September 22nd 2023
Experts agree that when it comes to combatting the opioid crisis, physicians need to shift their mindset and start focusing on data integrity.
September 20th 2023
Automation can play a large role in your coding strategy.
September 7th 2023
New diagnosis definitions for the 2023 E/M codes.
September 5th 2023
Your weekly dose of wisdom from the Physicians Practice experts.
September 1st 2023
Can you tell the difference between an annual physical exam and an Annual Wellness Visit (AWV)?
Two recent cases, one settled and one just filed, are illustrative of the effects of class actions, which are filed in relation to an underlying data breach involving PHI.
The fight against prior authorizations
The ongoing battle to get patients the treatments they need is a major contributor to physician burnout.
Selling your practice? Clean up the coding first.
If you don’t identify the coding issues, know that your potential buyer will.
The reality of virtual check-in coding
Medicare’s new G2012 code for virtual check-ins may lead to cost savings. It could also cost patients money and potentially cost providers in patient satisfaction.
Broken heart syndrome
Don't worry. Romance is alive and well.
Required documentation for 99214 coding
In order to justify the Level 4 E/M visit, make sure you have recorded all necessary information-and clearly label it for the payer auditor to easily find.
Medicare on medical necessity and more on time-based coding
How to code varies on the circumstances. Many coding scenarios are determined by context-not absolutes.
Coding changes in the new year
How CMS’ final rule will affect documentation, time-based billing.
Coding for wellness visits and time-based statements
This month’s coding questions look at how timing plays a role with annual checkups and the stipulations that must be met for coding by time.
Coding questions on Medicare denials, TCM billing
Coding expert Bill Dacey answers your latest coding questions, including an inquiry on why Medicare denied an initial visit claim.
Get paid for the work you do
Physicians must take action and try to get paid accurately for their services.
Q&A with MGMA’s Halee Fischer-Wright and Todd Evenson
How to make the most of your time at the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) annual conference, according to President and CEO Halee Fischer-Wright, MD, and COO Todd Evenson.
The real cost of falsifying claims
A recent $65M False Claims Act settlement highlights physicians' responsibility to provide the best care as well as correctly document and appropriately code it.
Reimbursement headaches
Unfortunately, preventative care doesn't prevent physicians from dealing with reimbursement woes.
Coding for patient care outside the office
How to meet patients wherever they are-and ensure you can get paid for telehealth and virtual check-ins.
How to hire the right coder
Use these tips to ensure you choose the right medical coder for your practice, and that the coder chooses you back.
Coding and billing for advanced practice clinicians
Nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other advanced practice clinicians may have different coding requirements, adding another layer of complexity to the coding process.
How to prepare and manage payer audits
Payer claim auditing specialist Angela Miller shares what practices need to know to understand and prepare for payer audits.
Tricky coding diagnoses
Sometimes, the difficulty in treating patients lies in knowing how to code their ailments.
‘Patients over Paperwork’ or bait and switch?
Coding expert Bill Dacey reacts to CMS’s 2019 proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule that would collapse office Evaluation and Management code levels-and payment rates.
A round up on DOJ actions against coding abuse
A look at recent lawsuits the U.S. Department of Justice has pursued for illegal upcoding, downcoding, and excessive coding claims.
Thoughts on CMS’s dramatic proposal for E/M guidelines
Here are five reasons why CMS’s proposed Physician Fee Schedule for Evaluation and Management guidelines might improve patient care.
ICD-10: The page-turning best seller
The lesser known follow-up to Dan Brown's international best seller, "The Da Vinci Code," is ICD-10, featuring less clues but plenty of confusing codes. Get your hands on a copy today!
Coding for care on the clock
Take time to clarify the midpoint rule, review CMS’s proposed guidelines for Evaluation & Management, and ask why you’re being instructed to change billing codes.
Coding for repacking wound care and diabetic shock
Coding expert Bill Dacey explores coding for ongoing wound care and unexpected, extended care for a diabetic patient.
3 easy steps to identify undercoding
Untap hidden revenue and stop leaving money on the table by reviewing your Evaluation & Management coding.
Establishing ‘contact’ under transitional care management codes
Is a phone message sufficient to use the TCM coding series? Plus, guidance on advanced care planning codes.
Communicating problem status in the assessment and plan
This month's coding questions tackle the issue of problem “status,” TCM codes, and "quality" coding.
Coding Medicare Annual Wellness Visits Along with a 99397
Coding expert explains why we don't typically see a 99397 and an AWV, and why Medicare discourages this from happening.
Coding for Vitals: Is It Necessary?
In this month's coding column, our expert answers whether or not you need to include vitals when coding a patient encounter.
Payer Demands on a New Code are Unknown
In this month's coding column, expert Bill Dacey says requirements around the new code 93793 are unknown.