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OCR closure letters show most HIPAA violations are easy to make and avoid

01/30/2017

While ransomware and cybersecurity are making headlines, the majority of HIPAA complaints and breaches coming to the attention of HHS involve everyday, familiar violations that can — and do — occur in the ordinary course of business.

ICD-10-CM coding for tamoxifen depends on intent of the therapy

01/30/2017

by: Laura Evans

Question: The patient was diagnosed with breast cancer and is status post mastectomy. There is no active chemotherapy or radiation being administered. However, the patient is receiving tamoxifen therapy. The oncologist believes the diagnosis should be coded as active (C50-), while the gynecologist believes it should be personal history of breast cancer (Z85.3). Which is it?

High denial rates mark face-to-face prolonged services in office, hospital

01/30/2017

by: Richard Scott

Practices may be in for a steep challenge with the new non-face-to-face prolonged service codes (99358, 99359) this year if the billing sheets on previously available prolonged services are any indication.

Study shows physician practices consolidating

01/27/2017

A new survey from Merritt Hawkins shows that while more physicians are joining practices owned by hospitals, nearly half of physicians believe the increase in health system–owned practices is a negative trend for the industry.

Budget reconciliation primes ACA repeal; Senate committee grills HHS nominee Price

01/23/2017

by: Richard Scott

With the new administration bringing expected change to health care, Part B News is keeping track of the pertinent updates. Take note of these recent regulatory developments.

4 tips to prepare your EHR, other health IT for a more profitable MIPS

01/23/2017

by: Roy Edroso

Do some simple prep with your electronic health records (EHR) to maximize your chances of success under the merit-based incentive payment system (MIPS).

New code bundles target prolonged services, smoking cessation and more

01/23/2017

by: Richard Scott

Take stock of newly bundled code pairs involving non-face-to-face prolonged services, smoking-cessation codes and others that are part of the Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) version 23.0 edits, effective Jan. 1.

CCI version 23.0 scorecard

01/23/2017

by: Richard Scott

Take a closer look at the more than 150,000 edits contained in the Correct Coding Initiative's version 23.0 update, including 99,000 new code pairs.

Don’t hide behind HIPAA: Know when you can share patient info

01/23/2017

by: Richard Scott

You can share a patient’s health information with a friend, relative or other person — not just the patient’s spouse — provided you exercise due judgment in relaying the information.

If NPP’s not yet enrolled in Medicare, only do incident-to billing

01/23/2017

by: Roy Edroso

Question: We have a nurse practitioner (NP) starting who is not yet credentialed but is shadowing our doctors for both her and them to get comfortable with her and the process of the office. One of our doctors is letting her do procedures while she is in the room with her and the NP is dictating the visit, but we will be billing under the doctor. Is this allowed?

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