Practice Management Alert
Use New Patient Status Code for Transfers to CAH
Question: I heard we would no longer be using patient status code 01 or 05 to bill for patient discharges to a critical access hospital (CAH). What should we use instead? Explanation: A May 13 CMS transmittal stated that "previously, there was no patient status code to define discharges or transfers to a CAH." Providers instead had to use status code 01 (Discharged to home or self-care [routine discharge]) or 05 (Discharged/transferred to another type of institution for inpatient care or referred for outpatient services to another institution) because there wasn't another available option. Important: You must use patient status code 66 to avoid payment snags - even though CMS hasn't issued any payment implications for transfers or postacute transfers. To read the CMS transmittal, go to www.cms.hhs.gov/manuals/pm_trans/R156OTN.pdf.
Arizona Subscriber
Answer: There is now a new billing code to define a patient's discharge or transfer to a CAH - patient status code 66 (Discharges/transfers to a Critical Access Hospital). You should use this code for discharges or "transfer to" dates on or after Jan. 1, 2006.
Practice Management Alert
- Solid Education May Be Cure-All for Your Audit-Revealed Billing Problems
Idea: Visual aids such as bell-curve charts can help problem providers see the big picture
Your [...] - You Be the Billing Expert:
: Learn When States Govern Collections
Avoid legal hot water by knowing when you can collect on Medicaid and workers' comp [...] - Collections Strategies:
Be Ready for These 2 Patient Excuses When You Make a Collection Call
You can control the conversation and get better payment results if you're prepared with the [...] - Looking for Benchmarking Data? Try These 4 Resources
The right information can make for a much more productive internal audit
You can focus your [...] - Start Your NPI Application Process Sooner, Not Later
The new National Provider Identifier will make your life easier, but you have to do [...] - Hire an Outside Auditor, Experts Agree
Outside help is a must to ensure you're not overlooking a billing, coding or compliance [...] - Ace Your 'Decision for Surgery' Claims With 4 Q&As
If you don't know the difference between modifiers -57 and -25, you could be causing [...] - Reader Questions:
Use New Patient Status Code for Transfers to CAH
Question: I heard we would no longer be using patient status code 01 or 05 [...] - Reader Questions:
Check Out These General ICD-9 Changes
Question: What are some of the most prominent 2006 ICD-9 changes that will affect general [...] - June's Recipe for Billing Success:
Prove Timely Filing With 3 Steps
Many insurance companies repeatedly insist they never received your claim, even if you sent it [...] - Reader Questions:
Assess Patient Cooperation With Simple Yardsticks
Question: We like to arrange mutually agreeable payment plans with patients whenever possible, rather than [...]
