By Judy Monestime bio Chapter 7 is a new chapter in ICD-10 CM. No, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you; in ICD-10 CM, they get their own chapter. These conditions were previously included with Chapter 6, Diseases of the Nervous System and Sense Organs chapter in ICD-9 CM. Now they are covered in ICD-10 CM Chapter 7: Diseases of the Eye and Adnexa (H00-H59). ICD-10 … [Read more...] about Eye diseases get their own new coding section under ICD-10
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Is your practice eligible for Medicaid incentive payments?
Certain professionals can alternatively pursue meaningful use incentive payments from the Medicaid program, which is run by the state Medicaid agencies. Eligible professionals for Medicaid include doctors of medicine and osteopathy, nurse practitioners, certified nurse-midwives, dentists, and physician assistants in a federally qualified health center or rural health clinic led … [Read more...] about Is your practice eligible for Medicaid incentive payments?
Exceeding expectations or resetting the watermark of leadership
By Dale Henry bio I'm a service snob! I am addicted to nice hotels, great restaurants, and being pampered. Who isn't? That feeling of being cared for and having everything you want delivered with a smile is intoxicating to say the least. Once you have had someone exceed your expectations, it is just a little frustrating to have someone do it out of ritual. As they say, it's … [Read more...] about Exceeding expectations or resetting the watermark of leadership
How the right payment technology can improve profitability at your practice
By Brent Warrington bio Medical practice profitability is a regular concern for practice managers. Now the Affordable Care Act has perhaps shined a brighter light on what it takes to stay in the black. What's more, insurance companies are under pressure to manage costs and grow revenue, sometimes resulting in lower payments to physicians for patient visits, services, … [Read more...] about How the right payment technology can improve profitability at your practice
Beware these 2 deadly employment law traps
Beware. The government has stepped up its efforts to protect employee rights. Two areas of particular interest to medical offices are disability discrimination and retaliation against protected activities such as discussing wages and work conditions. The agencies involved are the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (Americans with Disabilities Act) and the National Labor … [Read more...] about Beware these 2 deadly employment law traps
CQM reporting and HIPAA
One reader questioned whether reporting CQMs using the Physician Quality Reporting System and reporting patient level data in the Quality Reporting Data Architecture (QRDA) format would require sending protected health information to CMS in violation of the HIPAA Privacy Rule. The QRDA format does require some identifying information. However, Paula Stannard, a health care … [Read more...] about CQM reporting and HIPAA
‘Meaningful use’ can safeguard big money for your practice
Have you been participating in Medicare's or Medicaid's electronic health records incentive program? If not, you are leaving money on the table—or in the government's bank. Incentive payments still available could total up to $24,000. But that's not all you're missing by not achieving meaningful use of certified electronic health records (EHR) technology (CEHRT). "Starting in … [Read more...] about ‘Meaningful use’ can safeguard big money for your practice
Workplace accusations mean it’s time to investigate
By Dr. Steve M. Cohen In dealing with your office staff, allegations of wrongdoing are never something you can ignore. Whether the charge involves sexual or racial harassment, bullying or something else, they must never be ignored. Never. Remember, an allegation by itself is neither fact nor fiction. It is simply a statement made by someone within your organization. In many … [Read more...] about Workplace accusations mean it’s time to investigate
How to use Modifier 24 and 25
By Aimee Wilcox, MA, CST, CCS-P Modifier 24 is reported as follows: Append only to Evaluation and Management (EM) codes. Use only to report an EM service beginning the day after a procedure performed by the same physician during the past 10 or 90 postoperative days. The patient's record must document that the EM service was solely for the treatment of an underlying condition … [Read more...] about How to use Modifier 24 and 25
3 technologies that improve patient collections
By Cheryl Toth, MBA bio "Don't worry, you don't need to pay us today…we'll bill you after insurance pays." This is music to patients' ears. It means they can receive services, treatments, and/or tests in your office, and leave without paying for them. Months later when the bill arrives, it will be easy for them to set it aside. Because (probably) no one is going to call and … [Read more...] about 3 technologies that improve patient collections