Newsroom

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

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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.



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  WHAIC Announces Data Exchange with Minnesota

  January 06, 2020

  Since 2003, the Wisconsin Hospital Association Information Center (WHAIC) has been helping health care stakeholders in Wisconsin turn data into actionable insights, that enable timely and reliable decision making. As the data collection entity under Chapter 153, WHAIC’s data currently includes all Wisconsin hospital and ambulatory surgery center (ASC) patient discharge data. We have had many requests from WHA members along the borders, for additional information on Wisconsin residents who seek care in those states. This would complete the picture of their patient populations and allow for a more complete and accurate analysis.