2021 CPT Codes by the CMS for Medicare Extension Care Management Programs

The chronic care management program was virtually untouched by the 2021 Final Rule from CMS. There are three main CPT codes and two add-on CPT codes in 2021 that may be billed by primary care providers for CCM services. Requirements for CCM: Non-Complex CCM: Two or more chronic conditions expected to last at least 12 months (or until the death of the patient) Patient consent (verbal or signed) Personalized care plan in a certified EHR and a copy provided to the patient 24/7 patient access to a member of the care team for urgent needs Enhanced non-face-to-face communication between patient…

6 Heart-Healthy Foods a Cardiologist Eats Daily

Geven though heart disease is the leading cause of mortality in the United States, you’ll be all the wiser to prioritize heart health sooner than later. A number of lifestyle factors will impact how robust your heart health is, including your level of physical activity, genetics, and whether or not you smoke—all of which will influence cholesterol, blood pressure, and energy levels. Yet one of the best things you can do to be kind to your ticker, day in and day out, is to follow a well-rounded diet that offers an abundance of macros and micronutrients alike. Need inspo on…

Almost all baby foods fail to meet WHO sugar recommendations

How healthy is the food we’re feeding the youngest Australians? Researchers have today released a study showing the vast majority of commercially available baby and toddler foods do not meet nutrient recommendations, and almost all contain added sugar. “We looked at 250 baby and toddler foods and we benchmarked them against the World Health Organization (WHO) European offices’ recommendations,” Jane Martin, one of the researchers and executive Manager of the Obesity Policy Coalition told Cosmos Science. “We found that two thirds of these foods failed to meet the nutrition recommendations for their category … and foods for toddlers were the…

Time to become Virtually perfect

Some might believe that the COVID ’19 pandemic was the harbinger of a heightened digital health wave, while others might believe that the pandemic simply hastened the process of its evolution and adoption. I, for one, stand by the latter. The Digital Health market size was around US$ 195.1 billion in 2021, and is estimated to substantially grow to around US$ 780.05 billion by 2030¹. The spending on digital healthcare solutions is estimated to reach US$ 244 billion by 2025². Digital Health companies have been slowly simmering, brewing, adapting, and growing, and seizing the market when the time was ripe.…

WHY LOCAL PROTEIN BAR BRAND ABSTAINS FROM ERYTHRITOL

OREM, Utah, March 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — ODYSSEY Snacks, a brand of gut healthy protein bars, has recently launched a new line of protein bars that are free from erythritol, a sugar alcohol often used as a sweetener in food products. These new protein bars contain all-natural, gluten-free ingredients and are available in a range of flavors, including peanut butter chocolate chip, mint chocolate brownie, and banana chocolate chip peanut butter. The National Institutes of Health recently published a study finding erythritol to be linked to strokes and heart failure. Erythritol is also known to cause digestive discomfort such as…

How to Maintain a Healthy Weight During Quarantine

Pixabay With 24 hours and 7 days a week all to ourselves – no work, school, and extracurricular activities, we are all prone to unhealthy eating and being couch potatoes, which can lead to weight gain. Some are even calling this, “Quarantine 15,” just like the commonly used expression in the United States, “Freshman 15,” that refers to the weight gained (usually around 10-15 pounds) during a student’s first year at college. Well, that’s okay if we all have the same metabolism as 18 year olds. However, we are not. So before we gain that 15 pounds, we should all…

Health and Wellness-Themed Gift Ideas for Mother’s Day

As the battle against coronavirus continues, health and wellness have become a top priority. And as Mother’s Day is fast approaching, what better gift to give to mothers in your life than something that will help them stay on top of their health. Health-conscious or not, I’m sure your mom, wife, grandmother, sister or friend will put these health-inspired gift ideas for good use. The list isn’t just about good food and fitness, it also includes gifts that will take care of their mental and emotional health too. Self-Care and Healthy Living Book First on my list is the book…

Think you know all about ‘heart healthy’ foods? It’s time to get your fats straight

The health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids, found in oily fish, chia seeds, flaxseeds and walnuts, have been widely documented, in particular in relation to brain health. You may be less familiar with omega-6, another essential dietary fat found mainly in cooking oils, especially soybean, sunflower and corn oils. Scientists have found that a diet high in omega-6 but low in omega-3 increases inflammation, a risk factor for chronic disease, whilst a diet that includes balanced amounts of each reduces inflammation. There is actually no scientifically proven ideal ratio but the Western diet is typically 16:1 and it’s thought we…