Category: ASC Coding, Billing and Collections

Number of Medicare Advantage plan offerings remains stagnant as systems cut ties

The average Medicare Advantage beneficiary can choose from a total of 43 plans for the 2024 enrollment period, the same number of plan options as 2023, according to data from KFF published Nov. 8. 

UnitedHealthcare providers by state

California has the largest number of providers accepting UnitedHealthcare insurance plans statewide, in addition to having more ASCs than any other state, according to the most recent data from the payer’s website. 

UnitedHealthcare in the headlines: 3 notes

Here are three updates on UnitedHealthcare that Becker’s has reported since Nov. 1:

3 CMS rulings impacting ASCs

Here are three recent rulings from CMS that affect ASCs: 

Indiana physician's lawsuit challenges state's noncompete law

Pediatric intensivist David Lankford, MD, is suing his former employer, Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Lutheran Hospital, to get out of a noncompete clause in his contract, local PBS affiliate WFYI reported Nov. 2. 

Prisma Health plans to go out of network with UnitedHealthcare

In August, Greenville, S.C.-based Prisma Health warned its patients that starting Jan. 1, the health system might be out of network with UnitedHealthcare. Now, as the negotiation deadline looms, it seems more and more likely, according to a Nov. 3 repo…

How much does it cost to employ a physician?

The average cost of employing a provider full time in the third quarter of this year was $611,194, representing a rising cost of labor, according to data from Kaufman Hall.

How much do employed physicians earn through seeing patients?

The average revenue earned by physicians and advanced practice providers via treating patients is on the rise, according to data from Kaufman Hall.

The 11 procedures added to the ASC-payable list

CMS added 11 procedures to the ASC-covered list in the ASC Payment System Final Rule released Nov. 2 that were not included in the proposed rule. 

ASCs get 3.1% pay bump, 11 more payable procedures in CMS final rule 

CMS has finalized a 3.1% payment rate for ASCs.