By Lisa Eramo bio It’s a common complaint heard among primary care physicians: Evaluation and management (E/M) codes don’t adequately capture the time, skill, and resources necessary to plan and coordinate care for patients with complex medical needs. Although new, streamlined E/M guidelines for 2021 may help, several existing remedies can enable physicians to capture … [Read more...] about Physicians should consider these overlooked codes
Coding
AMA puts out telemedicine guide
The American Medical Association (AMA) has compiled a guide to help physicians get telemedicine up and running so they can safely care for patients. The telemedicine quick guide outlines the first steps to get started and lays out key considerations to implementing telemedicine and explains policy, coding and payment. Even if your practice didn’t use telemedicine before, it … [Read more...] about AMA puts out telemedicine guide
CDC issues testing and claims recommendations
The CDC has recommended collecting a single upper respiratory nasopharyngeal swab for diagnosis of COVID-19, as of March 13. CPT code 87635 or HCPCS code U0002 can be reported for the non-CDC diagnostic lab test, depending on the method used. HCPCS code U0001 can be reported for the CDC diagnostic lab test. Labs, physician offices, hospitals and other settings can bill for … [Read more...] about CDC issues testing and claims recommendations
Improving your revenue cycle efficiency
Modern medical practices are experiencing immense pressures as a result of increased regulatory scrutiny, changing reimbursement mechanisms, and a shift toward more patient-focused care. Revenue cycle management is particularly challenging, given all the complex rules, the number of people involved, and the tools and systems used to capture and process the information, … [Read more...] about Improving your revenue cycle efficiency
Do you have the ‘right stuff’ to be a successful medical office manager?
As the office manager of a medical practice, you have an opportunity to learn, grow, and make a valuable contribution. "You really get the chance to be a part of a small business and to wear a lot of different hats," says Mary Pat Whaley, co-founder and president of Manage My Practice, a medical practice consulting firm. What's more, because most physicians are not business … [Read more...] about Do you have the ‘right stuff’ to be a successful medical office manager?
Use weekly meetings with doctors to keep office running smoothly
Meeting every week with the doctors makes a tremendous difference in how smoothly – and also how successfully – an office operates, says the manager of a pediatrics practice in Colorado. For her office, it's an 8 a.m. meeting every Monday, a good time, because it sets the tone for the week. It also keeps everybody on the same page. And it ensures that the doctors know all the … [Read more...] about Use weekly meetings with doctors to keep office running smoothly
This 2 step program makes it easy to collect more money at the time of service
Ask any office "how well do you collect at the time of service?" and the answer will be "outstanding!" But almost no offices can define outstanding, says Reed Tinsley, CPA, a medical practice business advisor in Houston. Here's the definition: at the time of service, the office should be getting some type of payment from 90% of the patients who can pay anything, even $1. "It … [Read more...] about This 2 step program makes it easy to collect more money at the time of service
Are online coding discussions putting your practice at risk?
By Cheryl Toth, MBA bio Here's an email we recently saw while monitoring a specialty coding listserv: From: Smith, Debra (debra.smith@famousacademicinstitution.edu) Sent: Monday, June 04, 2018 2:08 PM Subject: Acromioplasty and hardware removal with total shoulder arthroplasty Hello All, We have a surgeon that says I am not an aggressive coder because I communicate to him … [Read more...] about Are online coding discussions putting your practice at risk?
6 key ingredients of a profitable medical practice
Medical office managers are often so focused on the day-to-day that it can be easy to lose sight of the big picture. That big picture is profitability—because, without it, the practice will not remain in business. Although profitability isn't rocket science—after all, only rocket science is rocket science—it does require attention to detail, or what Medical Office Manager … [Read more...] about 6 key ingredients of a profitable medical practice
Could your boss be the next Dr. Oz?
The medical practitioners in your office are more than knowledgeable; they are thought leaders in their respective fields. So why not share their expertise, and market the practice in the process? Seeking information People actively seek medical information. Indeed, medical websites are among the most highly used sites on the Web, books by physicians and other medical … [Read more...] about Could your boss be the next Dr. Oz?