When physicians encounter situations they aren't sure how to handle, they usually consult with another physician for a second opinion. Such consultations are very common, but getting paid for them can be tricky. It takes more than spoken re-quests and confirmations to prove that a consult actually occurred. Your documentation must meet the current procedural terminology (CPT) guidelines for a consultation; otherwise your claims will be denied.

If your physicians have difficulty finding time to meet with every patient who needs treatment, consider adding nurse practitioners (NPs) to your staff. Nurse practitioners can relieve overworked physicians and help your practice accommodate extra patients. But before you choose a billing method, carefully think through your options to ensure that your practice benefits from using NPs without incurring extra costs.

High-quality coding isn't always enough to get prompt and accurate payments from third-party payers. Sometimes you need to aggressively follow up with carriers to get the money you deserve.

First, you must push the carrier to respond to your claim. Second, you have to appeal the parts of the claim that have been processed incorrectly. And you should define this insurance follow-up workflow in writing.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act last year, which requires all health care providers to incorporate safer medical devices in their practices. Its aim was to create a safer physician practice environment through a clamp down on unsafe needlesticks. As a result, OSHA expected the number of needlestick accidents involving patients and office workers to reduce. However, not many practices have been cooperating, says Ron Stoker, executive director of the International Sharp Injury Prevention Society.The law also incl

With enforceable HIPAA privacy regs a reality come April, it’s smart to look at your privacy areas nowIn football, the defensive coordinator is responsible for plugging the gaps in a defensive line. At your practice, you have the same responsibilities. No, Marshall Faulk isn’t going to plow through your office but if a patient complains about your privacy procedures, or lack thereof, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) might.To plug up the gaps in your privacy policy, as required by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), you need to condu

The proposed 2003 Physician Fee schedule wasn’t met with applause. Why? Because of a low conversion rate, a lot of physicians will have to come up with some new ways to make ends meet next year. The coming year’s conversion rate has been cut by 5.4% from the current rate, while the conversion factor was cut to $35.24, according to the proposed schedule. However, all is not lost as belt-tighteners are coming up with ways to offset the cuts. Consider the following ideas to implement at your practice:Review your paper overloadThe Prevea Clinic in Green Bay, WI, is researching