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Case study part 2: Overcome operational challenges to succeed as a medical home

12/21/2015

After you’ve taken the leap to become a patient-centered medical home (PCMH), keep an eye on ways to continually fine-tune your workflow — particularly around shared resources such as care management — to elicit long-term success.

Protect your practice, don’t overexplain when voluntarily repaying overpayments

12/21/2015

by: Roy Edroso

If you’ve discovered a Medicare overpayment and want to return it, be careful to pick the least suspicious accurate reason code and pay attention to details — especially the date.

New cerumen impaction removal code could add extra payment, confusion

12/21/2015

by: Scott Kraft

You’ll have a new CPT code to bill for removing impacted cerumen via lavage or irrigation — services that currently are considered part of the appropriate problem-focused E/M service. The new code, 69209, brings a new payment opportunity but also potential documentation pitfalls, experts tell Part B News.

NPPs doubling as scribes: Legal but not cost-effective; experts say it’s a waste

12/21/2015

by: Roy Edroso

Question: Can non-physician practitioners (NPPs) serve as scribes?

Flexibilities reduce denials and cash flow, but details point to problems

12/21/2015

by: Julia Kyles, CPC-A

To reduce the negative impact of the ICD-10 transition, CMS announced on July 6 that it would allow a certain amount of leeway on ICD-10 coding (PBN 7/13/15). Respondents to Part B News’ November ICD-10 survey believe the flexibilities are very helpful for code selection (39%) and claims payment (40%). But a closer look at the data for these respondents indicates a mixed bag of results.

CMS: Use CPT rules for counting time for advance care planning

12/21/2015

by: Roy Edroso

A unit of time for advance care planning is attained when the midpoint of the 30-minute service is passed, CMS confirmed during a Dec. 9 open door forum.

Small practices report fuller documentation for ICD-10 diagnosis coding

12/21/2015

by: Richard Scott

You’re likely not receiving the full documentation details you need to code correctly in the ICD-10 era, and that could be hampering your
office’s productivity and success rates.

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