Live Without Regrets!
I am curious about a lot of things. Online gaming is not one of them. One day, late in the evening hours, while looking through some of the topics …
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3 Common (But Misunderstood) Post-surgical Modifiers
There are several surgical modifiers but there are three in particular that are the most misunderstood among billers. Modifiers 58, 78, and 79 are used to define surgical procedures during …
CMS-1500 Claim Transition – UPDATE!
On June 17, 2013 the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the revised CMS-1500 Claim Form (version 02/12). The new CMS-1500 (02/12) will replace the current form (08/05). …
How to Provide Legendary Service?
Some time ago I attended a seminar presented by the uber-service conscience team from the Ritz Carlton on the topic of “Legendary Service”. I thought it might help our readers …
4 Personality Traits, Which One Are You?
Dan Miller, the author of “48 Days to the Work You Love“, categorizes the human personality into 4 common traits. He categorizes these traits with an analogy to some …
Prediction: Health Care Administration Jobs Will Increase With Obamacare
There is a healthy amount of management going on in health care. Treating illness is just one component, albeit the main reason for the existence of the medical and …
You Have a Good Chance of Winning Your Medicare Appeals
Medicare recovery audit contractors (RAC) receive a contingency fee of 9% – 12.5% of any overpayment they find but must return that money when a determination is overturned on …
Hiring a Billing Company – Compliance Plan (Part 3)
Does the Billing Company Have a Compliance Plan? One of the most important components of doing your due diligence in hiring a billing company is to ensure that they …
Hiring a Billing Company – Pricing Guideline And Contract Terms (Part 2)
Pricing Guideline In “Hiring a Billing Company – Due Diligence (Part 1)” we discussed the steps in determining a suitable billing company for your practice. One key point in …
Hiring a Billing Company – Due Diligence (Part 1)
Are you looking for ways to improve the efficiency of your billing and increase your bottom line? A medical billing service could be the answer. Many physicians already look …
How to Reduce Your Practice's Banking Fees
Have you checked lately how much banking fees you are being charged? The amount you pay per month for various banking services most likely is not large, but in …
Who Do You Normally Hang Out With?
I heard someone say that pilots keep their eyes on 4 things while up in the air – Lift, Thrust, Weight, and Drag. Like the four forces on a …
Avoid a 2% Penalty for Not Using eRx
To avoid a 2% penalty on all Medicare Part B claims in 2014, physicians must by June 30, 2013, report e-prescribing activity using measure code G8553 with at least …
CMS Temporarily Delays Implementation of Ordering and Referring Denial Edits
Due to technical issues, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has temporarily delayed implementation the ordering and referring denial edits originally planned for May 1, 2013. A …
NEW! HIPAA Changes – Are You Compliant?
On January 17, 2013, the federal Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR), issued the long-anticipated final omnibus amendments to the Privacy, Security, Breach …
Anthem Blue Cross Agrees to Pay $3.2 Million Owed to Providers
Anthem Blue Cross will pay more than $3.2 million owed to physicians and other health care providers on improperly paid claims dating back to 2007. The agreement, announced this …
Palmetto GBA's Appeal Denied Again, Noridian Will Be The New Contractor!
The U.S. Court of Federal Claims has denied two protests that were filed challenging a decision by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to award the Medicare …
Medicare is Reorganizing, How Will This Affect You?
The Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) authorized the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to make significant changes to the Medicare fee-for-service program’s …
Single Health Plan for 456,000 Californians Coming Soon
Beginning October 2013, Californians who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid (Medi-Medi) will have to sign up with one single health plan. This is as a result of a signed Duals Demonstration Memorandum …
New DMV Requirements for Physicians Giving Medical Exams
Effective May 21, 2014, for the first time, require that all medical professionals who provide physical qualification examinations for truck and bus drivers to be certified and registered by …