With prior authorization (PA) posing a significant pain point for healthcare providers and a major headache for most practices, Talk Ten Tuesdays asked Terry Fletcher to report on this troubling issue, especially in light of the WEDI survey results posted this week, revealing that 84 percent of providers reported that the number of medical services requiring PA has increased.

The PA process, heavily dependent on manual tasks, has grown to become one of the biggest frustrations for physicians in group practices. During this Tuesday’s edition, you and your team will receive the latest update on how the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), commercial payors, and other organizations are tackling this process to better serve patients.

The podcast will also feature these other segments:

• Special Report: As organizations continue to evaluate the most efficient and cost-effective ways to streamline operations, there is increasing movement towards single-source physician and facility emergency department coding. Susan Gatehouse, founder and CEO of Axea Solutions, reports on some of the key considerations in assessing the viability of making this a successful transition.
  
  
• The Coding Report: Laurie Johnson reports on the deadly virus that has sickened hundreds of people and spread throughout the world, forcing China to lock down three major cities with populations of more than 18 million. The first case in the U.S. arrived in Seattle this week.
  
  
• Tuesday Focus: It’s Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) Week, and Karen Kinzle,  will return to the broadcast with an update on the Patrick Risha CTE Awareness Foundation she founded five years ago to generate awareness of the degenerative brain disease found in athletes and military veterans. 
  
  
• News Desk: Timothy Powell, compliance expert and ICD10monitor national correspondent, anchors the Talk Ten Tuesdays News Desk.
  
  
• TalkBack: Erica Remer, MD, founder and president of Erica Remer, MD, Inc. and Talk Ten Tuesdays co-host, reports on another thought-provoking topic that has captured her attention.