This chart shows the 10 specialties that saw the greatest growth in per-physician median compensation from 2009 to 2010, based on data published in the Medical Group Management Association’s (MGMA) 2011 Physician Compensation and Production Survey. NOTE: The following physician types in the graph below represent combined specialties: Internal medicine, cardiology (invasive), dermatology, hematology/oncology, orthopedic surgery and psychiatry. 

If a patient is getting a colonoscopy for a V12.72 history of colon polyps with no other indications, does CMS consider that to be G0105 (colorectal cancer screening) or 45378 (diagnostic colonoscopy)?  The physicians refer to it as “surveillance” and bill 45378 - V12.72. Medicare pays but we need clarity on what is considered correct.

This table is not only easy on the eyes but chock full of good coding info. December's Tool of the Month belongs to version 17.3 of the CCI policy manual. The new manual debuted Dec. 1 but does not take effect until Jan. 1, 2012 (just in time for the 2012's first quarter round of CCI edits, see related story here). You'll find this table to be a quick guide highlighting the manual's biggest changes selected chapters to match up with the new CCI edits. 

Your Medicare payments are safe from the 27.4% sustainable growth rate (SGR) cut, but not for long. After nearly a weeklong stalemate, Congress passed a bill Dec. 22 to keep the SGR cut at bay and extend payroll tax breaks and unemployment benefits through February.

There is a lot in store for you this year, but transitions to HIPAA 5010 and ICD-10 will take center stage as the year’s top concerns along with issues surrounding electronic health records (EHR) systems such as data loss.

Educate patients on the difference between Medicare-paid annual wellness visits (AWVs) and physical exams in advance of the visit and you will increase efficiency, enabling you to bill for as many AWVs as possible with the least amount of hassle.

As we begin 2012, here’s a look at how Part B News’ predictions for 2011 turned out.

Your practice can only get denied claims paid by submitting an appeal letter to your payer, but there is no uniform appeals process. Get paid faster and up your chances of overturning a denial by tailoring appeals by payer, experts tell Part B News.

Expect to see several new drug codes as well as lower pay rates for most top-billed drug codes in CMS’ Average Sales Price (ASP) list starting Jan. 1. Overall, drug prices for the first quarter of 2012 remain relatively stable with prices for the top Part B drugs dropping 1.7% on average, which eclipses the 1.5% growth seen in 2011’s fourth quarter.

These graphs compare how paper-based practices performed against EHR practices in two categories – total medical revenue and days gross FFS charges in A/R – based on 2010 survey data by the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA). NOTE:EHR practices are separated by those that implemented EHR for a year or less and those that have had EHR for two to four years. NOTE:Both graphs make the comparisons for three physician types: Primary care, surgical specialists and nonsurgical specialists.