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Patients can keep specific practice staff from seeing their records; do it right

09/23/2024

A news story out of North Carolina raises a question: It’s common knowledge that providers can’t share patient records outside their practice without permission, but what about inside the practice?

3 more steps to prepare your practice for HIV PrEP switch

09/23/2024

by: Julia Kyles, CPC

Practices should update billing systems, communicate with patients and train staff on the pending human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) preventive service benefit, suggests the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) in tips it shared with Part B News.

Know the differences, master the basics of CPT coding of colonoscopies

09/23/2024

by: Adrienne Commeree

When it comes to colonoscopies in outpatient settings, being able to differentiate between the types of procedures is essential for coders so that they select the right codes.

Catch 4 new circulatory diagnosis codes ortho practices should know

09/23/2024

by: Laura Evans, CPC

The FY 2025 update to the ICD-10-CM code set includes four new codes that describe pulmonary embolisms that can occur as a result of musculoskeletal conditions and orthopedic procedures.

Many low-billing injections, some big-ticket codes in top locum tenens claims

09/23/2024

by: Roy Edroso

The number of claims filed in 2022 with the locum tenens modifier Q6, appended when a substitute provider is practicing under Medicare locum tenens rules, was 3.2 million, a 15% increase from the 2.8 million claims in 2021. Maybe in the last year of the COVID-19 public health emergency, more providers were taking vacations.

As practice bankruptcies surge, watch your financial ins and outs

09/16/2024

by: Roy Edroso

New analysis shows a significant spike in physician practice bankruptcies in recent months, which experts attribute to a number of financial headwinds. While you may not be on the path to Chapter 11 at the moment, it’s worth a second look at the factors that can lead to it.

Protect patients: Help local pharmacies prepare for the HIV PrEP NCD

09/16/2024

by: Julia Kyles, CPC

Work with pharmacists to make sure patients who receive antiretroviral therapy (ART) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection prevention don’t miss a treatment when CMS implements the national coverage determination (NCD) for a new preventive service that includes pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV.

Check new flu shot prices; some patients may lack other vax coverage

09/16/2024

by: Roy Edroso

The arrival of flu season brings a new reason for patient encounters. When patients come in for the shot -- and others they may want at the same time -- make sure you and they understand the current coverage and cost.

Part II: Heed lessons from high-dollar Security Rule settlement

09/16/2024

by: Dom Nicastro

Organizations should adopt a proactive approach to updating their policies and procedures and stay ahead of regulatory changes and emerging threats. At minimum, they should schedule annual reviews of policies and procedures, updating them as necessary to reflect shifts in regulations, according to Maha Shahid, content specialist at CureMD and a provider specializing in IT health care solutions.

Avoid cloning mistakes, spruce up documentation to avoid ED bruises

09/16/2024

by: Son Hoang

It can be especially challenging to thoroughly document rendered services in the emergency department (ED) due to the unique needs of the setting. Due to the life-or-death situations often present in the ED, clinicians and coders are at risk of failing to document essential information.

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