We've noticed that you're using an ad blocker

Our content is brought to you free of charge because of the support of our advertisers. To continue enjoying our content, please turn off your ad blocker.

It's off now Dismiss How do I disable my ad blocker?
❌

How to disable your ad blocker for our site:

Adblock / Adblock Plus
  • Click on the AdBlock / AdBlock Plus icon on the top right of your browser.
  • Click “Don’t run on pages on this domain.” OR “Enabled on this site.”
  • Close this help box and click "It's off now".
Firefox Tracking Prevention
  • If you are Private Browsing in Firefox, "Tracking Protection" may casue the adblock notice to show. It can be temporarily disabled by clicking the "shield" icon in the address bar.
  • Close this help box and click "It's off now".
Ghostery
  • Click the Ghostery icon on your browser.
  • In Ghostery versions < 6.0 click “Whitelist site.” in version 6.0 click “Trust site.”
  • Close this help box and click "It's off now".
uBlock / uBlock Origin
  • Click the uBlock / uBlock Origin icon on your browser.
  • Click the “power” button in the menu that appears to whitelist the current website
  • Close this help box and click "It's off now".
  • Topics
  • Health IT
  • Careers
  • Law/Malpractice
  • Compensation
  • Staffing
  • Pearls
  • Contribute to Site

Modern Medicine Network
  • Login
  • Register
Skip to main content
Modern Medicine Network
  • Login
  • Register
Menu
User
Home
  • Topics
  • Health IT
  • Careers
  • Law/Malpractice
  • Compensation
  • Staffing
  • Pearls
  • Contribute to Site

SUBSCRIBE: eNewsletter

Hypertension Coding in the Age of Quality

  • Gregory W. Rutecki, MD and Bryan R Pfeiffer, CPC-A
Nov 2, 2017
  • Coding, Career, Finance, Operations
  • Physicians Practice

The hypertension "epidemic" hearkens back to boxer Joe Louis' words regarding a smaller, quicker opponent — light heavyweight Billy Conn, "You can run, but you can't hide!"

No matter what specialty of medicine or surgery you practice, or whether you are a primary-care provider, elevated blood pressure represents a recurring problem that will not go away. Furthermore, hypertension is often accompanied by comorbid conditions such as diabetes mellitus, obesity, CKD-3, and systolic dysfunction which complicates blood pressure treatment, according to researchers at University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

The downside of this epidemic is clear, untreated blood pressure is fraught with multiple target organ complications. In fact, approximately 80 percent of first strokes are a consequence of preventable risk factors such as hypertension. According to the University of Miami researchers, as many as 80 percent of first stroke patients have hypertension compared to the 47 percent with a lipid disorder, 34 percent with diabetes, and 15.1 percent who smoke.

Since the management of hypertension is both demanding and iterative — often squeezed into a 20-minute time slot amidst a bewildering array of A1Cs, and other health maintenance requirements — identifying and treating blood pressure appropriately should be rewarded. There is no doubt that blood pressures below target are a laudable goal adding quality years to patients' lives. But on another level, does all the time and effort dedicated to hypertension improve a hardworking physician's bottom line?

Financial Incentives

A recent article in Medical Economics which addressed Hepatitis C management in the context of MACRA (Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act) — a Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) —observed that providers will receive either a bonus or penalty depending on the quality of their practice. The MACRA program has the potential to significantly reward providers for the effective management and reporting of patient care. There are many factors determine payment under MACRA, but the main theme is the more effective and accurate a provider can be in the diagnosis, management, and reporting of patient care (whether it be hypertension or any other condition), the more potential there will be for that provider to receive increased revenue. This represents a transition from the old fee-for-service reimbursement methodology to a quality-focused, "Merit-Based" formula. In other words quality is replacing quantity.

Pages

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • next ›
  • last »

Related Articles

  • Physicians Associations Offer Resources for Fighting Burnout
  • Young Physicians Looking for More Than Just Compensation
  • Helping Physicians Recognize They're Burned Out
  • 5 Ideas for Managing Physicians' Outside Activities
  • If I Could Pick One Superpower..

Resource Topics rightRail

  • Resource Topics
  • Partner Content
Mobile
Work/Life Balance
Medical Billing & Collections
Coding
HIMSS
Ebook: Improving Your Practice’s Revenue Without Adjusting Your Revenue Cycle Process
Taking an Integrated Data-Driven Approach to Charge Capture
Physician Burnout and the Burden of Documentation
Interface Engines Simplify Interoperability – But Should you Go It Alone?
The impact of patient financial satisfaction on the independent medical practice
Connect with Us
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • RSS
Modern Medicine Network
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Advertiser Terms
  • Privacy statement
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Editorial & Advertising Policy
  • Editorial Board
  • Contact Us
Modern Medicine Network
© UBM 2018, All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited.