HANK/ACE 2024 Anesthesia Update is here!
January 10, 2024Massachusetts BCBS announces delay in MAC anesthesia policy change
January 24, 2024UPDATE 1-24-2024: Blue Cross Blue Shield announced it will indefinitely delay implementation of a change to the rules for Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC) Anesthesia for gastrointestinal endoscopic, bronchoscopic, or interventional pain procedures in Massachusetts.
Read the announcement issued January 24 or review the January 25, 2024 ACE Alert.
Blue Cross Blue Shield is at it again, changing the rules for Monitored Anesthesia Care (MAC) Anesthesia for gastrointestinal endoscopic, bronchoscopic, or interventional pain procedures in Massachusetts.
The policy went into effect on January 1, 2024. The policy required documentation of medical necessity for the use of MAC for these procedures. Specifically, it states:
“The use of monitored anesthesia care is considered NOT MEDICALLY NECESSARY for gastrointestinal endoscopic, bronchoscopic, or interventional pain procedures in patients at low to average risk of complications related to the use of moderate sedation.
The use of monitored anesthesia care for routine screening and diagnostic colonoscopy in ASA Class I patients is NOT MEDICALLY NECESSARY.”
Many groups are calling this a step backward from the progress that was made in covering MAC anesthesia for these procedures. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts does not appear to be swayed by the negative press and states moderate sedation should be sufficient for patients who do not meet the medical necessity requirements for MAC.
You can find the new Massachusetts Blue Cross Blue Shield MAC policy here.
Please contact us if you have any questions!
The HANK/ACE Team
aceadmin@aceauditors.com
Get the HANK/ACE 2024 Anesthesia Update
The HANK/ACE Update for 2024 anesthesia changes is here! Don’t miss out on hearing the important coding and compliance tips to help improve your practice in the New Year and beyond.
The recorded presentation is an hour in length and is presented by our anesthesia coding and compliance experts. Topics include Physician Fee Schedule, No Surprises Billing Act, and 2024 CPT/ASA/ICD-10-CM changes to anesthesia.
PRICING:
- The presentation will be offered at a discounted rate of $59 through January 31, 2024.
- Beginning February 1, 2024, the price will be $159.
- Current ACE Coding and Audit Clients who had paid services in 2023: FREE (You should get a direct email from Kayla)
You can purchase your Anesthesia 2024 Update here.
See You Next Week at ASA Advance!
The HANK/ACE Team will be at ASA Advance next week, and we hope to see you there! Deena Gauthier, lead coding and compliance auditor, will be leading “What’s New in Anesthesia and Pain Management” at 9:15 a.m. January 26, and participating in several roundtable discussions. See Deena, or stop by and say hello at Booth #527.
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When you become HANK/ACE coding client, you get access to valuable industry leaders to answer any compliance or billing questions etc. Our experts understand HIPAA privacy, and we regularly audit our work to ensure an accuracy standard of 90% or better.
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