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CMS adds an ‘alternate exclusion’ to meaningful use public health reporting

11/16/2015

You’re eligible to claim an exclusion to two meaningful use public health reporting measures for stage 2 reporting in 2015, provided you previously didn’t intend to report to them.

Watch for HIPAA pitfalls when involving police in patient identification checks

11/16/2015

by: Marla Durben Hirsch

Be careful how you proceed if your practice wants to notify the police because you suspect that a patient has provided false information. You don’t want to be accused of violating HIPAA in the process.

Common services, big payments tied up in ICD-10 claims-processing errors

11/16/2015

by: Richard Scott

Since the ICD-10 code set launched Oct. 1, multiple CPT and HCPCS codes for common services and procedures have been wrapped up in ICD-10 claims-processing errors that are delaying payment to physician practices.

Follow new date-of-service rule for billing transitional care management

11/09/2015

by: Richard Scott

Don’t get too comfortable with your strategy for billing transitional care management (TCM) services — the 2016 physician fee schedule changes a key date-of-service requirement that you need to document to get your claims processed.

Study up on appropriate forms to secure $86 payment for advance care planning

11/09/2015

by: Roy Edroso

CMS reveals substantial payments for advance care planning (ACP) and an opportunity to bill it without copayment in the final 2016 Medicare physician fee schedule, but providers will have to spend time preparing to dispense the service properly.

Supervising physician should bill incident-to services, CMS clarifies

11/09/2015

by: Laura Evans

Only the physician or practitioner who directly supervises incident-to services may bill for those services, CMS states in the final 2016 Medicare physician fee schedule, released Oct. 30. However, the supervising physician need not be the provider who ordered or initiated the care, the agency explains.

See how changes to relative value units will affect your payments in 2016

11/09/2015

by: Scott Kraft

Here's what to expect with your payments next year based on relative value unit (RVU) changes in the final 2016 Medicare physician fee schedule.

Take advantage of the new review deadlines for PQRS, value based modifier

11/09/2015

by: Julia Kyles, CPC-A

Practices that need more time to contest a negative payment adjustments based on their 2014 physician quality reporting system effort, give thanks. CMS has granted the medical community an extension.

U.S. budget puts bite on off-campus outpatient departments, extends sequester

11/09/2015

by: Roy Edroso

A new U.S. budget has extended the 2% sequester cut that has plagued providers since 2013 and made new trouble for providers in practices owned by health systems but located outside of their campuses.

Most practices have revenue opportunity through value-based modifier bonuses

11/09/2015

by: Julia Kyles, CPC-A

The value-based modifier bonus will be a possibility for most practices in 2018, and the 2016 physician quality reporting program is the key to the as-yet-unspecified windfall.

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