Be Ready for Anything: Commonly Cited Survey Items
Policies and procedures function as the blueprint for a behavioral healthcare organization, but providers often struggle to keep them updated and to provide evidence that they are adhering to their…
Before and after: A survey guide for behavioral healthcare providers
Surveys can be stressful, but they offer healthcare providers the chance to look under the hood and figure out exactly where the engine of the organization needs a tune-up.
Providers face prep work under regulatory changes for SUD confidentiality
Providers of substance use disorder (SUD) services can expect to undergo major housekeeping tasks for their records and forms to comply with new, overhauled regulations for SUD patient record confidentiality.
Seven telehealth billing practices are red flags to the OIG
Is your behavioral healthcare organization analyzing its own Medicare telehealth claims data to assess potential program integrity risks? Many of SimiTree’s behavioral healthcare clients overlook this essential step.
Expanding telehealth provisions bring escalating compliance risk
Behavioral healthcare providers who bill Medicare will continue to see significant changes in telehealth as they implement new provisions allowed under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) Final Rule for CY 2024.
New SDoH assessment code requires attention to compliance details
As CMS broadens its whole-person health initiative, we’re seeing new payment policies for behavioral health services addressing Health Related Social Needs. The effective use of these new HRSN payment policies includes a new G code, which took effect on Jan. 1, 2024.
CCBHCs can leverage quality data under new certification criteria
Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) are working to meet timelines for compliance with new certification criteria based on their CCBHC expansion grant status and state demonstration pilot requirements. Revised certification criteria was issued by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in March 2023.
Why your organization needs a HIPAA Privacy Assessment
You’ve done your homework, appointed a HIPAA Privacy Officer, ensured regular HIPAA training takes place, reviewed all the HIPAA privacy, security, and administrative data standards set out by the OCR. But how would your organization’s policies hold up under the scrutiny of a HIPAA audit?
Behavioral healthcare providers need to tighten clinical documentation for new RADV audits
Behavior health providers doing business with Medicare Advantage need to shore up their clinical documentation with greater diagnosis specificity and accurate documentation as they face a new type of audit.