Part B News | Part B News

PECOS ordering/referring edits begin Jan. 6, 2014

11/18/2013

If your lab, imaging, and DMEPOS partners aren’t all enrolled via PECOS, tell them about this: Starting January 6, 2014, contractors will implement edits to catch a variety of claims submitted without proper provider credentials — including Part B claims on ordered tests from clinical laboratories and on ordered imaging procedures from imaging centers.

Benchmark: Use of observation E/M codes skyrockets

11/18/2013

by: Scott Kraft

At least one segment of E/M billing utilization is booming — use of new patient observation codes 99218–99220 and subsequent codes 99224–99226, according to a Part B News analysis of Medicare billing data from 2010–2012, the most recent years available. The jump in use of observation services is not a complete surprise, however.

5 tips to help your practice stay independent and succeed

11/08/2013

by: Scott Kraft

The way health care is delivered is changing forever and if you expect to remain in independent practice, be ready to understand the changes, embrace them, and change the way you do business, experts tell Part B News.

Never lose billing privileges again: 14 top enrollment questions answered

11/08/2013

by: Roy Edroso

Our experts answer the kind of enrollment questions that aren’t usually addressed in PECOS and NPPES Q&As.

ICD-10 update: Some payers aren’t ready, but you can do lots of testing alone

11/08/2013

by: Roy Edroso

We're racing toward the October 1, 2014 deadline, and not only CMS but many private payers are being less than cooperative about ICD-10 testing. Experts tell us what steps you should take now to prepare yourself.

NGS launches mass claims adjustments for incorrectly rejected Part B claims

11/08/2013

by: Lauren C. Williams

Providers governed by CMS Medicare administrative contractor (MAC) National Government Services can expect a series of claims adjustments for falsely rejected claims in the coming weeks.

House, Senate leaders make new SGR proposals, invite comments

11/08/2013

by: Roy Edroso

Members of both houses of Congress released details of a new plan to do away with the sustainable growth rate (SGR) and the annual “doc fix” that goes with it. Physicians will probably not be pleased.

E/M level selection, primary care vs. specialists, 2011 vs. 2012

11/08/2013

by: Scott Kraft

While primary care providers showed a big increase in level 3 E/M utilization in 2012, level 3 utilization stayed flat for specialists. However...

Watch high-risk claims as first-level appeal success drops

11/01/2013

by: Roy Edroso

OIG reports first-level appeals are increasingly unsuccessful. You should focus your attention on high-denial claims categories in response, experts tell Part B News.

Surrogate PECOS now allows authorized parties to handle provider enrollment

11/01/2013

by: Scott Kraft

Providers can now have a member of the practice or a third-party enter or modify enrollment information about them in PECOS. Here's how.

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.