January 14, 2021
By Knicole C. Emanuel Esq. Medicaid Suspension Lifted Due to Lack of Evidence of Intent
Happy 2021! I have great news to share. I’m fairly sure that everyone reading is educated about what a preliminary injunction is, and how important it can be for a healthcare provider falsely accused of fraud to lift the mandatory suspension of reimbursement. Over the holidays, a judge found that…
November 19, 2020
By Susan Gatehouse, RHIT, CCS,CPC, AHIMA-Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer For Audits, Emphasize Preparation, Not Panic
Now is the time to prepare, assess time frames and provider requirements, and ensure a proper compliance plan is in place. On March 30, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) provided a temporary respite on audit activities due to the COVID-19 crisis. This was undoubtedly a welcomed break,…
November 12, 2020
By Knicole C. Emanuel Esq. Provider Relief Funds: The Hottest RAC Audit Subject
Reporting the use of PRFs will be an ongoing issue due to the fraud and abuse implications of misusing PRFs. The federal Provider Relief Fund (PRF) was created under the provisions of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was passed to address the economic harm suffered…
November 5, 2020
By Ronald Hirsch, MD IRF Care Again in Audit Crosshairs
OIG determines admissions to inpatient rehab not appropriate. Last week, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) released an audit of OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, Ill. In this audit, the majority of the errors were once again due to admissions…
October 29, 2020
By Andrew B. Wachler, Esq., and Stephen J. Shaver, Esq. Audit Hot Spots and the CARES Act
There are COVID-19 hot spots and now there are potential covid audit hot spots. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was enacted on March 27, 2020. Through the CARES Act and subsequent legislation, hundreds of billions of dollars have been allocated for healthcare providers, including under the…
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…
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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 Hu, MD and Charles Locke, MDEdward 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, ACMStefani Daniels, MSNA, ACM, CMAC
