Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert

PHYSICIAN NOTES:

HHS Starts the Process of Establishing EHR Certification Program

Published on Fri Feb 05, 2010

PDF

Plus: CMS changes DME phone rules -- again

Medical practices that are eager to get in on CMS's electronic health record (EHR) incentive program are one step closer to finding out which systems are government-approved. Many physicians have been holding off on buying an EHR system since the government hasn't certified any to be acceptable for the EHR program yet. Only certified EHRs will qualify for the potential $44,000 incentive (which will be paid over a five-year period to those who participate for the full five years).

However, a March 2 message from David Blumenthal, MD, the national coordinator for health information technology, lays out the proposed rule for establishing such certification programs.

You can read about the proposal and submit comments via the Web site at http://healthit.hhs.gov/portal/server.pt.

Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert

MEDICARE PAY:
Congress Halts 21.2 Percent Pay Cut -- Until March 31
1-month extension of pay freeze was official March 2. Although Feb. 28 came and went [...]

BILLING:
3 Tips Help You Optimize Your Billing Department's Efficiency
Be proactive -- not reactive -- to A/R changes. With Medicare payment changes up in the air [...]

CONSULTATION ELIMINATION:
You Can Report Subsequent Hospital Care Codes for Initial Visits, CMS Says
New CMS policy puzzles many practices, makes others nervous. CMS has finally cleared up how [...]

ENROLLMENT:
Not In PECOS Yet? Expect A Letter From Your MAC Or From CMS Pushing You Toward Enrollment
Plus: CMS will require you to participate in electronic funds transfer, referring to it as [...]

READER QUESTION:
Consider Using Incident-To Guidelines When Billing Follow-Ups
Know the rules before you try to bill incident-to. Question: One of our non-physician practitioners [...]

PART B CODING COACH:
3 Criteria Nail Down Your Payment When Reporting 99211
Don't leave $19 per visit on the table -- follow these rules to ensure you collect [...]

PHYSICIAN NOTES:
HHS Starts the Process of Establishing EHR Certification Program
Plus: CMS changes DME phone rules -- again Medical practices that are eager to get in [...]

In other news ...
• CMS intends to clear up some murky waters with a new clarification on whether [...]

View All