Medicare Reimbursements to Increase Fall 2020

by | May 15, 2020 | Employers, Providers

medicare reimbursements to increaseRecently, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposed a new rule to unleash new technology that will cause medicare reimbursements to increase by 1.6% this Fall 2020.

The rule’s objective is to update the hospital inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) and long term acute care hospital (LTCH) proposed rule (CMS-1735-P) for the 2021 fiscal year. CMS recognizes the significant impact of the COVID-19 public health emergency, and the limited capacity of health care providers to provide feedback on the proposals and has limited the rulemaking required to focus primarily on essential policies including Medicare payment to hospitals, as well as proposals that reduce provider burden and may help providers in the COVID-19 response. These changes would apply to 3,200 acute care hospitals and approximately 360 long term care hospitals on or after October 1st, 2020.  CMS is proposing a new technology add-on payment pathway for certain antimicrobial products which includes a new MS-DRG for Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy. CMS estimates a 1.6% increase in IPPS payments overall.

Other changes will be necessary with CMS’s new rule that will affect teaching hospitals and residency programs, the hospital-acquired condition education program, the hospital readmissions reduction program, the hospital inpatient quality reporting program, the PPS-exempt cancer hospital quality reporting program, and others.

CMS’s objective is to ensure that America will have continued access to a world-class healthcare system that delivers potential life-saving diagnostics, therapies through the release of innovative medical technology, and removing barriers to competition. This rule is a step towards accomplishing this goal and delivering current therapies to address the pandemic.

For more information go to CMS Newsroom or download CMS’s proposed rule (CMS-1735_P) here

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Locum Tenens Provider Spotlight

by | May 8, 2020 | Providers

Physician Spotlight –

Dr. Ray

 

Specialty:  Anesthesiology

 

Home State: North Carolina

 

Number of Years Practicing Locum Tenens: First Year

What clients have to say about Dr. Ray: 

Dr. Ray has been a great addition to our locum tenens staff.  He has worked at two of our facilities and integrates well at both even though the culture at each is quite different.  His anesthesia skills are excellent and is so compliant with paperwork!  Really great to work with!

Getting to know Dr. Ray:

Q: Why did you first pursue locum tenens work?

A: Burn Out.   I left a busy, full-time hospital location after 22 years.  I saw an opportunity to leave the daily grind. After some time, I realized that I missed some aspects of the practice of anesthesiology and I started to look around to see what options were available.  I explained my situation to various recruiters and I found that MD Staff Pointe had some options that were ideal for me. As I mentioned to them “There are youngsters that can take the all-night call.  I’m too old now for busy call.”  Working locums allows me to evaluate different hospitals and practices to see if we’re a good match.  When I first got out of the Army in 1993, I started in a practice I did not enjoy, but it was close to home.  I was stuck because of contractual requirements.  I got the opportunity to move to North Carolina to join people I knew from the Army and spent 22 years with them.  I got to work with some great people and learned a lot.  But most importantly, I learned that different hospitals and communities have personalities of their own, and that’s where locums work is so great.  You can tap into those areas and see if it is a good fit for yourself.

Q: Describe the most unique experience you’ve had.

A:  By far the most unique assignment I’ve ever had was after my internship when I was in the Army.  I was assigned to HHB 56th Field Artillery in Schwaebisch Gmuend, Germany.  Not only did I get to live in another country, but I was assigned as the Command Medical Officer to the Army’s Nuclear Missile Command during the time of the signing of the INF Nuclear Missile Treaty under President Reagan.  I got to see East Berlin before the Wall came down, eat real Borscht in a real Russian restaurant in East Berlin, go through Checkpoint Charlie, see Berlin, and all the other amazing sights, sounds, and the rest Germany had to offer.  And I got to ski in the Alps.  Nothing even comes close to that experience!

Q: Describe what medical advancements you would like to see in the next 5 years (or anything else relevant to your specialty).

A: I can’t imagine because there have been so many advancements over my short 35-year career.  Things we take for granted today like pulse oximetry and EtCO2 monitoring did not exist when I started, and are now standard usage and have revolutionized care.  But the past several years have shown the value of Ultrasound inpatient care.  What started as a big bulky box can now be held in your hand on your phone.  But more importantly, it has allowed the anesthesiologist to “see” the tip of their needle.  Surgeons have always said there is nothing worse than a blind surgeon, but anesthesiologists always were blind, we always “felt” our way to needle placement.  And there were many things I would not do because I felt that they were too dangerous.  Now Ultrasound allows precise needle placement to allow avoidance of other structures.

To learn more about MD Staff Pointe click  About MDSP

Provider Page: Providers

Wearable Medical Tech Helps COVID-19 Fight

by | Apr 29, 2020 | Around MDSP, Employers, Providers

Recent Wearable Medical Technology Innovations Helps During COVID-19 Pandemic

Wearable Medical Tech Helps COVID-19 fight by providing healthcare professionals with valuable data during the pandemic while preventing future spread. The latest wearables (which includes connected blood pressure monitors, continuous glucose monitors, pulse oximeters, and electrocardiogram monitors) are just the beginning of what is possible. According to ABI Research Wearables Analyst, Stephanie Tomsett,  “There are some exciting wearable deployments in place which are helping to track and monitor the spread of COVID-19,” and can help reduce unnecessary contact between medical staff and patients which helps reduce potential spread.

“Wearables have often been used in medical trials and to aid healthcare professionals to monitor the vitals of many patients simultaneously, both in and out of the hospital, with a focus on specific healthcare issues and the onset of COVID-19 is no exception,” says Stephanie Tomsett, Wearables Analyst at ABI Research.

MC10 BioStamp

Wearable medical technology comes in many forms today. MC10 Bio stamps (see  picture), smartwatches, activity trackers, and small wearable sensors are just some of the innovations that have flooded the market today. Some of these technologies act like a second skin which have circuits that collect power and provide insight and health data to physicians in and out of the hospital. Pairing these technologies with Telemedicine advancements provides us with higher quality healthcare at a distance like never before.

About ABI Research
ABI Research provides strategic guidance to visionaries, delivering actionable intelligence on the transformative technologies that are dramatically reshaping industries, economies, and workforces across the world. ABI Research’s global team of analysts publish groundbreaking studies often years ahead of other technology advisory firms, empowering our clients to stay ahead of their markets and their competitors. Click for more information from ABI Research

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Hospitals assess to restart essential services

by | Apr 21, 2020 | Around MDSP, Employers, Providers

Soft Opening for Healthcare Facilities

Hospitals begin assessing to restart non-COVID-19 essential services after Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services releases guidelines for healthcare organizations in areas with low or stable levels of COVID-19. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services previously recommended hospitals limit nonessential surgeries and medical procedures during the pandemic. The new guidelines encourage a gradual transition back to these services in which healthcare leaders collaborate with local and state public health officials. Hospitals should also assess their supply levels, workforce availability, facility readiness, and testing capacity when deciding when to resume or ramp up in-person care.

“Today, some areas of the country are experiencing fewer cases and lower incidence of the virus, necessitating a more tailored and flexible approach,” CMS Administrator Seema Verma, said in a press release. “Every state and local official will need to assess the situation on the ground to determine the best course forward, but these guidelines provide a gradual process for restarting non-COVID-19 essential care while keeping patients safe.”

In anticipation of these new changes, we are hopeful to see a ramp-up in the need for nationwide coverage as hospital care and services. For more information on current jobs or to submit a request for coverage click the links below.

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Source: Becker’s Hospital Review – COVID-19 Update

Specialty Boards extend Certifications due to COVID19

by | Apr 17, 2020 | Employers, Providers

Specialty Boards waive Certifications requirements due to #covid19. Check out ABMS.org for more details and on ongoing updates. #healthcare #locumtenens #physicianjobs

Throughout the COVID19 epidemic, the American Board of Medical Specialties and its 24 Member Boards are prioritizing the health and well-being of health care providers, patients, and the general public.

ABMS Article

MDSP Blog