Florida Autism Service Provider Pushes Back At Medicaid Verification Failures
Positive Behavior Support alleges the electronic visit-verification system is invalidating behavior-analysis claims by changing them after submission. In other news, the Department of Health and Human Services will give $424 million to boost rural health clinic covid efforts.
Health News Florida:
Autism Provider Challenges State Over Medicaid Verification System
The state’s largest provider of autism services has filed an administrative complaint against the Medicaid program, alleging that an electronic visit-verification system being tested in eight Southeast Florida counties is a roadblock to reimbursement and an overstep by the Agency for Health Care Administration. Stuart-based Positive Behavior Support alleges that the so-called EVV system or someone with access to it is changing behavior-analysis claims after submission and making them invalid. (6/12)
Fierce Healthcare:
HHS To Give $424M To Rural Health Clinics For COVID-19 Tests, Mitigation Strategies
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced $424.7 million in funding to more than 4,200 rural health clinics for COVID-19 tests and efforts to mitigate the virus. The funding, released Friday, is part of a larger effort by the Biden administration to address equity gaps in healthcare. (King, 6/11)
Fierce Healthcare:
HHS Gives Providers Flexibility On Spending COVID-19 Relief Funds, Updates Reporting Requirements
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) left intact a June 30 deadline for providers to use COVID-19 relief funds they accrued from April 10 through June 30 of 2020 after a major push from hospital groups asking for more time. But the agency did give more flexibility for providers to spend funding if they got it after June 30, 2020. (King, 6/11)
Modern Healthcare:
Aetna, Cleveland Clinic-Backed Startup To Use Blockchain On Interoperability
Aetna, Cleveland Clinic, Healthcare Service Corp. and several other companies are backing a new venture aimed at using blockchain technology to make healthcare more efficient. The move builds off growing interest by industry leaders in blockchain's potential to improve interoperability and transparency in care networks. Aetna and HCSC paired with IBM and PNC Bank to create an "inclusive blockchain network" able to exchange healthcare information more efficiently in early 2019. Their new venture announced on Wednesday, called Avaneer Health, is a standalone utility network born from that initiative. (Gellman, 6/11)
KHN:
In Alleged Health Care ‘Money Grab,’ Nation’s Largest Hospital Chain Cashes In On Trauma Centers
After falling from a ladder and cutting his arm, Ed Knight said, he found himself at Richmond, Virginia’s Chippenham Hospital surrounded by nearly a dozen doctors, nurses and technicians — its crack “trauma team” charged with saving the most badly hurt victims of accidents and assaults. But Knight’s wound, while requiring about 30 stitches, wasn’t life-threatening. Hospital records called it “mild.” The people in white coats quickly scattered, he remembered, and he went home about three hours later. (Hancock, 6/14)
