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Be mindful of '60-day clock' when hiring locum tenens

08/17/2009

Have more than one locum tenens physicians lined up when you know a provider will be gone for more than 60 days. You can't use the same locum tenens physician beyond 60 continuous days - whether your physician is out for an extended leave of absence or left your practice completely.

Ask a Part B News Expert

08/17/2009

This week's question is answered by Sean Weiss CPC, vice president of DecisionHealth Professional Services.

Q. What needs to be documented in the record when time spent on counseling/coordination of care is the key element of an E/M visit?

Tool of the Month: 10 things you'll need to enroll your provider online

08/17/2009

Download this month's tool, 10 Pieces of Information You'll Need to Complete Medicare Enrollment Using Internet-based PECOS, from the Part B News website, www.partbnews.com.

5 tips to help you bill patients who get multiple services in one visit

08/17/2009

Whether it's Medicare patients seeking routine care of a chronic condition or a privately covered patient in for a well-woman visit, you're bound to run into the dreaded multiple-service, same-visit scenario (see story here). Here are five ways you can prepare before any of your patients stalk out the door.

New PET scan rules delayed so CMS can improve clarity

08/17/2009

Major changes to Medicare's coverage rules for PET scans are being delayed so CMS can tweak them, Part B News has learned. Transmittal 1772, released July 17 and set to be implemented Aug. 17, has been rescinded so that CMS can clarify specific provisions, an agency spokeswoman tells Part B News.

Benchmark of the Week: Top ten most expensive practices to run, 2008

08/17/2009

This chart shows the ten specialties that had the highest practice expense per hour, according to the 2007-2008 Physician Practice Information Survey (PPIS), administered by the AMA in conjunction with CMS.

12 guidelines to keep your ASC safe during surprise CMS inspections

08/17/2009

Your ambulatory surgery center (ASC) needs to be ready for a surprise CMS inspection at anytime, thanks to a new HHS inspection program to cut down on healthcare-associated infections (see story here). Follow these 12 guidelines approved by the CDC and HHS to minimize the occurrence of the four most common types of infections - and to keep your ASC safe during a surprise inspection.

On-site health inspectors about to descend on ASCs, starting in 12 states

08/17/2009

Your ambulatory surgery center (ASC) could be one of more than 125 ASCs to face surprise inspections by state officials starting sometime in August, according to an HHS announcement. Those 125 will be the first of thousands to face inspection.

HHS strengthening enforcement efforts of HIPAA security, privacy rules

08/17/2009

Your practice may see tougher enforcement of HIPAA security and privacy rules now that authorities policing the law are under one roof, experts tell Part B News. HHS transferred authority to enforce HIPAA security rules from CMS to the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), which already handles enforcement of privacy rules. The move eliminates duplication and will make enforcement of HIPAA regulations more efficient, HHS stated on Aug. 3.

Expect faster, better service from your carrier soon, CMS says

08/17/2009

You can soon expect better and quicker customer service from your carrier after CMS outlined a series of new mandates in an Aug. 7 transmittal. CMS is setting the bar higher for your Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC).

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