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Patients challenging you with misinformation? Tread lightly.

08/25/2025

A subject that doesn’t often come up in physician satisfaction studies is the impact of social media on the doctor-patient relationship. But as shown by a recent survey, some physicians are worried about how it’s affecting their patients’ health care choices. Experts offer advice on how to handle difficult situations that may arise from that — and how to protect yourself if you decide to counter misinformation online yourself.

Patients threaten bad review to get favors? Maybe cut a deal.

08/25/2025

by: Roy Edroso

If a patient threatens to place bad reviews unless your physician does them a favor, assess the threat rationally — and, if it seems cost-effective, consider cutting a deal.

Navigate CPT Appendix S: AI taxonomy for medical services, procedures

08/25/2025

by: JoAnn Baker, CCS, CPC, COC CPC-I

With advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and augmented intelligence enabled health care, the AMA provided guidance outlined in the CPT Manual’s Appendix S taxonomy for describing and classifying various AI applications.

2026 outlook: Proposed fee winners, losers reveal sharp ups and downs

08/25/2025

by: Richard Scott

You’ll find multiple procedural and radiology codes on the list of services projected for the largest year-to-year pay increases under the proposed 2026 Medicare physician fee schedule, including 53854 (Transurethral destruction of prostate tissue; by radiofrequency generated water vapor thermotherapy) and 75894-26 (Transcatheter therapy, embolization, any method, radiological supervision and interpretation).

See why it’s vital to capture history and exam during E/M encounters

08/25/2025

by: HCPro staff

Question: What role do the history and exam play in determining the level of an evaluation and management (E/M) service? Are they optional?

Prescription Rx management documentation must show MDM, risk

08/18/2025

by: Julia Kyles, CPC

Make sure your providers are showing the mental work that goes into evaluating the risk associated with a medication before you count it toward the risk element of an E/M visit that is coded based on medical decision-making (MDM).

Survey: Docs leave practices even when satisfied; time for retention nudge?

08/18/2025

by: Roy Edroso

Everyone seems to agree that “job satisfaction” is an important factor in retaining employees, including clinical staff at a physician practice. But what if the staff are satisfied with their jobs — yet still more than willing to leave?

Avoid penalties, take a more proactive approach to risk analysis

08/18/2025

by: Dom Nicastro

A recent settlement between the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) and Health Fitness Corporation offers a sharp reminder of the steep consequences of neglecting HIPAA Security Rule compliance, especially the risk analysis requirement that underpins effective protection of electronic protected health information (ePHI).

Few outpatient hospital E/M claims, but they beat the denial spread

08/18/2025

by: Roy Edroso

The small number of outpatient E/M codes (99202-99215) performed in hospital outpatient clinics and claimed with the outpatient place of service (POS) codes saw only modest growth in 2023. But they had better denial rates than you might expect.

Investigate all three RVU amounts for accurate pay predictions

08/11/2025

by: Julia Kyles, CPC

A Part B News subscriber’s question about telemedicine payments, and the release of the proposed 2026 Medicare physician fee schedule, contain lessons that apply to all services: Check the relative value units for services you commonly report every year. And while you’re at it, look at the calculations for new services you plan to perform.

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