by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Dec 10, 2020 | Healthcare Payment Policy, Quality Payment Program
Here are links to information regarding the Physicians Fee Schedule final rule: Final Rule Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule fact sheet Quality Payment Program Final Rule fact sheet and FAQs Here are the Physician Fee Schedule files:...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Dec 10, 2020 | COVID-19, COVID-19 & HBOT, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
The Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) has started using hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for COVID-19 patients in critical condition. Currently it is the only hospital in the Philippines using HBOT to avoid intubation in patients with severe COVID-19...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Dec 9, 2020 | COVID-19, Dr. Marissa Carter
Dr. Carter has a new post on the origins of COVID-19 on her website. It’s a fascinating read. –Caroline Caroline Fife, M.D.Dr. Fife is a world renowned wound care physician dedicated to improving patient outcomes through quality driven care. Please visit my blog...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Dec 9, 2020 | Healthcare Payment Policy, Quality Payment Program
CMS is conducting Webinars on the Final Rules of the Quality Payment Program and the Physician Schedule – starting today! 1. Register for the December 9 Overview of the 2021 Quality Payment Program Final Rule Webinar 2:00 – 3:30 pm eastern The Centers for...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Dec 8, 2020 | COVID-19
A good friend of mine is British and lives in the United Kingdom. She sent me an interesting email this morning. Since the advent of COVID-19, we have compared notes on the differences and similarities of the pandemic on both sides of the pond. I grant you that this...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Dec 8, 2020 | Do the Right Thing: Thoughts on Quality, Fight the Good Fight, Healthcare Payment Policy
I understand why companies develop products for diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) and venous leg ulcers (VLUs), even though those are NOT the most common wound problems. It’s because the clinical trials needed to satisfy the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are well...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Dec 7, 2020 | Healthcare Payment Policy
It happened again. Someone asked me if it was possible to use real world data for a comparative effectiveness study in wound care. There was a fantastic presentation on this topic given in 2016 at ISPOR (the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Dec 3, 2020 | COVID-19, Miscellaneous Musings
I don’t know about you, but I could use a laugh. I was considering putting a Prozac salt lick in the kitchen when a colleague sent me a link to an article about a bra that can be transformed into two facemasks. “The Emergency Bra can be transformed into two...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Dec 2, 2020 | Healthcare Payment Policy, Quality Payment Program
Deadlines are approaching for Physicians to submit hardship exemption paperwork to CMS. Depending on your situation, requesting an exemption could spare you penalties under MIPS. I will be the first to admit that this process is darn confusing when it’s business as...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Dec 1, 2020 | COVID-19, COVID-19 & HBOT, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Check out this news article about HBOT being used to avoid intubation in severely ill COVID-19 patients at Grenwich Hospital in Connecticut. “They’re constantly panting for air, breathing at about 45 to 50 breaths per minute… But once in the chamber, patients...