Nursing and other long-term care (LTC) facilities have been a hotspot for COVID-19 infection since the public health emergency began. On Aug. 27, CMS issued a new Interim rule requiring LTC facilities … [Read more...]
PANDEMIC
Hospitals, Labs, LTCs Face Big Fines for Failing to Meet New CMS COVID-19 Test Daily Reporting Rules
September 17, 2020
Fee Schedules
2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Slashes Lab Reimbursements 5% but Provides Some PAMA Relief
September 4, 2020
On Aug. 3, CMS released the proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) rule for 2021. Bottom line on top: The agency is slashing lab reimbursement rates. Here are the four key takeaways for labs. … [Read more...]
CARES Act
CMS Issues Guidance on Private Payor Reimbursement of COVID-19 Testing
May 24, 2020
If your lab is performing COVID-19 testing for patients covered by private insurance and health plans, you need to be aware of the reimbursement rules set out in the new COVID-19 relief legislation. … [Read more...]
Billing & Coding
New HCPCS Codes for COVID-19 Specimen Collection
April 16, 2020
CMS has established two new Level II HCPCS codes for COVID-19 specimen collection: G2023 - Specimen collection for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (Coronavirus … [Read more...]
LDTs
VITAL Act Would Eliminate FDA Regulation of New Tests During Health Emergencies
April 13, 2020
In standing aside and allowing test makers to validate and perform COVID-19 laboratory developed tests (LDTs) and not wait for Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), the FDA has actually acknowledged what … [Read more...]
Reimbirsement
Congress Calls on Insurers to Cover Coronavirus Testing without Charging Patients
March 30, 2020
As labs scramble to come up with a coronavirus detection assay and CMS creates a billing and coding regimen, Congress is working to ensure that private payors provide coverage of SARS-CoV-2 testing. … [Read more...]
Coronavirus
FDA Takes Unprecedented Measures to Promote Rapid Development of Coronavirus Diagnostic Tests
March 19, 2020
The FDA is following a two-prong strategy to promote and expedite development and validation of a test capable of safe, rapid and reliable detection of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the disease caused … [Read more...]
REIMBURSEMENT
Billing & Coding: CMS Sets Rules for Medicare Coronavirus Testing Reimbursement with Private Payors Expected to Follow Suit
March 17, 2020
Good news for labs that are testing Medicare patients for the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes coronavirus using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2019 Real Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Test … [Read more...]
