Part B News
01/02/2012

There is a lot in store for you this year, but transitions to HIPAA 5010 and ICD-10 will take center stage as the year’s top concerns along with issues surrounding electronic health records (EHR) systems such as data loss.

01/02/2012

Educate patients on the difference between Medicare-paid annual wellness visits (AWVs) and physical exams in advance of the visit and you will increase efficiency, enabling you to bill for as many AWVs as possible with the least amount of hassle.

01/02/2012

As we begin 2012, here’s a look at how Part B News’ predictions for 2011 turned out.

01/02/2012

Your practice can only get denied claims paid by submitting an appeal letter to your payer, but there is no uniform appeals process. Get paid faster and up your chances of overturning a denial by tailoring appeals by payer, experts tell Part B News.

01/02/2012

Expect to see several new drug codes as well as lower pay rates for most top-billed drug codes in CMS’ Average Sales Price (ASP) list starting Jan. 1. Overall, drug prices for the first quarter of 2012 remain relatively stable with prices for the top Part B drugs dropping 1.7% on average, which eclipses the 1.5% growth seen in 2011’s fourth quarter.

01/02/2012

These graphs compare how paper-based practices performed against EHR practices in two categories – total medical revenue and days gross FFS charges in A/R – based on 2010 survey data by the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA). NOTE:EHR practices are separated by those that implemented EHR for a year or less and those that have had EHR for two to four years. NOTE:Both graphs make the comparisons for three physician types: Primary care, surgical specialists and nonsurgical specialists.

01/02/2012

This week’s question is answered by Regan Tyler, CPC, CPC-H, CPMA, CEMC, ACS-EM, content manager for DecisionHealth and consultant for DecisionHealth Professional Services.

Q: A patient comes in for a spinal injection. On that same day, the patient is evaluated before the procedure to determine that it is appropriate for the patient, which may differ from what is requested from the ordering physician. Can you bill for an office visit as well as the procedure since a medical examination is done prior to it?

01/01/2012

Changes in Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, healthcare reform, and market competition are all driving change not only in how hospitals and health systems approach patient care, but also in how physician compensation models are taking shape, according to a new HealthLeaders Media Intelligence Report, Physician Compensation: Shifting Incentives.

01/01/2012

Patient after patient asks for relief for sinusitis. Doctor after doctor gives them a prescription for medication-even though most infections are viral, not bacterial, needing no drugs to treat.

01/01/2012

It is easy to say that patients are at the center of healthcare, but a challenge healthcare leaders face centers on the question of responsibility for the patients' care. Some providers are evaluating the patients' role, committing resources to help educate them as to their central place in healthcare. Others are still struggling to understand the impact of patient-centered approaches.

Login

User Name:
Password:
Welcome to the new Part B News Online. If you are a returning user having trouble logging in, please click here.
Back to top