2020 2/3

Jun 5, 2020

PPP Act Amended with More Favorable Terms

As expected, the Senate passed the bipartisan Paycheck Protection Flexibility Act (the “Act”). After President Trump signs the Act,...

Jun 1, 2020

The Catastrophe Related Modifier

On June 1, 2020, CMS issued instructions for using the “CR” (catastrophe related) modifier and “DR” (disaster related) condition code. 1....

Jun 1, 2020

HHS Calculations for the $20 Billion in Relief Funds

I recently received a copy of a letter from HHS to a provider regarding the formula HHS is using to determine how much money each...

May 23, 2020

SBA Clarifies PPP Loan Forgiveness Rules

The SBA has released new guidance regarding forgiveness of the funds received under the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”), along with...

May 13, 2020

Keeping Relief Funds: HHS Liberalizes Balance Billing

1. Clarification on Not Balance Billing to Keep HHS Relief Funds. If you received and kept the HHS Relief Funds, you had to attest to...

May 6, 2020

IRS Denies Tax Deduction for PPP Expenses

1. IRS Disallows PPP Expense Deduction. The IRS clarified an ambiguity in the CARES Act (“the Act”) which fails to address whether you...

May 5, 2020

Update: Billing Specimen Collection for COVID-19

Since our previous article on the new COVID-19 codes, CMS has released updated guidance related to specimen collection for COVID-19....

May 1, 2020

More Money for Telehealth Telephone Calls

1. New Interim Final Rule. HHS published a new Interim Final Rule (the “Rule”) yesterday with retroactive dates to March 1, 2020. 2. ...

Apr 28, 2020

New Codes & Reimbursement for COVID-19 Testing

Some of you have been requesting how to bill for the COVID-19 lab tests. There are 9 new and 2 revised CPT and/or HCPCS codes recently...

Apr 27, 2020

New Relief Fund FAQs

Some of you have asked how to calculate the amount of lost revenues for March and April 2020 when applying for your share of the...

Apr 26, 2020

Update on the New $20 Billion in Relief Funds

1. Update. On Friday, April 24, 2020, HHS created the web portal and User Guide for providers to obtain their portion of the new $20...

Apr 24, 2020

COVID-19 HIPAA Guidance

On Friday, April 24, 2020, the Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) hosted a webinar on HIPAA privacy and security issues related to COVID-19....

Apr 24, 2020

Another $20 Billion in Relief Funds

1. $20 Billion More. More Relief Fund money is being distributed by HHS. The CARES Act authorized $100 billion to be distributed to...

Apr 14, 2020

New HHS Guidance on Relief Funds

Relief Funds New Guidance. As anticipated, HHS has provided sorely needed clarity regarding the Terms and Conditions to which one must...

Apr 11, 2020

Surprise Money; Strings Attached

1. Overview. Most of you woke up this past Friday to the unexpected surprise of having tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands,...

Apr 9, 2020

Updated FAQs on Paycheck Protection Program

The Treasury Department and SBA released an updated FAQ yesterday relating to the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”). This article...

Apr 9, 2020

Obtaining Advance Payments for Future Claims from Medicare

1. Overview. In order to increase cash flow to providers of services and suppliers impacted by COVID-19, CMS has expanded its current...

Apr 3, 2020

SBA Issues Interim Final Rule on Paycheck Protection Program

1. Issued Yesterday. Late yesterday the SBA released its Interim Final Rule (the “Rule”) on the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”). ...

Apr 2, 2020

Medicare Now Allows Telephone Calls but Payment is Poor

The new Interim Final Rule promulgated by CMS on March 30 and retroactive to March 1 now allows, during the COVID-19 pandemic, payment...

Apr 1, 2020

New CMS Rule on How to Document Telehealth E/M Visits

1. Overview. In the official CMS Interim Final Rule (the “Rule”) published on March 30, and retroactive to March 1, 2020, CMS outlines...

Apr 1, 2020

Medicare Reverses Course on Telehealth

1. Overview. Medicare has reversed course on the place of service (“POS”) for telehealth (and the use of modifiers) which will cost you...

Mar 31, 2020

The Paycheck Protection Program under the CARES Act

1. Effective Date. The President signed the CARES Act into law on March 27, 2020. One component of this Act is the Paycheck Protection...

Mar 22, 2020

Anesthesia Billing Scenarios for COVID-19 Patients

Due to the recent request by CMS that hospitals suspend elective surgeries, case volumes are expected to be seriously impacted. Some...

Mar 20, 2020

DEA Issues Telehealth Waiver for Controlled Substances

The DEA has issued a waiver on using telehealth for controlled substances during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The DEA’s website...