Newsroom

WHA Information Center (WHAIC) will post articles that are related to data submissions and data use.

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  COVID-19 Vaccine Codes: Updated Effective Date for Pfizer-BioNTech

  December 17, 2020

  On December 11, 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID‑19 Vaccine for the prevention of COVID-19 for individuals 16 years of age and older.  Review Pfizer’s Fact Sheet for Healthcare Providers Administering Vaccine (Vaccination Providers) regarding the limitations of authorized use.



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  Medicare Part B Payment for COVID-19 Vaccines and Certain Monoclonal Antibodies during the Public Health Emergency

  December 15, 2020

  CMS has released a set of toolkits for providers, states and insurers to help the health care system prepare and assist in swiftly administering these products once they become available.  These resources are designed to increase the number of providers that can administer the products and ensure adequate reimbursement for administration in Medicare, while making it clear to private insurers and Medicaid programs their responsibility to cover these products at no charge to beneficiaries.  



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  Infographic: Coverage of Monoclonal Antibody Products to Treat COVID-19

  December 09, 2020

  An infographic for the coverage of monoclonal antibody products to treat COVID-19.  These products help the body fight the virus or slow the virus' growth.  Medicare beneficiaries have coverage without beneficiary cost sharing for these products when used as authorized or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).



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  COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) Billing

  December 03, 2020

  The FAQs in this document supplement the previously released FAQs:  1135 Waiver FAQs.  A few answers in this document explain provisions from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Public Law No. 116-136.  CMS is thoroughly assessing this new legislation and new and revised FAQs will be released as implementation plans are announced.



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  Wisconsin Hospital Association Calls For Immediate State Action To Slow COVID-19 Spread

  November 20, 2020

  The Wisconsin Hospital Association is calling on Gov. Tony Evers and the Republican led state Legislature to work together and take immediate action to slow the spread of COVID-19 and help hospitals struggling to care for a growing surge of new patients.
   



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  FY 2021 IPPS Final Rule Has Significant MS-DRG Changes

  September 24, 2020

  The Medicare hospital inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) final rule for fiscal year (FY) 2021 was published in the September 18 issue of the Federal Register. This final rule is effective October 1, 2020. AHIMA submitted comments on the IPPS proposed rule.



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  COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) Billing

  September 03, 2020

  The FAQs in this document supplement the previously released FAQs:  1135 Waiver FAQs.  CMS notes that in many instances, the general statements of the FAQs referenced above have been superseded by COVID-19 specific legislation, emergency rules, and waivers granted under section 1135 of the Act specifically to address the COVD-19 public health emergency.



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  Using Telehealth to Care for Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic

  April 29, 2020

  Sheila Goethel (Coding Services Senior Manager of RWHC) has shared the following information as it contains succinct telehealth information. She has realized hospitals have all been struggling with telehealth, e-visit and virtual visit encounters.



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  NGS Telehealth Billing FAQs for COVID-19

  April 14, 2020

  NGS has recently posted an informative article containing frequently asked questions for billing telehealth for COVID-19.



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  DQA Memo 20-002 / CMS 1135 Waiver Provisions – Wisconsin Hospitals

  April 07, 2020

  The purpose of this memorandum is to the provide clarification and guidance to Wisconsin hospitals regarding the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issuance of blanket waivers of Medicare regulations under Section 1135 of the Social Security Act.

  Wisconsin has adopted the Medicare Conditions of Participation as licensing standards. Accordingly, currently-approved hospitals operating in a manner that is consistent with these CMS waivers are in compliance with Wisconsin licensing standards, to the extent there is no conflict with Wisconsin law, as identified in the chart below.



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  WHAIC Resources for COVID-19 Preparedness

  April 01, 2020

  • Understand coronavirus definitions and resources available
  • Access State and Federal resources in response to COVID-19; along with WHA's work in assisting its member hospitals
  • Review current coding guidelines to assess COVID-19
  • Recognize the need for timely data to assist in the assessment of COVID-19



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  COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions

  March 31, 2020

  This webinar will offer new and continuing board members, alike, with an overview of hospital finance for the coming year.



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  COVID-19 Payment Fact Sheet by CMS

  March 31, 2020

  The NGS MAC Contractor shared a fact sheet regarding the expansion of the accelerated and advance payments program for providers and suppliers during the COVID-19 Emergency.



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  Wisconsin Hospital Association and the COVID-19 Pandemic

  March 27, 2020

  Amid the warnings and the orders and the deluge of information, The Wheeler Report talked with Dr. Mark Kaufman, Chief Medical Officer at the Wisconsin Hospital Association, about COVID-19, how hospitals are preparing for a surge of patients, and what social distancing could really mean.



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  COVID 19 Has New Code in April

  March 19, 2020

  The Coordination and Maintenance Committee Meeting announced that the COVID-19 code that was originally scheduled to become effective October 1, 2020 will now be effective April 1, 2020. The code that will be effective is U07.1. The effective date was changed due to the national health emergency of COVID-19.



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  AMA Releases New CPT Code for COVID-19 Testing

  March 16, 2020

  The American Medical Association (AMA) announced that its CPT Editorial Panel expedited approval of a unique CPT code to report laboratory testing services for COVID-19.



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  Gov. Evers Declares Public Health Emergency Due to COVID-19

  March 13, 2020

  Governor Tony Evers declared a public health emergency today in response to new cases of COVID-19. Governor Evers signed Executive Order #72 directing the Department of Health Services to take all necessary and appropriate measures to prevent and respond to incidents of the virus.



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  Wisconsin Hospital Association Continues to Ready for COVID-19 Possibilities

  March 02, 2020

  Get the latest updates on how WHA is coordinating with state and federal policymakers and agencies to help hospital members know what is happening with COVID-10 preparedness.



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  CMS Develops New Code for Coronavirus Lab Test

  February 13, 2020

  The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) developed a new Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code (U0001) for providers and laboratories to test patients for SARS-CoV-2. The Medicare claims processing system will be able to accept this code on April 1, 2020 for dates of service on or after February 4, 2020.