Part B News | Part B News

Temporary SGR fix likely between Christmas and New Year’s, lobbyists say

12/10/2012

Your Medicare rates are almost certainly safe from a 26.5% sustainable growth rate (SGR) cut set to take effect Jan. 1. Just don’t expect Congress to reach an agreement on a fix before the very last week of 2012, healthcare lobbyists tell Part B News.

Don’t return your meaningful use check; gather supporting documentation now

12/10/2012

by: Ben Penn

Secure your meaningful use incentive payments by carefully maintaining supporting documentation that proves all the measures you attested for through electronic health records (EHR) were reported accurately to CMS. Or you may have to return your hard-earned meaningful use check.

ALJ hearings will remain a good appeals option, OIG report notwithstanding

12/10/2012

by: Tina Irgang

Providers could soon lose a powerful ally in CMS’ appeals process. A new report from the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) means you likely will see CMS and its contractors participate more actively in administrative law judge (ALJ) hearings in an attempt to uphold denials.

Document time estimates, patient specifics to secure 99239 reimbursement

12/10/2012

by: Karen Long

Direct providers to document at least an estimate of how long it took to discharge a patient to support billing 99239 (Hospital discharge day management, more than 30 minutes) and avoid losing $33 per claim.

Benchmark of the Week: Discharge management denial rates, 99238-99239

12/10/2012

by: Ben Penn

This chart displays the hospital discharge management codes’ denial rates for the 18 physician specialties that used the codes most frequently in 2011. Based on a Part B News analysis of the latest Medicare claims data, the denial rates for both 99238 (30 minutes or less) and 99239 (More than 30 minutes) are presented for each specialty, presented below in alphabetical order.

Final 2013 Physician Fee Schedule: Estimated impact on allowed charges by specialty

12/10/2012

See how CMS' relative value unit (RVU) changes will affect your specialty in its 2013 Medicare physician fee schedule final rule.

Tool of the Month: CMS meaningful use audit spreadsheet

12/06/2012

by: Ben Penn

The first round of meaningful use audits has already begun for providers who already received their meaningful use incentive payment. Here is a copy of the spreadsheet file you'd use to submit your supporting documentation to CMS contractor Figliozzi & Company if you were to receive this intiial audit.

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