Aug 22, 2024 | Insurance & Reimbursement, Medicaid
DVHA has come up a final solution to the issue of providers getting no—or delayed—reimbursement due to the Change Healthcare cybersecurity incident earlier this year. You can read about what DVHA is going to do here: https://humanservices.vermont.gov/sites/ahsnew/files/documents/24-029-F-GCR-Change-Healthcare-Response.pdf
In short, DVHA (Vermont Medicaid) made payments to impacted providers based on
historical average claims. For the period February 21, 2024, through
June 30, 2024, Medicaid providers were eligible to receive payment “in amounts representative of up to 7 days of claims payments for Medicaid services” that were not otherwise paid because of the Change Healthcare cybersecurity incident. You can find more information about the payment provisions at the link sent by DVHA: https://humanservices.vermont.gov/sites/ahsnew/files/documents/24-029-Att-4.19-Introduction-draft.pdf
Mar 19, 2023 | Insurance & Reimbursement, News
A number of changes to Medicare were passed in late 2022, including an expansion of the providers who can be reimbursed, an extension of telehealth waivers, and a new conversion factor. You can see an easy-to-read summary of these changes written by APA staff here.
Mar 19, 2023 | Insurance & Reimbursement, News
Psychologists now have a mechanism to provide and report interprofessional consultations (through telephone, electronic medical records, etc.) for diagnosis and treatment. The new CPT® codes are 99446–99449 and 99451. We caution you to check with your insurer to see if they reimburse for these codes before billing. You can read more about these new codes on the APA website.
Mar 19, 2023 | Advocacy, Insurance & Reimbursement
The Increasing Mental Health Options Act (S.669) has been reintroduced in the Senate. As in the last Congress, Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) sponsored the legislation along with Susan Collins (R-ME), and is joined this year by new Senator (and past House supporter) Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) and Senator Martin Heinrich (D-CO). The American Psychological Association is working with House supporters on the introduction of companion legislation in that chamber.
The legislation would establish independent practice authority for psychologists treating Medicare patients in outpatient rehabilitation facilities, skilled nursing facilities, partial hospitalization programs, inpatient psychiatric hospitals, and home health agencies. The legislation would also make psychologists eligible for Medicare bonus payments for services delivered in mental health professional shortage areas starting in 2025.
Write your United States senators and ask them to co-sponsor or support S.669.
