The AAPC can get you up to speed on all of the annual code changes with its “Complete 2009 Coding Updates” workshop, a three-hour seminar in held in locations across the country during December.

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Choosing between selective and nonselective vascular catheter placement codes doesn’t have to be a hassle, as long as you keep three basic rules in mind. This article reviews the three rules for successful, hassle-free catheter placement coding.

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Millions of dollars in potential revenue is lost every year due to billing errors, such as under-pricing, missed charges, under-coding, and unreimbursed claims. In essence, this is like offering medical services for free.

“As much as 3 to 5 percent of annual practice revenue is lot because the practice simply did not bill for services and procedures that the physicians performed,” said National Advisory Board President Deborah Grider, CPC, CPC-H, CPC-P, CPC-E/M, CPC-I, CCS, CCS-P (Physicians Practice, November 2008). Read more »

Are you charging for every service you perform? If your practice is like most, the answer is probably no. Unlike every other industry — in which businesses do not make a habit of giving away their products — medical practices routinely provide services for free.

Do you realize that approximately one-fourth of all medical practice income is lost due to underpricing, undercoding, missed charges, or unreimbursed claims? Hundreds of millions of dollars is lost annually due to medical billing errors. Physicians and staff are consistently attending seminars just to stay on top of coding and regulatory issues, but are you paying attention to your billing? As much as 3 percent to 5 percent of annual practice revenue is lost because the practice simply did not bill for services and procedures that the physicians performed.

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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) completed its limited pilot of the Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) program in March, and based on its success at collecting Medicare overpayments from providers, the RAC initiative will be taken nationwide beginning in 2009.

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All medical coding and billing certifications have continuing education unit, or CEU, requirements. CEUs simply ensure certified professionals stay current as the health care industry, with Medicare its impetus, continually updates policies. Being a certified coder through AAPC grants you several opportunities to acquire low- or no-cost CEUs.

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In August, the federal government announced a proposal to update the nation’s healthcare coding system. However, a new study found the plan would significantly increase costs for physician practices. A number of healthcare groups—including the AAPC—have called on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to “reassess its plan to rapidly adopt ICD-10 and extend the implementation time frame.”

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What do otolaryngologists and ASC coders for ENTs need to understand about coding rules in order to optimize fair reimburse-ment? Consider the following tips.

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The AAFP came out swinging recently against CMS’ proposal for the adoption of the greatly expanded ICD-10 system. AAFP believes that CMS has not done its homework in assessing the impact in the transition. This article looks at the impacts of the proposed rule.

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The Advance Medical Technology Association, American Hospital Association and American Health Information Management Association urged Congress in a letter Tuesday not to delay adoption of the new ICD-10 diagnosis and coding system.

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