Cigna Announces Update to Payment Policy on Multiple Procedures On May 25, the Health Care Insurance carrier Cigna announced an update to their policy on payment for multiple procedures provided on the same day of service. The May update came within a month of medical societies, including ISASS, requesting that Cigna immediately rescind the policy...

Majority of States Are Developing Prior Authorization Reforms The American Medical Association (AMA) reported in May that a majority of states are developing legislation to address the pervasive use of Prior Authorization by Health Care insurance carriers. According to the article, nearly 90 prior-authorization reform bills have been considered this legislative session in 30 states...

MIPS Hardship Exception Due to COVID-19 Continues in 2023 In April 2023, CMS announced it will continue to allow physicians and group practices to apply for a Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances hardship exception to avoid up to a -9% MIPS penalty in 2025 based on 2023 performance. The exception is not automatic,...

HHS Office of Inspector General Publishes Information on Audits of Telehealth Claims The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has published findings on audits of Medicare telehealth services claims as well as guidance and tools for practices. In 2022 and 2023, OIG has conducted extensive audits on telehealth...