CMS Releases CY 2020 MPFS/QPP Proposed Rule
Regulatory ReliefOn July 29, 2019, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the CY 2020 Proposed Rule for the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS), which also includes proposals related to the Quality Payment Program (QPP). The proposed regulations will be published in the Federal…
CMS Heeds AAO-HNS Concerns on CY 2019 MPFS
Regulatory ReliefOn November 1, 2018, CMS released a final rule implementing changes to the 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. In response to AAO-HNS advocacy and coordinated efforts across the house of medicine, CMS opted to rescind its proposal to apply an MPPR/Modifier 25 reduction…
AAO-HNS Comments on Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule
Regulatory ReliefOn August 30, the AAO-HNS submitted a comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on the CY 2020 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and Quality Payment Program proposed rule. The Academy’s comments focused on the agency’s proposed changes to E…
AAO-HNS Comments on Medicare CY 2020 Hospital Outpatient Proposed Rule
Regulatory ReliefOn September 27, the AAO-HNS submitted a comment letter to CMS regarding the CY 2020 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) Payment System proposed rule. The Academy’s comments included support for Medicare’s proposed changes to increase…
AAO-HNS Comments on Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule
Regulatory ReliefOn December 30, the AAO-HNS submitted comments to CMS regarding the CY 2020 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule. In the November 15 federal register notice rule publication, the agency indicated its willingness to solely consider comments on the sections of the rule describing…
Medicare to Require Prior Authorization for Certain Outpatient Department Services Starting July 1, 2020
Regulatory ReliefIn the Calendar Year 2020 Outpatient Prospective Payment System/Ambulatory Surgical Center Final Rule (2020 OPPS Final Rule), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) established a prior authorization process and requirements for certain hospital outpatient department (OPD) services in order to help control…
AAO-HNS Preliminary Summary of CY 2021 MPFS Final Rule
Regulatory ReliefOn December 1 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2021 Final Rule for the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) and Quality Payment Program (QPP). Key provisions affecting otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons include revisions to payment and documentation for evaluation and…
CMS Releases Calendar Year 2021 HOPPS Final Rule
Regulatory ReliefOn December 2 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the calendar year 2021 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (HOPPS) final rule. Key provisions affecting otolaryngologist-head and neck surgeons include: facility payment for the new eustachian tube balloon dilation (ETBD) codes, prior…
AAO-HNS Comments on CY 2021 HOPPS Final Rule
Regulatory ReliefOn January 4 the AAO-HNS submitted a comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services on the Calendar Year 2021 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center (HOPPS) final rule. In response to AAO-HNS advocacy and stakeholder comments received…
CMS Releases Revised 2021 Physician Fee Schedule Conversion Factor
Regulatory ReliefOn January 7 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced modifications to the calendar year 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) based on the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, signed into law on December 27. Cumulative changes included in the Act result in an…
AAO-HNS Releases Summary of Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute Final Rules
Regulatory ReliefThe Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued two new regulations, which took effect on January 19, that have implications for otolaryngologists and their patients. The final rules include one issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services addressing changes to the Stark law…
AAO-HNS Continues Medicare Advocacy Efforts on Payment for PPE
Regulatory ReliefOn February 1 the AAO-HNS submitted a comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding its interim final policy on coding and payment for personal protective equipment (PPE) and other infection control costs during the COVID-19 public health emergency…
Phillips Recall of PAP Devices
On June 14, 2021, Phillips issued a voluntary recall notification of positive air pressure (PAP) and ventilator devices. The recall applies to all Phillips devices manufactured before April 26, 2021, including the original DreamStation line of CPAP machines. This recall does not apply to the…
ENThealth+
ENThealth+ Subscription Opportunities: Offer ENThealth Patient Information in Your Practice ENThealth+ gives you access to ready-made content from ENThealth.org that has been developed and vetted by clinical experts in the otolaryngology-head and neck surgery specialty. In addition, all materials are published…
Announcing the International Advisory Board (IAB) Chair-elect: Sheng-Po Hao, MD
Sheng-Po Hao, MD, has been selected to become the Chair-elect of the International Advisory Board (IAB). Dr. Hao is professor and chair of the Department of Otolaryngology of Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital and program director of Otolaryngology in Fu Jen…
Obtaining RVUs for a CPT Code
AMA CPT and RUC Processes AMA CPT Editorial Review Process Did you ever wonder how CPT codes are created and how the code set is maintained? View this section of the AMA website that provides a brief overview and history of CPT, the process of…
The Laryngectomee Guide
By Itzhak Brook, MD, MSc The Laryngectomee Guide has been made available on www.entnet.org for patients and physicians by author and laryngectomee, Itzhak Brook, MD, MSc. The guide provides practical information to assist laryngectomees and their caregivers in dealing with medical, dental…
AAO-HNS/F Strategic Plan: Updated April 2021
Our Strategic Plan sets the overall direction of the organization by defining specific goals and objectives that guide resource management.…