The onslaught of the coronavirus pandemic has altered the way our country and our world operate on a daily basis. Every sector of our communities has been affected. Healthcare, in particular, has taken an enormous hit in revenue, staffing, supplies, and bed capacity.
Changes and complexity in proper coding for COVID-19 patients have added another level of confusion for clinicians and healthcare organizations. In April, a new code was released that offers a 20 percent increase in weighting factor of the assigned MS-DRG for individuals diagnosed with COVID-19. U07.1 (COVID-19) is for discharges occurring on or after April 1, 2020 and goes through the duration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) timeframe. The new code is in addition to an existing B97.29 (other coronavirus as the cause of diseases classified elsewhere) code, which is utilized for discharges on or after January 27, 2020, and on or before March 31, 2020. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), discharges occurring on or after January 27, 2020 may be reviewed to determine if code B97.29 could retroactively be utilized.
While these are unprecedented times, not all outcomes have been negative. Because of the pandemic, the healthcare industry was thrust into widespread use of telehealth services. Many patients and healthcare organizations have found this to be a positive result. Codes for telemedicine are also changing and evolving to accommodate a new normal form of treatment.
To assist healthcare organizations in reviewing COVID-19 discharges, JTS Health Partners offers a COVID-19 Analytics Review with no upfront fees or expenses. JTS’ Targeted Coding and Revenue Enhancement Analytics and Services (nCREAS™) solution identifies net revenue and coding. A concentrated review of COVID-19 patients as well as a comprehensive assessment of respiratory services is conducted. JTS’ dedicated team of professionals with COVID-19 experience utilizes the findings to develop a retrospective and concurrent revenue roadmap specific to COVID-19. Findings may be implemented within a 30 to 45-day timeframe.
For more information on how to have your COVID-19 net revenue opportunity calculated within weeks in a performance-based fee structure, contact JTS Health Partners at (470) 443-3507 or by visiting our contact page.
