Category: ASC Coding, Billing and Collections

WakeMed’s UnitedHealthcare contract ends, but ASCs are unaffected

After months of negotiations, Raleigh, N.C.-based WakeMed and UnitedHealthcare failed to reach an agreement on a new contract, The News and Observer reported June 1.

Physician group severs contract with Anthem & 5 more payer updates

From a Maine physician group ending its contract with Anthem to Blue Cross Blue Shield updating its colonoscopy policy, here are six payer updates from the last 60 days:

Why orthopedic ASCs, physician groups should get on the direct-to-employer train

As the healthcare industry continues to move away from fee for service and toward value-based care, alternative payment models are expected to become more popular among patients, insurers and providers.

ASCs can win with this major trend

With the trends in healthcare moving toward value-based care models, ASCs could be in the perfect position for growth. 

3 suits filed against UnitedHealth: What ASCs need to know

Three lawsuits have been filed against healthcare giant UnitedHealth Group and UnitedHealthcare in the last month — including two ASCs filing suits. 

Centene in the headlines: 5 updates in 60 days 

Here are five updates from the last 60 day about one the country’s largest insurers: 

Medicare payments to hospitals double those to ASCs: 4 study notes

Medicare per-procedure payments to hospital outpatient departments were 2.1 times larger than payments to ASCs, according to new research published by the Rand Corp. 

Physician-owned hospital pays $1.2M to settle billing fraud claims

Oklahoma Heart Hospital South, a physician-owned hospital based in Oklahoma City, paid $1.2 million to settle billing fraud allegations May 16.

National Medical Billing Services acquires Medi-Corp

National Medical Billing Services acquired anesthesia, ASC and pain management revenue cycle management provider Medi-Corp, according to a May 17 news release shared with Becker’s.

Site-neutral insurer contracts a reality for orthopedic group

Surgery centers have advocated for site-neutral payments with hospital outpatient departments, so the same rates are paid regardless of where the procedure is performed.