A bi-weekly newsletter from your physician organization to keep you informed of today's healthcare news

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) is hosting a series of live webinars to help physicians and coding staff improve documentation and coding.

Sessions begin at 12pm EST and run for either 30 or 45 minutes. Register on BCBSM's provider training website.

• March 18: Medical record documentation and MEAT
• April 8: HCC & Risk adjustment
• June 10: Coding acute conditions in the outpatient setting
• July 15: Annual Medicare Wellness Visits Q&A Forum
• Aug. 12: Diabetes coding changes
• Sept. 16: Oncology coding and documentation
• Oct. 14: ICD-10-CM Updates
• Nov. 18: OBGYN tips for coding
• Dec. 9: CPT updates for 2027

For more information about registration or using the provider training website, contact BCBSM directly at ProviderTraining@bcbsm.com.

The National Kidney Foundation of Michigan (NKFM) is collaborating with MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine to offer free CME/CEU learning opportunities through a Kidney Grand Rounds series.

From Order to Outcome: Building CKD Testing into Daily Practice

April 8; 12:15pm

Register here.

• Implement team-based workflows to increase eGFR + uACR screening and documentation in high-risk
• patients.
• Use EHR tools to close testing gaps and align with kidney quality metrics.

Improving CKD Screening and Detection in Primary Care

May 6, 12:15pm

Register here.

• Identify high-risk populations and risk factors requiring CKD screening.
• Apply eGFR and uACR testing guidelines for accurate staging and diagnosis

Click here for a complete list of upcoming kidney health-related grand round events and dates.

A reminder that on April 1, 2026 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) and Blue Care Network (BCN) will begin limiting the number of times the following Provider-Delivered Care Management (PDCM) codes can be billed across all lines of business.

**Providers will be liable for denied claims.

The Provider-Delivered Care Management (PDCM) program is rooted in the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Patient-Centered Medical Home model - care management delivered in the physician’s office, provided by trained care team members in conjunction with the physician. The program is designed to help patients with chronic conditions address medical, behavioral, and psychosocial needs to ensure they are successful in meeting their health goals.



The goal of the program is to provide patient education, care coordination, and other support services either face-to-face or via telephone by health care teams working collaboratively with the patient and the patient’s physician. This dedicated care helps ensure patients with chronic conditions receive effective and efficient care, leading to better outcomes and lower costs for patients.

Did you know 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. is at risk for kidney disease?

Leading risk factors for chronic kidney disease (CKD) include diabetes and high blood pressure. Other risk factors include family history, obesity, and age. Because CKD is often asymptomatic, many patients are unaware they have the disease until it has progressed to later stages.

Early identification of CKD in at-risk patients creates the opportunity to slow or prevent the progression of this disease and can result in decreased hospitalizations and costs. 

March is National Kidney Month, a great time to raise awareness about kidney health, prevention, and early action with your patients.

The HEDIS measure that aligns with kidney health is "Kidney health evaluation for patients with diabetes" - percentage of patients 18-85 years of age with type I or type II diabetes who received a kidney health evaluation, which is defined by eGFR and a uACR during the measurement period. 

The National Kidney Foundation of Michigan (NKFM) provides helpful provider resources to help educate patients and better manage at-risk patients. Below are a few available free resources:

• Flow chart on managing CKD
• Explaining kidney test results to patients (flyer)
• Provider and patient resources (in multiple languages)

BCBS Michigan updates, clarifies policy set to cut 50% from some E/M payments with ‘modifier 25’, Becker's Payer Issues

As controversial decisions mount, FDA shuns public advisory meetings, Stat Health

Childhood obesity at a record high as MAHA presses for changes to kids’ diets, The Hill

Teens are sleeping less than ever and screens aren't primarily to blame, NPR

Among resident physicians, do more work hours worsen burnout?, Becker's Clinical Leadership

Even Patients Are Shocked by the Prices Their Insurers Will Pay, Kaiser Health News