Newly Enrolled Suppliers Put on Probationary Prior Authorization
New durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies (DMEPOS) providers — or DMEPOS businesses who underwent “certain changes of ownership” on or after Oct. 15 — will be on “probationary prior authorization” for some HCPCS codes, according to an announcement from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
The codes involved are for osteogenesis stimulators, orthoses of various types, and walking boots.
CMS said the new prior authorization policy is being launched to “protect the Medicare trust fund from improper payments while ensuring that beneficiaries can receive the DMEPOS items they need in a timely manner.”
Study: Healthcare Clients Are Consulting AI First
If you’ve noticed your clients are coming to seating clinic with a lot more information — and opinions — than in years past, artificial intelligence (AI) might be the reason why.
A recent study by Zanda Health, an Australian practice management software company, said 70% of practitioners surveyed reported that their clients referenced AI-generated health information in the past year. And more than a third of the 682 practitioners surveyed said their clients have challenged their professional judgment based on conflicting input from AI.
“Clients are already using AI before they walk through their practitioner’s door,” the report said, adding, “70% of practitioners already have clients arriving having consulted AI first, and that number is expected to grow.”
While sifting through AI-provided healthcare information is definitely a challenge, the report added, “The experience is not uniformly negative.” Some survey respondents said their clients were “arriving better prepared, with clearer language for their symptoms and more specific questions. AI can be a useful primer. The challenge is that its quality and accuracy varies significantly, and practitioners rarely have time in a consultation to assess which they are dealing with before the conversation is already underway.”
