HCPCS Update: Prepare for Medicare’s July Coverage Changes to Zometa and Doxil Codes

Posted on 23. May, 2013 by rpandit.

Add 2 new Q codes to your system to keep your coding compliant.

The July 2013 HCPCS update has coding changes in store for both liposomal doxorubicin HCl and zoledronic acid. Pay attention both to the new codes available and (more…)

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News You Can Use: State Medicaid Programs Offer E/M, Vaccine Reimbursement Boosts

Posted on 08. May, 2013 by rpandit.

Watch for retroactive pay raises, if you self-attest.
Getting a payment increase from Medicaid sounds quite appealing to most practices, and it can be a reality for some primary care providers — but don’t forget to do your part to ensure that you’ll see a rise in Medicaid payments for E/M and vaccine services this year. Follow a few quick steps to confirm that you’ll get the raise.

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Safeguard Against NCS Unit Blunders With Tips from March 2013 CPT Assistant

Posted on 07. May, 2013 by jennifer.godreau.

Nerve conduction study (NCS) coding saw a major overhaul for 2013, requiring you to swap counting nerves for counting tests. To ensure your choice of units doesn’t run afoul of the new rules, check out the just released March 2013 CPT® Assistant. You’ll get the nuts and bolts of the procedures 95907-95913 describe, as well as clarification of what counts as a single study. And don’t miss the six different coding scenarios that help you see the rules in action. (more…)

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News You Can Use: Stop Wondering: Congress Freezes Medicare Pay at 2012 Rates

Posted on 24. Apr, 2013 by rpandit.

However, don’t assume your HPSA bonus will continue.

As many practices are aware, medical offices nationwide were waiting to find out whether legislators halted a 26.5 percent pay cut that the 2013 Fee Schedule predicted, which would have brought the 2013 conversion factor down to $25.0008. In addition, practices were facing

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February 2013 CPT® Assistant Reveals Missed Catheterization Coding Opportunities

Posted on 23. Apr, 2013 by jennifer.godreau.

The CPT® trend of lumping multiple services into a single code has left many questioning whether transcatheter service claims contain too many or too few codes. Help is at hand in the just-released February 2013 CPT® Assistant. You’ll get authoritative guidance on coding catheterization in addition to thrombolysis, feel more secure choosing between primary and secondary mechanical thrombectomy codes, and benefit from coding tips for vena cava filter services, intravascular foreign body retrieval, and carotid stent placement, too. (more…)

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News: Code Search Result’s Color Identifies Keyword-Code Mapping Source

Posted on 10. Apr, 2013 by rpandit.

News: Code Search Result’s Color Identifies Keyword-Code Mapping Source

If you’ve ever wondered where a code suggestion for a keyword came from, SuperCoder’s new color-coded search results reveal the definitive source. In SuperCoder’s Code Search box [Keyword tab], when you enter a keyword that exists in a codeset’s index, the index’s suggested codes appear in purple and red. Additional codes suggested by SuperCoder’s extensive Keyword to Code Correspondence Helper (KECH) appear in blue and green. Often, the first code entry suggestion will be in purple and red meaning the result from the code book index and KECH match.

The color coding’s pinpointing of the definitive source helps you: (more…)

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Latest CPT® Assistant Dishes Up Details on 2013 MPFS

Posted on 08. Apr, 2013 by jennifer.godreau.

Whether you’re concerned about Multiple Procedure Payment Reduction changes or want to dig in to group practice electronic prescribing rules, the first 2013 issue of CPT® Assistant has what you need. This issue takes on the 2013 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) presenting the must-know highlights from the massive final rule. Molecular pathology and percutaneous coronary intervention coding updates, Physician Quality Reporting System (PQRS) payments, value-based modifier news, and fee calculation insights are just some of the hot topics featured in this MPFS roundup.
 
A quick search on…

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You’re Saved From 26.5 Percent Physician Pay Cut

Posted on 08. Apr, 2013 by rpandit.

But RVU changes still in effect.

Optometrists can expect a reprieve from the dreaded 2013 pay cut to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS). Congress voted to halt the 26.5 percent rate cut that was tied to the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula.

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Beware: Don’t Automatically Use 44705 for Fecal Bacteriotherapy

Posted on 25. Mar, 2013 by rpandit.

Hint: Use additional code for instillation when reporting 44705

If your gastroenterologist performs fecal bacteriotherapy as a treatment for Clostridium difficile infections, don’t forget to look at payer policies before you report the assessment and preparation of the fecal microbiota sample with the newly introduced CPT^®code 44705.

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Fee Schedule Update Offers Bilateral Pay Boost for 10 Procedures

Posted on 11. Mar, 2013 by rpandit.

In the Q2 updates to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, CMS offers payment boosts for several procedures, including catheter placement and cardiac Doppler monitoring. Although the Q2 updates have an official implementation date of April 1, many of the changes are effective retroactive to Jan. 1, 2013.

 Bilateral Boosts

 You’ll now be able to collect more when you perform selective catheter placement (36222-36228) bilaterally. Previously, the bilateral procedure indicator on these codes was “0,” which meant that no additional payment was assigned when surgeons performed the procedure on both sides. However, effective Jan. 1, 2013, the bilateral indicator is “1,” so you can append modifier 50 (Bilateral procedure) and the payment amount will be 150 percent of the fee schedule RVUs.

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