The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the CY 2018 final payment rule for hospital outpatient department (OPPS) and ambulatory surgery center (ASC) on November 1, 2017. TOA’s highlights of the CY 2018 proposed rule, which was released in the summer of 2017, can be found below this summary. Many of the summer…
Speaker Joe Straus of the Texas House of Representatives announced the Select Committee on Opioids and Substance Abuse, which will examine the use of opioids in Texas. The committee members include: Rep. Four Price, Chair Rep. Joe Moody, Vice Chair Rep. Carol Alvarado Rep. Garnet Coleman Rep. Jay Dean Rep. Ina Minjarez Rep. Andy Murr…
The Texas Orthopaedic Association responded to the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation’s request for comments on a proposal to expand telemedicine services throughout the Texas workers’ comp program. Click here to view the letter.
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The Division of Workers’ Compensation is accepting comments on an informal working draft of new 28 Texas Administrative Code §133.30 relating to Telemedicine Services. This change would allow health care providers to bill and be reimbursed for telemedicine services regardless of where the injured employees are when they receive telemedicine services. Click here to read the…
Click here for the latest info for our upcoming 2018 Annual Conference. Sponsorship details can be found in our 2018 Sponsor Prospectus.
CMS announced a request for information regarding the future direction of the CMS Innovation Center. The Texas Orthopaedic Association will be providing comments regarding solutions for enhancing muculoskeletal in the Medicare program. Per CMS: In partnership with clinicians, patients, entrepreneurs, state officials, and others, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) plays a leading…
State and federal regulatory bodies have relaxed some rules to help physicians and facilities respond to patients during Hurricane Harvey relief efforts. The following is an overview of some of the measures. This is provided for informational purposes only and does not serve as legal advice. Texas Department of Insurance The Texas Department of Insurance…
The American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) submitted stakeholder comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on its CY 2018 Updates to the Quality Payment Program for physician payments. Click here to view the letter. The comments focus on the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) and Alternative Payment Model (APM) payment mechanisms…
The Texas Department of Insurance – Division of Workers’ Compensation (TDI-DWC) released an informal work draft on Friday to amend a rule related to the Designated Doctor program. Comments are due on September 1, 2017. An open records request found that the Designated Doctor program has experienced a 67-percent decrease in the number of physicians participating…
