Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement

Watch out for possible reductions in reimbursement.With many issues of the Affordable Care Act still a mystery, coders and providers by and large are taking the "wait and see" approach to specifics on how the law will affect their day to day job functions. But there are a few key areas where the impact is clear.Preventive services: If patients "have a new health insurance plan or insurance policy beginning on or after September 23, 2010," certain preventive services must be covered when delivered by a network provider. For these services, the patient is not responsible for a copayment, co-insurance, or meeting the deductible. According to the preventive services fact sheet at www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/2010/07/preventive-services-list.html, some of the covered services your practice may see include:One-time abdominal aortic aneurysm screening for certain men with a history of smokingAspirin useBlood pressure screeningCholesterol screeningTobacco use screening and cessation interventions.Coverage for pre-existing conditions: U.S. citizens and legal [...]