In a landmark development, Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) has reached a $2.8 billion settlement to resolve antitrust claims brought by health care providers, including chiropractors. The lawsuit accused BCBS of dividing the nation into exclusive regions and limiting competition, which resulted in lower reimbursements for providers. Although BCBS denies any wrongdoing, the company agreed to the settlement to avoid lengthy litigation – and you can get a piece of the pie.
An Extra Year to Get Ready for ICD-10
Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), has announced a proposed rule that would delay the compliance deadline for implementation / use of International Classification of Diseases, 10th Edition (ICD-10) diagnosis and procedure codes for a full year, from Oct. 1, 2013 to Oct. 1, 2014. The compliance delay is part of a larger proposed rule that also "simplifies the administrative process for providers by proposing that health plans have a unique identifier of a standard length and format to facilitate routine use in computer systems," according to the HHS. For additional information regarding the ICD-10 and compliance specifics, visit www.cms.gov and enter "ICD-10" in the search field.