Coding News – Page 8 – CRN Healthcare Solutions

Recognize the New MBI

by Barbara Cobuzzi, MBA, CPC, CPC-H, CPC-P, CPC-I, CENTC, CPCO | Sep 4, 2018

MLN Matters issued an article on July 11, 2018 to clarify that the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) format does not use the letters S, L, O, I, B, and Z. This was done so that there will never be a confusion between the numbers 5, 1, 0, 3, and … For more,...

E/M Changes May Hit Podiatry and Teaching Attestation

by Barbara Cobuzzi, MBA, CPC, CPC-H, CPC-P, CPC-I, CENTC, CPCO | Aug 22, 2018

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) physician fee schedule proposed rule has some new Part B specific codes for Podiatry Evaluation and Management (E/M) services as well as some modification to Teaching Physician Attestation Rules f… For more,...

CMS Proposes Add-on Codes for E/M Services

by Barbara Cobuzzi, MBA, CPC, CPC-H, CPC-P, CPC-I, CENTC, CPCO | Aug 20, 2018

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing three new HCPCS Level II add-on codes to be used specifically with evaluation and management (E/M) codes, which would also be revised to create a single rate of $93 for established patients...

Changing the Way Medicare Pays Doctors

by Barbara Cobuzzi, MBA, CPC, CPC-H, CPC-P, CPC-I, CENTC, CPCO | Aug 6, 2018

Besides taking a machete to E/M reimbursement and the way Medicare looks at E/M services, the current administration has proposed some large changes in the way Medicare pays doctors. They have also proposed ways that hospital facilities disclose prices to patients,...

MD Anderson Pays $4.3 Million HIPAA Fine

by Barbara Cobuzzi, MBA, CPC, CPC-H, CPC-P, CPC-I, CENTC, CPCO | Aug 5, 2018

In a time when many scoff at the potential of being levied steep penalties for violation of HIPAA rules, a judge just upheld a fine that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued in 2017 for Texas-based MD Anderson’s use of unencrypted … For more,...

E/M: 2019 Proposed Physician Fee Schedule – Next Steps

by Barbara Cobuzzi, MBA, CPC, CPC-H, CPC-P, CPC-I, CENTC, CPCO | Jul 17, 2018

Proposed changes in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) for 2019 will change proposed reimbursement single evaluation and management (E/M) rates. Here’s a way for medical coders to see how much the new routes may affect your workplace’s … For more, read...

CMS Proposes a Single E/M Payment, Streamlined Doc Requirements

by Barbara Cobuzzi, MBA, CPC, CPC-H, CPC-P, CPC-I, CENTC, CPCO | Jul 13, 2018

The Federal Register scheduled for publication on July 27, 2018 will include a proposal for a single E/M payment for new outpatient services, and a different single E/M payment for established outpatient E/M services, regardless of the E/M level subm… For more,...

When Non-Covered and Covered Procedures Are Performed

by Barbara Cobuzzi, MBA, CPC, CPC-H, CPC-P, CPC-I, CENTC, CPCO | Jul 10, 2018

There are times when a physician will be performing both covered and non-covered procedures at the same operative session. For example, the surgeon may be performing a septoplasty for a deviated septum (J34.2) and nasal obstruction (J34.89), which is … For more,...

New Jersey’s New Law Aimed Eliminates “Surprise” Medical Bills

by Barbara Cobuzzi, MBA, CPC, CPC-H, CPC-P, CPC-I, CENTC, CPCO | Jul 9, 2018

The New Jersey (NJ) governor signed a new law designed to curb the impact of costly “surprise” medical bills when a patient sees a non-participating provider during an admission. The bill is quite complex but tries to balance the needs of patients, … For more,...

Anthem Investigator Charged with Fraud

by Barbara Cobuzzi, MBA, CPC, CPC-H, CPC-P, CPC-I, CENTC, CPCO | Jul 9, 2018

A former fraud investigator for Anthem, Inc. is one of five people indicted on federal healthcare fraud charges. Those indicted participated in a multi-year scheme to commit fraud against at least eight health insurance companies. The fraud investigat… For more,...

No Results Found