Part B News
Make sanction policy, hit other marks to avoid big fines for small HIPAA breaches
12/10/2018
by: Roy Edroso
A recent HIPAA breach that involved transmission of protected health information (PHI) to only one party — a reporter — nonetheless cost a Connecticut practice $125,000, in part because the practice didn’t take simple precautions, which you should be taking right now.
CCI policy manual targets biopsy codes, lesion repair, bilateral services
12/10/2018
by: Richard Scott
Take cues from the revised Correct Coding Initiative policy manual released in mid-November to polish your coding and billing efforts in 2019 and avoid common infractions tied to modifier 50, repair and tissue transfer procedures, lab testing and other areas.
Make note of separate incisions when coding multi-level spinal fusion
12/10/2018
by: Laura Evans, CPC
Spine surgery coders will want to pay close attention to the 2019 updates to Medicare’s National Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) policy manual. You’ll find important changes to Medicare’s coding rules for multi-level fusions and fusions performed with a decompression.
Prepare for ransomware attacks: Conduct a ‘tabletop’ exercise
12/10/2018
by: Marla Durben Hirsch
Hold a tabletop exercise to gain a greater awareness of HIPAA security and to know how your practice should respond to a ransomware attack.
Denials improve for claims with modifier 50
12/10/2018
by: Roy Edroso
In past five years, providers have vastly improved their denial rates on codes with modifier 50 (Bilateral procedure), Medicare data show.
Look at practice’s culture, employee retention when training non-clinical staff
12/03/2018
by: Roy Edroso
To keep up practice performance and cement employee loyalty in a tight market, improve your training of non-clinical staff to include not only job basics but also patient service and, where appropriate, management skills.
Welcome new options for remote-monitoring and treatment services
12/03/2018
by: Richard Scott

Expand your horizon when it comes to remote patient monitoring, and you’ll find a tech-fueled way to seize payment opportunities when assessing and managing care during non-face-to-face episodes. Medicare will cover three new CPT codes for “chronic care remote physiologic monitoring” starting Jan. 1.

Listen to needs, try appeals to payers when prices keep patients from meds
12/03/2018
by: Roy Edroso

New studies show a disturbing number of patients abandoning prescriptions they can’t afford, but a little extra effort on your part — including patient outreach and an appeal letter to the insurer — might help some of your patients get a second chance.

Practices must add opioid review during Medicare’s AWV and IPPE encounters
12/03/2018
by: Richard Scott

Ensure your providers are reviewing a patient’s use of opioids during encounters for the initial preventive physical examination (IPPE) and annual wellness visit (AWV) codes or you’ll face the threat of a denial, according to updated Medicare guidance.

Top 10 winners and losers of the 2019 Medicare fee schedule
12/03/2018
by: Richard Scott

Now that the scores are in, you can assess the winners and losers of the final 2019 Medicare physician fee schedule, which increased the payment rates of some oft-used codes and slashed rates on others.

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