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Consider options for deaf patients in telehealth, and add a plan for prompt follow up

09/21/2020

Providers are required to help patients with hearing issues understand their treatment, and experts point out that the shift to telemedicine can help — or potentially complicate — the process, depending on how you approach it.

Debut of 2021 CPT codes includes 200-plus additions, dozens of revisions, deletions

09/21/2020

by: Part B News Staff

Take a first look at the CPT codes you’ll report next year for a variety of services, including the prolonged service E/M code that you can tack onto time-based E/M office visits. All told, you’ll find more than 200 new codes, 48 revisions and 52 deletions, according to a 2021 CPT data file released Sept. 1.

Some specialties should make plans to avoid to-be-deleted 99201

09/21/2020

by: Richard Scott

You’ll have one fewer E/M office visit code to report in 2021 after the AMA finalized its plan to delete 99201 from the CPT master list. While use of 99201 is trending down, some specialties that have continued to stick with it should hardwire alternative options into their 2021 coding scheme.

Avoid emerging malpractice risks when getting into the telehealth game

09/14/2020

by: Roy Edroso

Now that telehealth use is exploding, physicians and experts are thinking about the legal risks involved in treating a larger volume of patients virtually. While there’s some dispute over the threat level, it’s worth a close analysis of — and possibly some tweaks to — your encounter protocol and documentation to stay on the safe side.

Your software vendor needs you — to prepare for 2021 E/M office visit changes

09/14/2020

by: Julia Kyles, CPC

Dig into the new guidelines that the AMA has published for E/M office visits (99202-99215) and work with your electronic health record (EHR), electronic medical record (EMR) and other software vendors to ensure a smooth transition to the new rules that will go into effect a few months from now.

You don’t need a ‘Refusal of Care’ form — but when patients refuse care, record it

09/14/2020

by: Roy Edroso

Question: I saw a recent report on telehealth that addresses a situation in which the telehealth patient refuses follow-up care. In the scenario, the patient is determined by the provider to require an office visit or a trip to the emergency room, but the patient refuses the follow-up. The authors say a “Refusal of Care” form should be filled out. We have never used such a form. Should we be doing this?

Eight CMS ‘Compare’ sites, including Physician Compare, merged into one, upgraded

09/14/2020

by: Roy Edroso

On September 3, CMS launched a new interface that combines its eight “Compare” tools for helping patients find appropriate medical care and facilities online.

New patient E/M codes a hard lift for many specialties, psychiatry especially

09/14/2020

by: Roy Edroso

With the Level 1 new patient office E/M code 99201 going away next year, it’s worth considering how your specialty performs with the other new patient office visit codes.

Select E/M-influenced services get swept into rising fee stream in 2021

08/31/2020

by: Richard Scott

Set your sights on updated fees across a series of CPT and HCPCS codes in 2021. Along with new valuations for E/M office visit codes (99202-99215), CMS also plans to boost the relative value units (RVU) for a number of services, from obstetrical care and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) to emergency department and other E/M codes.

Consider revenue, risk, reputation before your practice recommends cannabis

08/31/2020

by: Marla Durben Hirsch

Make sure that your practice is familiar with the rules for medical cannabis. The number of states that have legalized medical cannabis — also known as medical marijuana — is increasing quickly, and you should be prepared if patients ask for advice.

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