July 2020 | Powers Law Firm

ALERT: CMS Updates FAQ Guidance to allow Hospital Billing of Clinic Visit Code G0463 in Connection with Remote Visits During COVID-19

On Tuesday, July 28, CMS updated the COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) Billing to provide guidance on billing HCPCS code G0463 when a physician is providing a remote service to a patient in the patient’s home, which has been designated as a provider-based department. As we noted last week (see our memorandum of July 22), CMS has taken inconsistent positions on this issue in its Office Hours calls—first stating that billing a G0463 is not permitted, then stating that it is, and then reversing course again to prohibit it. In its first official written guidance on the subject, CMS changed course once again.

Powers Principal Brian Gunn Discusses Impact of HEALS Act on Tribes in Law360

Powers Principal Brian Gunn was recently quoted in a Law360 article on the new coronavirus relief bill that was introduced by Senate Republicans, called the Health, Economic Assistance, Liability Protection and Schools (HEALS) Act.

Powers Principal Bobby Silverstein Reflects on Americans with Disabilities Act on 30th Anniversary

July 26^th, 2020 marked the 30^th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a landmark civil rights law that represents the most comprehensive disability rights legislation in history.

Powers Promotes Julie Allen to Principal

Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville PC (“Powers”) is pleased to announce that Julie Allen has been promoted to Principal, effective July 22, 2020.

Powers Higher Education Specialist Sharon Bob to Present at ACCET 2020 Conference

Powers Higher Education Specialist Sharon Bob will present at the virtual Accrediting Council for Continuing Education & Training (ACCET) Annual Conference on Thursday, August 13.

Latest Turn in Hospital Billing of Clinic Visit Code G0463 in Connection with Telehealth Visits During COVID-19

Click here for a PDF version of this memo.

On Tuesday, July 21, in a CMS “Office Hours” COVID-19 call, CMS provided the latest guidance on billing HCPCS code G0463 when a physician is providing a telehealth service to a patient in the patient’s home, which has been designated as a provider-based department. The guidance represents a departure from previous oral advice provided by CMS and is the latest twist in a confusing mix of written guidance and oral advice on the subject of how hospitals should bill for these visits.

Powers Attorney Rebecca Burke to Present Webinar on Remote Patient Monitoring

Powers attorney Rebecca Burke will present a Strafford webinar titled “Remote Patient Monitoring: Navigating Reimbursement Changes, Privacy and Security Risk, Ensuring Compliance” on Thursday, August 6 at 1:00 pm.

Powers Principal Barbara Williams to Present at 340B Coalition Summer Conference

New Title IX Rule Limits Scope of Covered Sexual Harassment

By Katherine Demedis and Olivia O’Hea

Nine on IX: A Series of Articles Considering the New Title IX Rule

This is the first in a series of nine articles on the Department of Education’s new Title IX rule, which becomes effective on August 14, 2020. The series is focused on changes that schools will likely need to make to their existing Title IX policies to comply with the new rule.

HHS Announces Over $4 Billion in Additional Relief Payments to Healthcare Providers Impacted by Coronavirus

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced approximately $3 billion in funding to hospitals serving a large percentage of vulnerable populations on thin margins and approximately $1 billion to specialty rural hospitals, urban hospitals with certain rural Medicare designations, and hospitals in small metropolitan areas.

Click here to read the full press release.

Powers Principal Bobby Silverstein Interviewed on Santa Fe Public Radio

Powers Principal Bobby Silverstein was interviewed on “Barrier Free Futures,” a disability rights and services talk radio show on Santa Fe Public Radio.

Taryn Couture Joins Powers Government Relations Practice

Powers is pleased to announce that Taryn Couture has joined the firm as a Director of Government Relations, further expanding the firm’s legislative and regulatory advocacy talent.