ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert
Breathe a Sigh of Relief With EMTALA Mandate
If you're sick of writing off emergency-room care provided to uninsured illegal immigrants, take comfort in a little-noticed provision in the recent Medicare reform legislation.
The bill, signed into law Dec. 10, includes a provision that would establish a $1 billion fund for 2005 through 2009 to reimburse providers for care provided under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA).
EMTALA mandates that your facility must provide a medical screening examination to all patients who arrive at your doors and stabilize their condition - unless you don't have the resources to do so. Providers have long complained that the law, in essence, requires them to provide free care to uninsured patients.
To read more about the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act, check out these Internet links:
ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert
- Use Tunnel Vision for Venous Access Codes
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Learn to bill correctly when doctors - and med students - work together If you [...] - Get a Grip on Medical Notes for Teaching Physician Rules
Use these expert tips for surefire documentation Knowing how and when to report evaluation and [...] - You Be the Coder:
Watch Modifiers With Fracture Treatment
Question: Our ED physician reported evaluation and management code 99283-25 and 26720-54 for treatment of [...] - Inspect Documentation for Clues to MDM
Decision-making isn't based on the diagnosis alone Every patient with a head injury doesn't warrant [...] - Breathe a Sigh of Relief With EMTALA Mandate
Emergency care for illegal immigrants doesn't have to be a total loss
If you're sick of [...] - Identify Missing Medical Decision-Making Components
2 sample charts tell you when you need to get more information Check out the [...] - Reader Question:
Count Global Days With Modifiers
Question: As far as I understand, modifier -57 is appropriate when a physician makes a [...] - Reader Question:
Report Anesthesia When Patient's On the Table
Question: Do code descriptions that include the phrase "requiring anesthesia" refer only to general anesthesia, [...] - Reader Question:
Don't Confuse Open Fracture With Open Treatment
Question: What constitutes an open fracture, and what does its care include?
Alabama Subscriber Answer: An [...]
