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CCI bundles wrap up E/M codes, substance-abuse screening and more
06/17/2019
by: Richard Scott
Give your billing staff a heads up: You’ll find nearly 1,900 new procedure-to-procedure edits in the latest Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) update, which takes effect July 1. The quarterly update also revises the total unit count you can report per day for about 60 services, including X-rays and lesion-removal codes.
Hip X-rays remain most common extremity test but MRIs take top dollar
06/17/2019
by: Richard Scott
Providers report several million claims for hip, foot and shoulder X-rays every year but those services don’t pay out the most.
As more patients get their records, tailor notes to make them user-friendly
06/10/2019
by: Roy Edroso
New evidence strongly suggests that access to patient records improves patient treatment — which is your cue to take action and get your patients to not only access those records but also put them to good use.
Avoid a costly incident: 4 tips to thwart incident-to billing mistakes
06/10/2019
by: Richard Scott
Consider a recent investigation from the OIG a cautionary tale about a slice of Medicare billing — incident to — that often proves challenging for physician practices.
Proposed rule would affect required language services, trans treatment
06/10/2019
by: Roy Edroso
A new proposed rule from HHS and its Office for Civil Rights (OCR) reduces providers’ reporting burden on language accommodations for non-English-speaking patients — and seems to strip transgender patients of the protections afforded them by a previous rule.
Watch your remittance advice codes for MIPS payment gains, losses
06/10/2019
by: Richard Scott
Now that payment adjustments are in full swing under the federal Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), you are likely to see new remittance advice remark codes (RARCs) on your Medicare claims. Paying attention to the remark codes means you can start keeping stock of your MIPS-related winnings and losses.
Health records access increases — but poorer, less educated patients lag
06/10/2019
by: Roy Edroso
As mentioned in our patient records story, there’s been a slow, steady climb in U.S. patients’ willingness to access their medical records. But the climb has been slower for some groups than others.
Consider the jump to value-based care as Primary Care First comes into focus
06/03/2019
by: Richard Scott
You may find a lot to like about the Primary Care First model options that CMS unveiled in April as the federal agency continues to accelerate the shift to value-based care. However, while CMS envisions that the primary care-focused model will cover 25% of Medicare-eligible patients in the near term, you’ll have to assess whether it’s the right fit for your practice.
As health workers gain whip hand, consider alternatives to raises or prepare to pay
06/03/2019
by: Roy Edroso
A hot health care job market means staff asking for raises. If that’s too rich for your blood, offer them other, less expensive perks, such as bonuses and esprit de corps.
Conscience rule finalized; providers, staff can refuse service within limits
06/03/2019
by: Roy Edroso

The Trump administration has finalized its conscience protection rule that empowers providers to refuse to provide services and even medical information that runs contrary to their personal morality.

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