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Hardship exceptions that waive EHR penalties will be hard to get

09/13/2013

Don’t count on an exemption from the meaningful use program to get your practice out of up to 5% in Medicare payment cuts. Many of the exception categories, which seem broad, won’t be easy to qualify for, a CMS spokesman suggested in a recent provider call.

Hundreds of changes will affect how you code cardio, GI and ortho procedures

09/13/2013

by: Laura Evans

Physician practices can expect big changes in the CPT codes they report next year for their upper and lower GI endoscopies, breast biopsies, peripheral vascular stents and chemodenervations, among other changes, according to the AMA.

Use financial counseling to improve collections, patient relationships

09/13/2013

by: Roy Edroso

As out-of-pocket costs rise, you can offer financial counseling to not only collect more money from patients, but also improve your relationship with them.

Experts: Payers likely to offer lower rates, reduced access

09/13/2013

by: Scott Kraft

Early signs suggest that contract rates being offered by insurance companies for 2014 — the first year under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) — reflect lower growth than in previous years, experts tell Part B News.

Medicare wants you to use modifier 76 for repeat services on same date

09/13/2013

by: Scott Kraft

A little-noticed policy clarification about how modifiers 59 (Distinct procedural service) and 76 (Repeat service) should be used on claims is causing denial headaches for practices.

First look: 2012 Medicare claims data shows uptick in drug, therapy denials

09/13/2013

by: Lauren C. Williams

Part B News looks at the 100 most frequently billed codes — not including chiropractic, durable medical equipment or lab codes — in 2012 and analyzed 10 codes’ denial rates higher than 10%.

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