The Debate Continues Over Surprise Medical Billing

Jordan Vivian

Editor’s note: This article is a follow-up to a September 2019 AAOS Now article titled, “Action Is Needed for the Right Solution to Surprise Billing.” This article was up to date as of mid-March. Read the online version for any updates on this issue.

Adapting to a Modernizing Health IT Landscape: AAOS Revises Position Statement

Chris Naso, MPH; Alix Braun, MPH

The health information technology (IT) landscape has changed considerably since the early days of the “meaningful use” program.

Stay Updated on COVID-19-related Telemedicine Guidelines

Cindy Bracy ; Joanne Willer

With the outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19), many outpatient clinics and facilities find themselves unprepared for telehealth visits. The care team’s clinical decision-making must first determine which patients are at higher risk for COVID-19 morbidity and then decide which of them still need evaluation. This process will dramatically increase patient phone calls and portal messaging in the coming weeks.

What You Need to Know About Telemedicine Coding During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Michelle Abraham, MHA, CCS-P; Joanne Willer, CPC

The Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has relaxed the guidelines regarding telemedicine services due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. OCR will not impose penalties in the event of noncompliance with requirements under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act for physicians using applications such as Apple FaceTime, Facebook Messenger video chat, Google Hangouts video, or Skype.

COVID-19: A Personal Anecdote and Recommendations from Beijing, China

Antonia F. Chen, MD, MBA, FAAOS; Julie Balch Samora, MD, PHD, MPH, FAAOS

Hongyi Shao, MD, is an arthroplasty surgeon at Jishuitan Hospital in Beijing, China. He pursued a research fellowship at the Rothman Orthopaedic Institute, which is where Antonia Chen, MD, MBA, FAAOS, met him. In an interview, Dr. Chen talked with Dr. Shao about his personal experiences during the COVID-19 crisis in China.

Major Changes Are Coming to E/M Visits in 2021: Will You Be Ready?

R. Dale Blasier, MD, FRCS(C), MBA, FAAOS

The documentation guidelines set forth by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for evaluation and management (E/M) services, established 20 years ago, do little to support patient care.