Practice Management
Information about Recent ChangeHealthcare Cybersecurity Attack
ChangeHealthcare, a subsidiary of United Healthcare, experienced a cybersecurity attack that has impacted insurance payments going to hospitals and health practices. UnitedHealth Group/UnitedHealthcare is providing the latest information and resources related to managing the impacts of this attack on their website: Information on the Change Healthcare Cyber Response - UnitedHealth Group
Financial Assistance
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has announced an opportunity for physicians impacted by the cyberattack and resulting disruptions with ChangeHealthcare to request advanced Medicare payments to help with cash flow disruptions. The details of the program, terms, and the steps needed to apply can be found in the links below.
MIPS Reporting Deadline Extended
Due to the impact of this attack on physician practices, CMS has extended the 2023 MIPS data submission deadline until April 15. This attack coincides with the 2023 MIPS data submission window, which opened on January 2 and originally was scheduled to close on April 1. CMS has also reopened the 2023 MIPS Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances (EUC) hardship application due to the Change Healthcare cyberattack. The deadline to apply for an exemption is April 15, 2024. We are flagging this now due to the short timeline to take advantage of the flexibility. The 2023 MIPS EUC hardship exemption is not automatic and requires physicians to apply. If a physician or practice has already submitted data and would like to take advantage of this flexibility, it requires logging into the CMS portal and updating the submission. If a physician or practice would like to still be scored on the 2023 MIPS Program, the extended deadline to submit data remains April 15, 2024.
See AMA National Study to Document Changes in Physician Practice Expense section below.
AMA National Study to Document Changes in Physician Practice Expense
Mathematica launched the Physician Practice Information (PPI) and Physician Hours Survey on Monday, July 31 and those practices selected for the survey will be completing these surveys until early 2024.
CPT Coding and Reimbursement
The Current Procedure Terminology (CPT) code set is used to denote the medical and surgical procedures and diagnostic services rendered by clinicians. The CPT coding system provides a uniform language for describing these services for all billing and documentation and, under HIPAA, is required to be used to record care by all health care professionals in the United States.
Health Information Technology
APA’s EHR resource page will help guide you through the health information technology (HIT) process and provide information on evaluating EHR vendors, EHR educational materials and tools, software listings and reviews, and a glossary of terms
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
If you are an APA member, you can access to two comprehensive HIPAA guides.
Medicare
A wide-range of resources and information on Medicare for members of the American Psychiatric Association.
Practice Management Guides
Do you need help with common practice management issues? Discover APA's guides for many common problems facing psychiatrists.
Starting a Practice
An online reference guide for any psychiatrist thinking of starting or changing a practice.
Closing a Practice
This valuable guide was written by the APA to assist you, families, and colleagues with planning and risk management at the practice level in the event of an unforeseen, emergency closing.
Practice Management Helpline
Members of the American Psychiatric Association can contact the Practice Management Helpline for answers to their questions.
No Surprises Act Implementation
Learn more about the implementation of the “No Surprises Act” (the Act), which allows for patient financial protections that impact health plans, physicians, and facilities, will apply to psychiatrists in certain circumstances.
Telepsychiatry Toolkit
APA's Telepsychiatry Toolkit — developed by the APA Work Group on Telepsychiatry — is an evolving resource for members who want to learn about the various aspects of telepsychiatry, including clinical, training, and policy considerations.