Medical Office Blog

News and information you need to run your office.

Healthcare Risk Assessment

As you primary care folks know, the Annual Well Visit requires a Health Risk Assessment (HRA) be completed in addition to the G0438 and G0439.

Here We Go Again With The Medicare Fee Schedule Cuts for 2012

While we stopped the cuts scheduled for 2010 and 2011, we are now faced with the prospect of a 29.5 percent cut in 2012.

Contact Information for All CMS RAC Auditors

Each month you should check the RAC web site for your area to make sure you are aware of current audit issues…

New Transmittal Regarding the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and MCR Preventive Services

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) amended the definition of “Preventive Services” available in Medicare and included two additional preventive physical examination services: the initial preventive physical examination (IPPE) and the annual wellness visit (AWV). The definition of preventive services and the corresponding table of services are reflective of preventive services available in Medicare as of January 1, 2011.

Can RN or LPN provide the New Annual Well Visit Service?

CMS staffers confirmed this week that MACs can determine whether they’ll allow licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and registered nurses (RNs) to perform annual wellness visits (AWVs) and collect from Medicare for those services. That’s the word from a Feb. 22 CMS Open Door Forum, where providers called in with several questions affecting Part B providers.

This is “Must See” Regarding Your EMR/EHR Money

For everyone waiting for their EMR/EHR money from the Government, please click on the link below to see a video of Dr. Blumenthal explaining that the funding is now available. Here’s the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxemMXCl–I Steve Adams, MCS, CPC, CPC-H, CPC-I, PCS, FCS, COA

Congress Postpones any Medicare Pay Cut Till January 2012

Congress Votes to Stop Physician Pay Cuts Congress has passed legislation to postpone a 25 percent pay cut that would have reduced Medicare physician reimbursement rates beginning 2011.  The House of Representatives voted 409-2 in favor and the Senate voted by unanimous consent for the Medicare and Medicaid Extenders Act of 2010. Steve Adams, CPC, CPC-H, CPC-I, [...]

More Compliance Help for Your Practice

The OIG HHS has released what they are calling A Roadmap for New Physicians – Avoiding
and Medicaid Fraud and Abuse. Read all about it and get it here.

House Passes One Month Extension of Current Medicare Rates

House passes one month extension of current Medicare reimbursement rates

New Information Regarding Pecos and claims NOT Being Paid

CMS just announced that they will not turn on the edits January 3, 2011 that would stop some claims from being paid because the ordering/referring provider is not enrolled in PECOS. More to come as CMS clears up its backlog.

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