Archive for the Week of September 25, 2005

Archive for the Week of September 25, 2005

Welcome to the medical billing blog archive for the week of September 25, 2005.

Here you will find links to every article added to the Outsource Management Group web site during the week of September 25, 2005.

You can browse this week's archives by clicking the "More" button from any of the excerpts below.

Outsourcing Your Medical Billing In Texas

Outsourcing Your Medical Billing In Texas Texas is a big State with a lot of people and those people need to see doctors and those doctors need to bill and get reimbursed for those services. This is where outsourcing your medical billing becomes a viable option and good idea. Outsourcing your medical billing will free up your staff and handle your receivables for you. With today’s secured and encrypted information transferring technology, there is no fear of your information not being private and secure. Your records are kept private and in full compliance. Medical billing companies stay up to date on the latest pulse of the medical billing industry and

Published By: Melissa C. - OMG, LLC. CEO | No Comments

Choosing Medical Billing and Coding Training

Choosing Medical Billing and Coding Training Medical billing is a complicated process designed for only the most skilled workers. Although training is necessary, certification is not a requirement. However, choosing the right training program with the correct certifications is the key to success in medical billing. First we will take a look at three of the most notable training programs available for medical billing and coding today. The first program is a web-based program called Universal Class. The great thing about Universal Class is the ability to work at your own pace in a non-credit type of atmosphere. The medical billing courses are taught by knowledgeable instructors at affordable prices.

Published By: Melissa C. - OMG, LLC. CEO | No Comments

Combining HPI and ROS In Your Medical Billing

Combining HPI and ROS In Your Medical Billing Claims Combining history of present illness and review of systems is possible when doing medical billing. Many medical billers think this practice is breaking a rule or impossible. However, documenting an element once to account for HPI and ROS is perfectly legal. Many times a physician will leave a medical billing company with tons of documentation for a review of systems, but not enough information for the history of present illness. Don’t worry! There is no need to down-code. The CMS states that physicians absolutely do not need to document an element two times just so the person performing medical billing knows

Published By: Melissa C. - OMG, LLC. CEO | No Comments

When To Use POS 21?

When To Use POS 21 In Your Medical Billing Claims When medically billing with hospital locations, it is important to use the correct place of service code. Place of service code 21 is used in medical billing for all inpatient hospital care. When a patient is admitted to the hospital, it is important to use the inpatient hospital POS code 21. Many medical billers get confused when the emergency department comes into play. They question whether or not they should use place of service code 23 for emergency room-hospital, or place of service 21 for inpatient hospital if a patient is admitted from the emergency department. This becomes confusing when

Published By: Melissa C. - OMG, LLC. CEO | No Comments

Changes To CMN’s Coming

Medical Billing News: Changes To CMNs Coming When performing medical billing, October 25, 2005 will create more money for certain medical practices. Beginning in October, new regulations dealing with Power Mobility Devices will need to be implemented. These new regulations may be a hassle to implement, but will come with medical billing rewards. The CMS (Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services) will require a physician to see a patient face-to-face prior to writing a prescription for a power mobility device. This new medical billing rule does not apply to all durable medical equipment, just power mobility devices. There are some changes that will make medically billing power mobility devices easier.

Published By: Melissa C. - OMG, LLC. CEO | No Comments

Which Software is Right?

Medical billing firms are only as good as the software tools they utilize. There are various software programs available to assist your practice with various aspects of the medical business. Three of the most useful and cost effective software programs for medical billing are Medisoft, Lytec, and Medinotes. Click to read more about medical billing software

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Look Twice At Your Bilateral Modifiers

Look Twice At Your Bilateral Modifiers Medical billing bilateral modifiers give billers much headache. Not only are bilateral modifier procedures for medical billing complicated, but they are different for each insurance company. Medical billers must check and double check bilateral modifiers in order to receive payment. It’s true, many payers will not pay claims unless they are in the format in which they require them to be. Unfortunately, each and every payer can have a different medical billing requirement for each and every procedure. Bilateral modifiers are some of the most complicated subjects for medical billers. Modifier 50 is a bilateral modifier. For example, if someone gets eye surgery on

Published By: Melissa C. - OMG, LLC. CEO | No Comments

Can You Use 90784 for ED Injections?

Can You Use 90784 for ED Injections? When performing medical billing for emergency department visits, there are several methods one must follow to ensure full payment. Emergency department injections by a physician and the use of current procedural terminology code 90784 usually brings up many questions. The medical billing question of when to use CPT code 90784 usually becomes an issue when a hospital supplies an injection or antibiotic to a patient. Many medical billers believe 90874 should not be used in this situation because the physician has not actually purchased the drug, just administered. In all actuality, 90784 means- therapeutic, prophylactic, and diagnostic injections; intravenous. It is totally appropriate

Published By: Melissa C. - OMG, LLC. CEO | One Comment

October 2005 Medicare Won’t Honor Paper Claims

October 2005 Medicare Won’t Honor Paper Claims Medicare has big changes for claim medical billing practices! As of October 1, 2005 Medicare will no longer be accepting paper claims or non-compliant electronic claims. If providers do not follow these guidelines, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will return a claim unprocessed with orders to submit with the correct medical billing guidelines. Take some relief in knowing that this can save your practice money. First of all, paper medical billing claims are not cost effective for your practice. Postage is necessary as well as the cost of paper. Electronic claims don’t have these added costs. Another benefit to electronic medical

Published By: Melissa C. - OMG, LLC. CEO | No Comments

Must A Pediatrician Take A Patient’s History?

Must A Pediatrician Take A Patient’s History? When running a pediatric office there are many questions that come into play with medical billing. It may seem simple for any personnel to ask a few questions and take a patient’s history, but medical billing regulations may actually dictate who is allowed. In all actuality, it is safe practice to allow any office member to take the review of systems and the family social history. These two evaluation and management history elements can actually be taken by absolutely anyone. It is ok in medical billing for a parent or a secretary to take down this information. The only requirement is that it

Published By: Melissa C. - OMG, LLC. CEO | No Comments