Utilization Review

Physician Advisors: Specialists for your Utilization Management Team

Physician Advisors: Specialists For Your Utilization Management Team

Physicians specialize in medicine for various reasons, though primarily to improve patient outcomes by providing more focused care and reducing medical errors. This also allows physicians to see more patients in a period, making them more efficient at delivering quality care. The concept of specialization in healthcare is not new, however it is not always […]

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the impact of weekend utilization review

The Financial Impact of Weekend Utilization Review

Missing adequate weekend assessments exposes up to 29% of hospital days to potential payment issues. Physicians consider many factors during the complex clinical judgement used in determining a hospital admission. Many hospitals operate with reduced staffing on the weekends, and this can have a significant impact on reimbursement when factoring that weekends encompass approximately 105

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patient in wheelchair

Case Study: Inpatient Denial Overturned for Elderly Patient with Significant Risk Factors

Inpatient denials for elderly patients on Medicare Advantage plans can appear hard to refute due to the criteria laid out by CMS and health plans. However, significant risk factors such as prior recent strokes and urinary tract infections, especially in older patients, are reason enough to attempt to reverse the initial denial. See one case

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Hospital hallway with wheelchairs for discharge

Case Study: Awaiting Discharge to Skilled Nursing Facility

Extended hospital stays where a patient is medically ready to discharge but awaiting admission into a Skilled Nursing Facility or Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation continues to be an issue and can lead to revenue loss. AppriseMD recently overturned an inpatient denial for an 11-day hospital stay that was extended awaiting discharge. CLINICAL SUMMARY: Awaiting discharge to

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CMS proposed rule change laptop with text

CMS Proposed Rule Changes for MA Patients

CMS proposed rule impacts how hospitals determine LOS for MA patients   The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently proposed rule changes (CMS-4201) that could have a significant impact on how hospital utilization management determines level of care for Medicare Advantage patients. The proposed rule1 reflects the agency’s focus on increasing transparency, improving health

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hospital admissions sign

Payer Prior Authorization Continues to Create Roadblocks

Doctors surveyed by the American Medical Association said the payer prior authorization (PA) process creates delays in care, abandoned treatments and impacts outcomes. The complexity and inconsistencies of payer PA processes continue to create roadblocks to care for both patient and providers, including hospitals. Although the American Medical Association, along with the American Hospital Association,

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checking armband

New UHC Hospital Services Observation and Inpatient Policy Takes Effect Dec. 1, 2022

UnitedHealthcare’s Observation Utilization Review Guide is sunsetting and will be replaced by the new Hospital Services: Observation and Inpatient Policy1. The change takes effect Dec. 1, 2022, for commercial, community and exchange plans. The new policy explicitly mentions InterQual, stating “InterQual criteria are intended to be used in connection with the independent professional medical judgment

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without proper documentation inpatient denials are often upheld

Without Proper Documentation, Inpatient Denials are Often Upheld

Peer-to-peer discussions between hospital physicians – or their physician advisors – and the insurance company’s medical director can often overturn inpatient denials. But without proper documentation they do not work to rescind denials. Proper documentation must include an assessment coinciding with a detailed treatment plan updated throughout hospitalization. AppriseMD recently recommended to appeal a case

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Determining observation stay guidelines

Which Guidelines Should Hospitals Follow for an Observation Stay?

Both national evidence-based guidelines and insurance company guidelines factor into level of care determination.   When it comes to determining a patient’s level of care for a short hospital stay, observation services are generally used for short-term monitoring, testing and evaluation to establish a treatment plan, and to give the treatment team time to see

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Justice Department files lawsuit against UHC to stop Change Healthcare acquisition

Justice Department Files Lawsuit Against UnitedHealth to Stop Change Healthcare Acquisition

The United States Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit earlier this year aiming to stop UnitedHealth Group from acquiring Change Healthcare.1 Hospital CFOs and utilization review managers have much to watch in this case related to how it could not only impact competition in the markets but how it could impact the guidelines used

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