21, 2020
By Sean M. Weiss, CEMA, CMCO, CPMA, CPC-P, CMPE, CMPM, CPC-P Auditors Are Ramping Up Operations
A culture of compliance is the key to success. There are no indications that audits of healthcare entities by government payers are slowing down – if anything, the ramping up of audit operations that was hinted at a short while ago has indeed materialized. Commercial payers are moving just as…
By Knicole C. Emanuel Esq.
Never ignore a request for records by the single-state agency in your state. One of the best examples that illustrates the importance of the “single state agency” involves a Medicaid fraud scheme in Illinois involving four women. It’s a real-life Bonnie and Clyde – if Bonnie and Clyde stole healthcare…
October 21, 2020
By Chuck Buck Updates on COVID-19 Billing and CS Modifier Audits
The pandemic continues to impact Medicare reimbursement. COVID-19 continues to make news on the regulatory front with two new directives from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), centering on testing for the deadly coronavirus and formal coding edits for the Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) on payments with the…
October 8, 2020
By Knicole C. Emanuel Esq. Warning: Opdivo is New RAC Target
Opdivo is an immunotherapy treatment for advanced cancer. What is Opdivo? It’s a new target for Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs), specifically Performant Recovery. Opdivo is an immunotherapy treatment for advanced cancer or cancers that have been resistant to other treatments. While this is a newer drug, Medicare will still cover…
September 3, 2020
By Edward Roche, PhD, JD The Audit Algorithm Arms Race in Medicare
Providers forced to camouflage in mediocrity. EDITOR’S NOTE: This the first in a series of articles that explores the use of algorithms in the auditing of medical claims. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has pioneered the use of computer algorithms for detection of fraud. These efforts leverage technologies…
February 27, 2020
By Frank D. Cohen, MPA, MBB The New World of Auditing
What’s next for auditing professionals? The first thing to note here is that I am not an auditor. So, for me to write an article on auditing tips might seem a bit unusual. But this is not an article on auditing compliance, but rather on being an auditor – and…
February 20, 2020
By Frank D. Cohen, MPA, MBB Why Auditors Can’t be Unbiased
A short lesson on game theory. Last week on Monitor Mondays, Knicole Emanuel, Esq. reported on the case of Commonwealth v. Pediatric Specialist, PLLC, wherein the Recovery Audit Contractors’ (RACs’) experts were prohibited from testifying because they were paid on contingency. This means that the auditor (or the company for…
December 19, 2019
By Knicole C. Emanuel Esq. Positive Airway Pressure Device Supplies on the Medicare Audit Chopping Block…Again
EDITOR’S NOTE: While presenting at the recent New England Healthcare Internal Auditors (NEHIA) annual conference in Connecticut, Knicole Emanuel encountered the recurring audit topic of positive airway device supplies or PAPs. The following is her report. Back in 2014 and 2015, then again in 2018, PAPs were the main area…
December 12, 2019
By Sean M. Weiss, CEMA, CMCO, CPMA, CPC-P, CMPE, CMPM, CPC-P Early Warning: Top Audit Risks for 2020
Three risks, in particular, are expected to pose a greater liability for providers. As we get ready to say goodbye to another year of audits and investigations, compliance officers around the country have worked or are working to determine their audit elements for calendar year 2020, in response to the…
By Knicole C. Emanuel Esq.
Oct. 1, 2019 marks the beginning of a new era of billing for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). Say goodbye to RUG-IV, and hello to the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM). This is a daunting task, not for the faint of heart. Under PDPM, reimbursement for Medicare Part A patients in SNFs…
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- Adam J. KleinAllen Jost, PhDAlvin Gore, MD, CHCQM and Cathi Charlberg, LVN, CHCQMAmanda Gilliland, RN, BSNAmber Soucy, MSN, RNAndrew B. Wachler, Esq.Andrew B. Wachler, Esq. and Emma E. TrivaxAndrew H. Hughes, MD and Charles Locke, MD, CHCQM-PHYADVAndrew Wachler and Kaitlin NucciAndrew Wachler, Esq., and Sarah Hillegonds, Esq.Angela Phillips, PTAspen AlbrightBarbara Vandegrift, RN, BSN, MABecky Rodrian, CPC, CEMC, CBCS, MBSBenjamin Kartchner MD, CHCQM-PhyAdvBrian T. LandryChristina Panos, RHIA, CTRChristopher Halleman, DOChristopher J. Laney, Esq.Chuck BuckClark AnthonyColleen Morley, DNP, RN, CCM, CMAC, CMCN, ACM-RNDaniel Zirkman, MDDavid A. McKenzie, CAEDavid Jury MD, MSDavid M. Glaser, Esq.Delilah Davis, RN, BSN, CCADenise Coleman, LPNDenise Nash, MD, CCS, CIMDheeraj Mahajan, MD, FACPDuane Abbey, PhD, CFPEdward Roche, PhD, JDElizabeth C. Dunbar, MD, MBA, FACEP, CHCQM-PHYADVEllen Fink-Samnick MSW, ACSW, LCSW, CCM, CRPEllen Parucka Walker LCSW ACSWErica E. Remer, MD, FACEP, CCDSErin Diesel Roumayah, Esq.Frank D. Cohen, MPA, MBBGlenn Krauss, RHIA, BBA, CCS, CCS-P, CPUR, CCDS, C-CDI, PCS, FCS, C-CDAMGloryanne Bryant, RHIA, RHIT, CCS, CCDSGreg FordHolly Louie, RN, BSN, CHBMEJ. Paul Spencer, CPC, COCJanelle Ali-Dinar, PhDJeffrey D. Lehrman DPM, FASPS, MAPWCAJessica Forster, Esq.John Foggle, MDJohn K. Hall, MD, JD, MBA, FCLM, FRCPCJulia K. Brodt, PhDJuliet B. Ugarte Hopkins, MD, CHCQM-PHYADVKaitlin Nucci Esq.Kathleen K. Borchard, BSN, RN-ACMKathy Seward, MD, CHCQM-PHYADVKim T. Charland, BA, RHIT, CCSKnicole C. Emanuel Esq.Kristi Pollard, RHIT, CCS, CPC, CIRCC, AHIMA-approved ICD-10-CM/PCS trainerLaurie M. Johnson, MS, RHIA, FAHIMA AHIMA Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS TrainerLeslie Marsh, RN, BS, MSN, MBALori O’Hara, MA, CCC-SLPMadison AllenMaggie Elehwany, JDMark SpiveyMarvin D Mitchell, RN, BSN, MBAMary Beth Pace, RN, BSN, MBA, ACM, CMACMary Inman, Esq. and Anne Hayes Hartman, Esq.Mary Inman, Esq. and Max Voldman, Esq.Matt Lambert, MDMatthew AlbrightMaureen Testoni Esq,Max Voldman, Esq.Melinda Battaile, MD, FHM, MMCI, CHCQM-PHYADV, CCDSMichael A. Salvatore, MD, FACPMichael KennedyMichael Rosen, Esq.Nancy J. Beckley, MB, MBA, CHCNena Scott, MSEd, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CCDSPhillip Angello, MDRalph Wuebker, MD, MBARichard “Dick” Beckley, YNS, USN, 1966-1970Robin Sewell, CDIP, CCS, CPC, CICRonald Hirsch, MDSarah Hillegonds, Esq.Sean M. Weiss, CEMA, CMCO, CPMA, CPC-P, CMPE, CMPM, CPC-PSean Weiss, CHC, CEMA, CMCO, CPMA, CPC-P, CMPE, CPC and David Glaser, Esq.Shannon Deconda, CPC, CPC-I, CEMC, CMSCS, CPMA®Stanley Nachimson, MSStefani Daniels, MSN, RN, CMAC, ACM and Tiffany Ferguson, LMSW, ACM
