Part B News | Part B News

Proposed cuts to E/M office visits prove less harsh than other settings

08/16/2021

No matter the setting, you can expect a reduction in payment for a large swath of E/M codes in 2022, according to a Part B News analysis of payment adjustments mandated within the proposed 2022 Medicare physician fee schedule.

Delta dawn: Coping with COVID variant, rising infections may require a return to basics

08/09/2021

by: Roy Edroso

The emergence of the unpredictable Delta variant is fast becoming a stress test for your COVID preparedness. To get through the latest challenge, make sure you stay abreast of the current state of regulations and lean on your infection control protocols.

Which split/shared? CMS plan would create 3 similar, but not identical, policies

08/09/2021

by: Julia Kyles, CPC

Share this chart when staff want to compare the planned split/shared guidelines in the proposed 2022 Medicare physician fee schedule to the split/shared guidelines for office visits and each other.

Ensure edit clarity: Answering hot-topic NCCI and MUE questions

08/09/2021

by: Nicole Votta

Veteran coders and billing staff know that National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) edits and medically unlikely edits (MUE) can throw a wrench in the Medicare billing process, delaying appropriate revenue.

What to do when a consulting doc skips the interprofessional consult’s verbal report

08/09/2021

by: Julia Kyles, CPC

Question: We’ve been reporting the interprofessional consult codes (99446-99449). The descriptor for this code includes "a verbal and written report.”Our problem is that the doctor frequently forgets to perform the verbal report. Is there a way to report the consult at all?

How to accurately report multiday EEGs, with and without video

08/09/2021

by: Lori-Lynne A. Webb, CPC

Question: When might it be appropriate to report CPT codes for multiday electroencephalograms (EEG)? In addition, should these codes be billed on the day of initiating or ending the EEG study?

CY2022 fee winners paced by CCM codes; multiple procedures lose cash

08/09/2021

by: Richard Scott

Check the payment forecast for Medicare-covered codes: Despite a cut to the conversion factor, some services stand to garner significant pay increases in 2022. The biggest winner? That would be complex chronic care management (CCM) code 99489, on pace to rise 63%.

CMS’ push for ‘equity’ won’t change providers’ lives today, but may soon

08/02/2021

by: Roy Edroso

The term “health equity” is turning up frequently in CMS rulemaking. Its impact is mostly seen far upstream of medical practice work, but experts see a growing role for it in the value-based future, where equitable health treatment can pay off for both patients and providers

CMS plans tougher critical care rules along with new split/shared policy

08/02/2021

by: Julia Kyles, CPC

If you enjoyed the twists and turns of CMS’ proposed split/shared policy, don’t miss similar turbulence in the proposed guidelines for critical care services (99291-99292) that also are part of the proposed 2022 Medicare physician fee schedule.

Enrollment fee may disappear as CMS nudges diabetes prevention, nutrition therapy services

08/02/2021

by: Roy Edroso

CMS is showing interest in shoring up the underutilized Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) and medical nutrition therapy (MNT) services in the proposed 2022 Medicare physician fee schedule.

Login

User Name:
Password:
Remember me Forgot password
Welcome to the new Part B News Online. If you are a returning user having trouble logging in, please click here.