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COVID-19 and Practice Management and Billing

 
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1. My group and I have been hit hard financially. Where can I find information on economic relief, loans and other programs?

  • We have created a set of resources regarding economic relief for practices impacted by COVID-19. We realize that many practices and individuals are struggling financially as caseloads and patient populations have shifted.
    • The CARES Act established a Provider Relief Fund (PRF) to channel aid to healthcare systems and practices. Providers that receive PRF payments exceeding $10,000 in aggregate are required to report their use of funds, as per the program Terms and Conditions. HHS has released a summary of those terms (PDF) as well as when reporting must take place. 
    • The Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program provided loans to healthcare practices and all businesses. Applications are submitted through local and regional banks. If the funds are used within established criteria, the loan may be forgiven. In August 2021, the SBA released additional details regarding direct forgiveness of loans up to $150,000 as well as a user guide to assist groups in pursuing loan forgiveness. 
  • Our advocacy division continues to seek economic relief via legislative and regulatory avenues for anesthesiologists and their groups.

2. Where can I learn more about Medicare’s Accelerated and Advance Payment program – including information on how to apply?

  • This program was discontinued on April 26, 2020. Practices that did receive money from their Medicare Administration Contractor (MAC) (PDF) through this program will see that the MAC will begin recouping these funds by withholding payment of claims the practice submits for care to Medicare FFS beneficiaries. These terms have been revised and, at present, repayment starts one year from the date the payment(s) were issues. Starting from that point, and for the next 11 months, recoupment will be 25% of the amounts Medicare issues to the practice for submitted claims for services. After that 11 month period, recoupment increases to 50% and will continue for another six months. After that point, the MAC will issue a letter requesting payment for any remaining balance. Any remaining payment 30 days from that letter will be subject to interest (current rate is 4%). 
  • View the COVID-19 Accelerated and Advance Payments webpage.
  • View the June 24, 2021 Updated COVID-19 Accelerated and Advance Payment Repayment & Recovery FAQ webpage.
  • More information on repayment procedures can be found via a March 30, 2021 CMS MLN Matters newsletter. 

3. How can an anesthesia group bill for ICU services? We may also need to use our CRNAs as overflow ICU nurses and anesthesiologists as intensivists.

  • Anesthesiologist may be called to serve as intensivists to care for COVID-19 patients.  This care may be reported as critical care services, (CPT® codes 99291, 99292). They may also be providing other services included ventilation management CPT code 94002, 94003) and other services. CPT includes detailed instructions on the proper reporting of these services. We recommend you work with your coding department on appropriate documentation and billing.
  • For greater detail on billing, please visit the Timely Topics in Practice Management webpage. We recommend you work with your coding department on appropriate documentation and billing.

4. Has CMS released any information on appropriate billing during this period or healthcare waivers?

  • Yes, CMS has issued a comprehensive set of FAQs on Medicare Fee for Service (PDF) billing in relationship to COVID. This CMS document includes information on the flexibilities associated with billing for care under the 1135 waivers that are in effect during the Public Health Emergency. The document updated on July 28, 2020.
  • Another excellent CMS resource (last updated November 9, 2020) is the MLN Matters special edition article SE20011 (PDF). The FAQs and SE20011 are subject to updates so we recommend you not rely on an old version that you have downloaded but regularly check for recent updates.

5. Where can I learn more about Telehealth to determine if that may be a good option for my patients and my practice?

6. Where can I find more about Medicare Provider Enrollment Relief during the COVID emergency?

7. Where do I ask compliance questions about federal relief and the appropriate management and use of federal relief funds?

8. Has CMS suspended the Quality Payment Program and Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) reporting?

  • For 2020, CMS will be using its Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances policy to allow clinicians and groups to submit an application requesting reweighting of one or more Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) performance categories due to the current COVID-19 public health emergency. For 2021, individuals and groups may apply to CMS via their HCQIS Access Roles and Profile (HARP) account to be considered for a hardship exemption.
  • For 2020, CMS has also decided to not score the MIPS Cost Performance Category. Instead, CMS will reweight the category to other MIPS performance categories
  • Similar to 2020, MIPS participants in 2021 can use their contributions in combating COVID-19 via attestation in the Improvement Activities. Last year, CMS acknowledged the role anesthesiologists and their groups played as part of the COVID-19 response. CMS has provided guidance on which Improvement Activities anesthesiologists and their groups  should attest to in order to receive appropriate credit. In addition, the Anesthesia Quality Institute (AQI) National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry (NACOR) is supporting, the COVID-19 Clinical Trials Improvement Activity for performance year 2021
  • Materials for the 2021 Quality Payment Program have been posted on the CMS website. 

Additional Information

Disclaimer

Viewers of this material should review these FAQs with appropriate medical and legal counsel and make their own determinations as to relevance to their particular practice setting and compliance with state and federal laws and regulations. The ASA has used its best efforts to provide accurate information. However, this material is provided only for informational purposes and does not constitute medical or legal advice. This response also should not be construed as representing ASA policy (unless otherwise stated), making clinical recommendations, dictating payment policy, or substituting for the judgment of a physician and consultation with independent legal counsel.