Part B News | Part B News

Coders, clinicians report broad approval of new E/M guidelines, yet questions remain

03/29/2021

They have lingering questions and scramble to keep up with corrections and updates, but coders and medical practice staff say they and their clinicians are mostly happy about this year’s revised E/M office visit guidelines and that the transition, so far, has been smooth.

Should you offer separate protocols for vaccinated patients? Experts advise wait-and-see

03/29/2021

by: Roy Edroso

With more Americans becoming vaccinated against COVID-19, you may be thinking about a change in patient infection protocols based on patient status. But it may be prudent to wait until you get more back-up from the law and government agencies.

Add appropriate sources and independent historians to your MDM calculations

03/29/2021

by: Julia Kyles

Don’t forget to track your clinician’s dialogue with outside sources: A practitioner’s conversation with a parent or a parole officer may be used to code Levels 3, 4 and 5 E/M office visits (99203-99205, 99213-99215).

Cue up best practices for ending pandemic-related work-from-home arrangements

03/29/2021

by: Courtney Bru

Many employers turned to telework during the COVID-19 pandemic. Often they will tell you the arrangements “weren’t perfect” but were necessary to survive the unprecedented circumstances.

Are you ‘information blocking’ if you don’t have an EHR? Not necessarily — at least for now

03/29/2021

by: Roy Edroso

Question: Our practice does not have electronic health records (EHR). Instead, we keep paper patient records. I understand the new information blocking rule that goes into effect April 5 requires that I give my patients their protected health information (PHI) in whatever format they request. Will I be in violation of the rule if I can only give them paper?

Vaccine admin payment rates remain down after cuts; COVID aims higher

03/29/2021

by: Richard Scott

Payment cuts to a series of immunization administration codes have significantly curtailed provider payments in recent years, as Medicare slashed rates for the G0008-G0010 series related to influenza, pneumococcal and hepatitis B vaccines.

Login

User Name:
Password:
Remember me Forgot password
Welcome to the new Part B News Online. If you are a returning user having trouble logging in, please click here.