Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert
Physician Pay Dropped Since 1995
Published on Sat Jun 24, 2006 
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You may not be surprised to learn that physicians are making less money than they were 10 years ago. The average inflation-adjusted physician salary dropped 7 percent between 1995 and 2003, the Center for Studying Health System Change says. Primary care physicians saw a whopping 10-percent pay cut. Medicare raised physician payments 13 percent during that time, but inflation was 21 percent.
Other Articles in this issue of
Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert
- EMERGENCY MEDICINE:
Prepare For Imminent Audits Of Your ED Visits
Double-check: Does your E/M documentation support levels?
Your Emergency Department (ED) visits [...] - REIMBURSEMENT:
Work RVUs For Level-3 Office Visits Set For 37-Percent Hike
Everything changes starting next January. Will you be ready?
Good news: Your payments [...] - GENERAL SURGERY:
Don't Lose Out On Reimbursement For RNFA Services
Smart strategy: Master surgical assistant modifiers
Do you know how to bill for registered nurse first [...] - CONSULTS:
Report And Request Aren't Enough For Consults Without Medical Necessity
Use of modifier 25 exposes that doctor knew he flouted the rules
If you're worried about [...] - REIMBURSEMENT:
13 Coding Opportunities You May Have Overlooked
You could be turning away your rightful reimbursement for 100s of services
[...] - MedPAC Wants To Hold Your Feet To The Fire For Quality
You'll be "held accountable" for the quality of care you provide--if the influential Medicare Payment [...] - ANESTHESIA:
Clear Up These 3 Anesthesia Blind Spots
Not all thoracotomies are created equal
Anesthesiology coders, don't sleep on opportunities to gain extra reimbursement. [...] - Physician Pay Dropped Since 1995
You may not be surprised to learn that physicians are making less money than they [...] - NEUROSURGERY:
Reader Questions--Multiple Lesions Can Equal 61793 Times Five
Question: If our neurosurgeon performs stereotactic radiosurgery, is it true that he can report 61793 [...] - UROLOGY:
Simplify Your Coding Tasks With New ICD-9 Urinary Symptom Codes
Specificity increases your chances of reimbursement for some E/M services
You’ll soon [...] - GASTROENTEROLOGY:
You Be The Coder--Code Gastrostomy Tube Placements The Right Way Every Time
Scenario: Your surgeon performed a laparoscopic gastrostomy tube placement and laparoscopic fundoplication at the same [...] - PATHOLOGY:
Learn To Use Compatibility Blood Tests Only When Needed
Also: Be sure to charge for each unit of blood, but not for each transfusion
There's [...] - AUDIOLOGY:
Don't Confuse Your SOP Codes--The One You Use Depends On Your Carrier
Helpful hint: Medicare will reimburse you if your audiologist prepares properly
If [...] - ED CODING:
Choose the Right Service Level Code for Subsequent Hospital Care
To claim 99231-99233, you must meet 2 of the 3 key E/M components Your ED [...] - CARDIOLOGY:
3 Must-Know Tips To Ensure Payment For 37215 And 36216
Attach modifier 59 only when catheter placement procedures are distinct
The Office of Inspector General is [...] - Part B Coding Coach:
Learn The Secret to Coding Female Urinary Incontinence Surgical Procedures
Hint: Your physician's approach falls into one of three categories
The causes of female urinary incontinence [...] - Understanding Female Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence is identified as one of four common types: stress (625.6), urge (788.31), mixed [...] - Clip and Save:
The Diagnosis Points the Way to the Perfect Incontinence Surgery Code
When your physician documents female urinary incontinence treatment, you have a choice of several codes. [...] - PHYSICIAN NOTES:
CMS Comes To Your Rescue On IVIG Payments
One code will increase 12 percent next year
Your payments for Part B drugs won't change [...]
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