Low-level E/M codes are denied much more often than level 3 E/M codes, years of CMS claims data have shown. High-level E/M codes are a mixed bag; level 4 codes are denied as often as level 3 codes, on average, but level 5 codes are denied more often than both. How do these E/M denials break down by state and geographic region?

Your peers have fewer cash flow problems with Medicare's enrollment process compared to those of private payers, according to an unscientific Part B News reader survey. Medicare does a much better job paying retroactively to the effective date on providers' enrollment applications, most likely because of its uniform rule on retroactive billing.

You would have the option of providing transcatheter occlusion and placement of an intravascular stent procedures at ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) under a CMS proposed rule. CMS is planning to add transcatheter procedures 37204-37206 to the list of new ASC covered surgical procedures for 2011, according to Proposed Changes to the ASC Payment System and 2011 Payment Rates. CMS also wants to add 37210 (laser enuclearion of prostate, $3,452.41) and 50593 (uterine fibroid emolization, $4,590.31).

You might be required to update your Notice of Privacy Practices for the first time in years. Proposed changes to HIPAA regulations would require you to add new language to the HIPAA notice you give to patients.

As you shop for electronic health record (EHR) systems, get ready for different levels of certification. Two groups - the non-profit Certification Commission for Health Information Technology (CCHIT) and the for-profit Drummond Group Inc. - have won CMS approval to certify EHR systems for meeting meaningful use.

There are tens of millions of dollars in reimbursements now available to physicians who provide at least three minutes of tobacco cessation counseling to patients. Your practice will be paid for cessation services (99406 and 99407) for any Medicare patient who smokes or uses tobacco, CMS states in an Aug. 25 coverage decision memo. Previously, CMS would only cover the service when the patient had a disease related to his tobacco use, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Enrollment problems resulting in delays are still a big source of lost revenue rightfully earned, Part B News has learned. Significant majorities of your peers report lengthy cash flow disruptions and lost dollars, whether they're dealing with private payers or Medicare contractors (see survey results).