Part B News

HHS: Early data shows EHRs reduce errors, improve patient outcomes

by: Grant Huang Mar 11, 2011

Using health information technology (HIT) such as electronic health record (EHR) systems produce rapid, measurable benefits, according to a study published in the journal Health Affairs. The study, completed by the HHS Office of the National Coordinator for HIT (ONC), examined a large number of articles that measured the effectiveness of HIT use. The conclusion? More than 90% of the articles "showed overall positive effects ... on key aspects of care including quality and efficiency," HHS touts in a March 8 press release.

Palmetto prepares for MAC transition in Virginia

by: Grant Huang Mar 7, 2011

Providers in Virginia are currently under the jurisdiction of TrailBlazer for Part B Medicare claims, but they'll soon be dealing with Palmetto GBA instead. It's another milestone in the ongoing Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) transitions, which have been carried piecemeal thanks to delays from protests by the MACs and would-be MACs. Starting March 19, the J11 A/B MAC for Part B services in Virginia will be Palmetto GBA, a subisdiary of BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina.

Guide to fighting E/M error rates is now up

by: Grant Huang Mar 3, 2011

Earlier I mentioned on the Editor's Blog that TrailBlazer had uncovered some denial rates on established E/M services that so staggeringly high that some consultants voiced concerns about the carrier being too strict. Seeing as how established E/Ms are staple services for primary care practices and plenty of specialties, I wrote a Part B News story about combating the errors TrailBlazer claimed to be seeing en masse across its sample of 200 randomly chosen claims across six states.

CMS: 21,000 docs have registered for EHR money

by: Grant Huang Feb 25, 2011

More than 21,000 providers have registered on CMS's electronic health record (EHR) attestation and reporting website in January, according to an agency press release issued Feb. 23. This figure represents roughly 2.3% of the 916,000 providers enrolled in Medicare with participating status, according to my analysis of CMS's provider enrollment numbers from its 2009 Data Compendium.

The agency is touting this statistic with some relish. "This strong early interest in the Medicare and Medicaid EHR incentive programs among providers and state Medicaid programs is most welcome and very encouraging," CMS Administrator Donald Berwick, MD, said in a prepared statement.

New urology code tied to only one device and vendor

by: Grant Huang Feb 22, 2011

Image used with permission from Uroplasty

Urologists have a new code to describe posterior tibial neurostimulation, which was previously billed using unlisted code 64999. However, it's slow going for the new code, 64566 (posterior tibial neurostimulation, percutaneous needle electrode, single treatment, $129.11). There is currently only one device on the market that can perform the procedure -- the Urgent PC, manufactured by Minnesota-based Uroplasty.

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