The below articles are all published in BC advantage
Magazine and written and contributed by Steve
Verno
Steve Verno Medical Billing and Coding Instructor/Consultant
at Quality Medical Management/Emergency Medicine Specialists
Miami, Florida
Can we charge for medical record copies?
What is a medical record? In simple terms, a medical record is a chronological documentation of medical care rendered to a patient. Practices and hospitals receive requests for medical record copies from patients, insurance companies, other provide...
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ICD-10-CM
For years there have been rumors of ICD-10 being the code set for the current year. Sadly, there was no proof behind these rumors. Now, we can stop any rumor because it is official that ICD-10-CM will be the official diagnosis code set. ICD-10-CM wil...
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Out with the old and in with the New
In a few days 2012 will begin. December is a time when things slow down and people take vacations to go to Grandma's House to wassail and have festive fun. This is also a busy time before our staff has dreams of sugarplums and a jolly old man coming ...
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Never Give Up Constant battle with insurance companies
By: Steven M. Verno, CMBS, CEMCS, CMSCS We are in a constant battle with insurance companies who will do anything to keep from paying a claim and then once they pay, it seems that they'll do anything to get the money back. Our job is to stop them....
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Modifier 25?
In coding and billing, sometimes we need to use modifiers. In simple terms, a modifier is an added code that reports something out of the ordinary took place during a visit or during a procedure that was performed.
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Yesterday, I attended a conference and met Jamie Verkamp. She gave a fantastic presentation on Social Networking. I was impressed with not just her presentation, her speaking skills, and with what she presented. Compared to her, I am Pinocchio ...
Consults
Once more the hydra's head has popped up regarding consults or consultations. Example: Mrs. Brown goes to see her primary care physician and he suggests that she go to see Dr. Detroit, a local specialist. Dr. Detroit examines Mrs. Brown and start...
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Can I Bill an Office Visit?
Betty Rubble goes to see Dr. Stone in his office in Bedrock. Dr. Stone finds she has a kidney stone that is causing her problem. He decides to send Betty to Bedrock Hospital so she can be admitted. Later that day, Betty is admitted to the urology war...
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ICD-10 and ANSI 5010
For years, we've been told that ICD-10 is replacing ICD-9-CM. Yes, Virginia, this is now true. ICD-10-CM IS replacing ICD-9-CM. This will take place as of October 1, 2013. We have things to do to get ready for this change, so that there can be a seam...
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Out of Pocket Expenses
When someone has healthcare through insurance, whether self purchased, provided through the government such as Medicare, or non-workers compensation insurance from an employer, we can't assume anything. Providers, coders, and billers may have no clue...
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Make sure your medical biller has the proper training
Medical Billing is very complex and misunderstood. Some people think they can do it without any training, some people think all they need to do is buy a computer and book and they can be the next best thing since sliced French toast. Some practices l...
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Don't be afraid of what you don't understand.
ERISA, The Employee Retirement Income Security Act, a Federal Law enacted more than 20 years ago is misunderstood or not understood at all by patients, doctors, and billers. Insurance companies understand it and use it to their benefit. They also kno...
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Billing Tip to Increase Revenue
Being a biller, you have to have a little of Indiana Jones in you without the fedora, leather jacket, and bullwhip. You aren't looking for the Lost Ark, Indian Stones, the Holy Grail, or a crystal skull. You're looking for money that is lost but can...
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Being Smart Billers
Times are getting tougher. CMS is getting tougher. Abused procedures are not being paid anymore.
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Deductible - Heal Your Practice
Now that the holidays are behind us, it's time to get back to work. January is when commercial insurance companies and Medicare takes your claim payment and applies it to the patient's deductible. The deductible, an out of pocket expense, can be hun...
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The Death of Consults
Consults or Consultations have pretty much met their demise in 2010. CPT 99241 through 99245 are some of the most abused and misused codes in the coding inventory. Per CPT guidelines, "A consultation is a type of service provided by a physician who...
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Healthcare Benefits
When I grew up, my parents never had any health insurance. We were lucky, with 7 kids, we rarely had to see a doctor. Minor illnesses and injuries were treated with common sense, ointment, ice, heat, chicken soup and bed rest and we never ran to th...
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Pride in Our Profession
When you become a coder or biller, you have a commitment to this profession. It doesn't matter if you're new and you've been one for one day or if you've been a coder or biller for 40 years. We have over 900,000 providers who depend on us for their i...
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Is Medical Coding or Medical Billing A Good Career?
This is a question that is asked time and time again on the Internet. It's a valid question that has NO easy answer. To some people, it is a hard and cruel profession. To some, it's the next best thing since sliced bread. Whether it is a good car...
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Identify Theft
Last month, I gave a seminar on Patient Registration. In the seminar, I pointed out the importance of making sure that practice staff verified the information they were given and made sure that all information was entered carefully and without error ...
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