911: Getting the 411 on EHR, Posted fEBRUARY 3, 2010
The world of medical records is changing fast — there are new regulations, changing requirements, and bottom line incentives available to physicians and hospitals that can implement and use an electronic health record (EHR) system.
2010 Major Coding Change, Posted December 29, 2009
Medicare will no longer recognize consultation codes starting 1/1/10. To avoid denials, it is imperative that your providers and coding/billing staff are aware of the changes and what your process will be to submit claims correctly. When final details are available from CMS, FHC plans to create a tool that will assist providers with this change.
The “Red Flags” Rule Update - Deadline Extended to June 1, 2010, Posted November 2009
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the deadline for this rule has been extended to June 1, 2010. The AMA has been objecting to the applicability of this rule as it relates to healthcare providers. The AMA states they are continuing their efforts to persuade the FTC that physicians are not creditors, and therefore should not be subject to the Red Flags Rule.
Please see the following link for further information:
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/no-index/physician-resources/red-flags-rule.shtml
For more information, contact Sharon Hicks at (612) 752-2603 or shicks@fredhealth.com.
"Holding the (bottom) Line," Article printed in Minnesota Physician, posted July 2009
Capturing all appropriate revenue is a more daunting task than ever for medical practices. Multiple pressures make it crucial to the economic health of all health care providers not to leave “money on the table” through coding inaccuracies, while also maintaining compliance. While it is impossible to account for all potential lost revenue (e.g., by not billing consultations), a recent evaluation and management (E/M) analysis for a provider group of 20-plus showed they appeared to be leaving $1.2 million on the table. Because of the potential impact of both compliance and revenue issues, close internal monitoring of code categories is strongly recommended.
Click here to read the full article. For more information, contact Michael Reiling, Anne Smith, or Sharon Hicks.
