Correction: An article on possible Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) targets in the May 11 issue of Part B News incorrectly stated the payment reduction formula that Medicare applies to multiple surgeries done in the same surgical session.

Health care industry leaders, including the AMA, pledged to support President Obama's goal of cutting $2 trillion in spending over 10 years.

This week's question is answered by Sean Weiss CPC, president of DecisionHealth Professional Services.

Q.   My doctor did a discography procedure with fluoroscopy. The discography was billed with code 62290 (4 levels). I need to know which code I use for the fluoroscopy and if it is billed for each level. 

Starting May 18, ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) must provide patients advance notice and information on their rights and any physician financial interest in the ASC before the date of a surgery. This means physicians rendering services at ASCs cannot perform procedures on the same day unless a patient previously received the required information.

Download this month's tool of the month from DecisionHealth Professional Services - an E/M Code Card - from Part B News' NEW Web site, www.partbnews.com.

You won't get paid by Medicare for computed tomography (CT) colonography screenings for colorectal cancer (CRC), CMS says in a coverage decision memo issued May 12.

This chart looks at how frequently specialties bill hospital observation codes (99218-99220) in comparison to inpatient care codes (99221-99223).

Have you done a Google search for your practice or physicians lately? You should. Popular Web sites like HealthGrades.com and RateMDs.com allow patients to anonymously rate your doctors and practice, and are defining the online image of thousands of practices nationwide. That image isn't always good, and you should be prepared to respond, experts say.

National Government Services (NGS) responded to your peers' comments regarding its local coverage determination (LCD) for vitamin D tests and says it will make changes.