ESCO Expands Insurance Underwriting Partnerships
ESCO has expanded its commercial insurance offerings and underwriting partnerships to provide comprehensive, customized coverage options for hearing healthcare business owners.
ESCO has expanded its commercial insurance offerings and underwriting partnerships to provide comprehensive, customized coverage options for hearing healthcare business owners.
It is critical that audiologists and hearing instrument specialists understand regulations for charging for and delivering services or items to patients with Medicaid coverage.
The bill would ensure those on Medicare are able to access a full range of hearing and balance healthcare services provided by audiologists.
While provider participation in managed care remains optional, managed care is now an integral part of US healthcare. Hearing care as a supplemental benefit will continue to grow in private and public health plans. Author Carrie Meyer, AuD, says it is critical that audiologists and hearing aid specialists understand the dynamics of managed care and become well informed to make the best decisions for their practices and their patients in this rapidly changing healthcare environment. Part 1 of this 3-part series is a primer on health insurance and managed care.
Read MoreThe World Health Organization (WHO) recently published the ‘World Report on Hearing’ complete with a multi-faceted strategy for increasing access to hearing healthcare. HR interviews Amyn Amlani regarding his opinions on matters such as Medicare and financing options.
Read MoreThe capability, known as Right2You, builds on the home-delivered hearing health care model developed by UnitedHealthcare Hearing, adding a virtual care component that is designed to help reduce the need for in-person appointments for hearing aid adjustments and support.
Read MoreThis 14-year review of Medicare reimbursement and demographic data by audiology leaders Ian Windmill, PhD, and Barry Freeman, PhD, is designed to help inform budgetary or productivity decisions within hearing care practices and support initiatives related to payments at the state or federal level.
Read MoreThere were several audiology-related provisions included in the Act, which include Medicare payments and billing.
Read MoreThe report includes a 6% decrease in payment for audiology services due to changes to office-based outpatient evaluation and management (E/M) procedure codes that provide payment increases for primary care services.
Read MoreStarkey President and CEO Brandon Sawalich, Chief Health Officer Archelle Georgiou, MD, and Chief Innovation Officer Dave Fabry all presented information to educate participants about the strong connection between hearing and overall health.
Read MoreUnitedHealthcare announced the launch of its 2021 Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans, showcasing “affordable coverage, exclusive benefits, expanded plan access, and a simplified member experience that connects people to quality care— when and where they need it.”
Read MoreThese foundational modifications were designed to make E/M office visit coding and documentation simpler and more flexible, according to the AMA. The changes to CPT codes ranging from 99201-99215 are proposed for adoption by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on January 1, 2021.
Read MoreA federal appeals court who heard the case determined that “insurance companies cannot discriminate against disabled people by broadly denying coverage for the types of treatment they need,” according to the article, but said the plaintiffs may not be entitled to coverage because “not everyone with a hearing loss is disabled.”
Read MoreIn awarding its credentialing accreditation, NCQA conducted a review process of Amplifon that focused on several key areas, including internal quality improvement, appropriateness of agreements and collaboration with clients, peer review process, credential verification, and monitoring of sanctions and complaints.
Read MoreThe company has developed digital technologies that allow access to hearing tests and related care from any location, including their homes, local community, and mobile devices when on the go.
Read MoreA bipartisan group is urging fellow Members of Congress to include provisions of the Medicare Audiologist Access and Services Act (H.R. 4056/S. 2446) in upcoming COVID-19 packages. The bill would include eliminating physician order requirements, updating the Medicare statute to classify audiologists as (LLP) practitioners, and authorizing Medicare to reimburse audiologists for the Medicare-covered medically necessary treatment services.
Read MoreThe company’s expansion is said to be largely tied to updated guidance and increased flexibility provided by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which results in MA plans offering more supplemental benefits for 2020 and beyond.
Read MoreThe new recommendations are specifically targeted to communities that are in Phase 1 of the Guidelines for Opening Up America Again with low incidence or relatively low and stable incidence of COVID-19 cases.
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