by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Nov 11, 2019 | Health Information Technology and Wound Care, Healthcare Payment Policy
A few weeks ago we published a manuscript about the development of the Wound Healing Index for Venous Leg Ulcers (VLUs). The link is below. What is the VLU WHI? The VLU WHI makes it possible to predict at the initial visit whether a venous ulcer will heal with...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Nov 7, 2019 | Healthcare Payment Policy
Here’s a link to the fact sheet on the final rule – stay tuned for my interpretation of its impact on wound management practitioners. Caroline Fife, M.D.Dr. Fife is a world renowned wound care physician dedicated to improving patient outcomes through quality...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Nov 5, 2019 | Healthcare Payment Policy
Here are links to information about the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and Quality Payment Program and the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) final rules: Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System: Final Rule and Fact Sheet...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Nov 4, 2019 | Healthcare Payment Policy
It’s finally happened. It’s no secret that many Hospital Based Outpatient Departments (HOPDs) have played fast and loose with the requirement for direct physician supervision of nearly all wound management services. At any rate, the requirement for direct physician...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Oct 28, 2019 | Healthcare Payment Policy
Wound Care Compare is Here. I’ve previously blogged about the exciting news that Physician Compare selected 3 USWR QCDR measures relevant to wound care to depict on Physician Compare: Adequate off loading of DFUs, Adequate Compression of VLUs and arterial screening of...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Oct 25, 2019 | Healthcare Payment Policy
“For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind.” (Hosea 8:7) “Sowing the wind and reaping the whirlwind,” is a Bible verse from the Book of Hosea, a prophet of Israel. He was warning the people of a coming judgment for foolish behavior. The phrase is a...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Oct 23, 2019 | Healthcare Payment Policy
Five years ago, Dr. Guy Clifton, a Robert Wood Johnson Fellow, neurosurgeon, Congressional aid and author of the book Flatlined: Resuscitating American Medicine, spoke at the fall SAWC in a poorly attended session. Most Hyperbaric Medicine and Wound care practitioners...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Oct 10, 2019 | Cellular / Tissue-Based Products, Healthcare Payment Policy
Guest blog post by Dr. Helen Gelly Using the claims data from Medicare that are publicly available, a newly published study which I co-authored looked at various parameters that will eventually impact the bundled pricing payment model. Because a number of insurance...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Oct 8, 2019 | Healthcare Payment Policy, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy
Guest blog post by Dick Clarke of National Baromedical Services On August 1 of this year, a bill entitled the “North Carolina Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Treatment and Recovery Act” (House Bill 50 / SL 2019-175)...
by Caroline Fife, M.D. | Oct 7, 2019 | Healthcare Payment Policy, Pressure Cooker: Rethinking Pressure Ulcers
WPS Government Health Administrators (GHA) is a Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) and its Local Coverage Determination (LCD) on Wound Care became effective on April 16, 2018. The U.S. states impacted by the WPS LCD on Wound Care are: Jurisdiction 5 (J5) –...
