Many doctors would classify the current economic downturn as a threat to their business. But others, even within the same practice, might view the financial climate as an opportunity for growth. In the end, the important fact isn’t how the situation is labeled, but that physician leaders are talking about it. And they are more likely to discuss what’s going on in- and outside their office if their practice conducts an analysis of its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT).

Because a federal bailout isn’t in the cards for medical school graduates, they must figure out how to manage often staggering medical debt expenses on their own.

Many doctors would classify the current economic downturn as a threat to their business. But others, even within the same practice, might view the financial climate as an opportunity for growth. In the end, the important fact isn’t how the situation is labeled, but that physician leaders are talking about it. And they are more likely to discuss what’s going on in- and outside their office if their practice conducts an analysis of its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT).

A recent report from the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) confirms that operating costs are rising faster than revenue in many medical group practices. Although the findings are not surprising, the effect of the costs-revenue disparity is continuing to unfold, and how practices and health systems are responding could have serious implications for the practice of medicine.

Practices that use NPPs to administer trigger point injections need to sharpen their coding if they want to avoid the high denial rates for this service. 

This week's question is answered by John Bishop CPC, PA-C, Senior Consultant for DecisionHealth Professional Services.

Q. We keep getting denials when two providers perform 90801 (mental health initial evaluation, $152.92) for the same patient. One provider provides therapy and the other manages the patient's medication. The assessments are different for each provider. Medicare denies the second claim and states this is "too many services." Can you shed any light on why we're getting the second denial?