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Do all the groundwork to avoid employing fraudulent staff, paying back charges

05/01/2017

by: Roy Edroso

The case of the registered nurse who wasn’t serves as a reminder to keep your licensure checks tight.

Spruce up your MIPS scores for the public as CMS sends them to consumer sites

05/01/2017

by: Roy Edroso

Here’s a reason to achieve the best scores you can in the merit-based incentive payment system (MIPS): Your MIPS data will be made public, and your weaker category scores may look worse than they really are.

Amendment may breathe new life into ACA repeal; shutdown fears dim

05/01/2017

by: Roy Edroso

Congress appears set to revive the bill that would repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and fear that a government shutdown will interfere with critical Medicare operations eases in our latest Washington roundup.

Cut IPPE denials with a concerted focus on CMS’ 7-pronged requirements

05/01/2017

by: Richard Scott

Focus more on the preventive aspects of the “Welcome to Medicare” visit instead of the physical exam components and you may steer your practice to more success with this oft-denied service.

IPPE mini-checklist: A 7-point approach

05/01/2017

by: Richard Scott

Use the checklist below to ensure you’re meeting the full slate of requirements for the initial preventive physical exam (IPPE), also known as the Welcome to Medicare exam. The list is courtesy of Belinda Holmes, president of Healthcare Management Consulting in Sarasota, Fla.

Psychiatric care management codes limited to physicians for billing

05/01/2017

by: Richard Scott

Question: Can a consulting psychiatrist and/or a psychologist bill HCPCS codes G0502, G0503 and G0504 for psychiatric collaborative care management (CoCM) services or is this for the patient’s primary care provider (PCP) only?

Be precise with time when reporting depression-screening services

05/01/2017

by: Richard Scott

Ensure you’re meeting the 15-minute time requirement and achieving minimum staff-assisted support and you may brighten up your coding for depression screening when you report G0444 (Annual depression screening, 15 minutes).

In surprise, AWV, IPPE use goes up, denials go down — even with 25

05/01/2017

by: Roy Edroso

The historically high denial rates on initial preventive physical examination (IPPE) and annual wellness visit (AWV) codes have seen a slight dip — even when billed with modifier 25 (Significantly, separately identifiable E/M service), commonly used when the physical results in a procedure.

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