Archive for the Week of February 17, 2006
Archive for the Week of February 17, 2006
Welcome to the medical billing blog archive for the week of February 17, 2006.
Here you will find links to every article added to the Outsource Management Group web site during the week of February 17, 2006.
You can browse this week's archives by clicking the "More" button from any of the excerpts below.
Medical Billing Strategy for Pessary Coding
Medical Billing Strategy for Pessary Coding Now is the time to fully understand Pessary coding. Pessary placement is becoming more and more common. When doing medical billing for this type of service it is important to know who supplied the device and when the procedure was performed. A Pessary is a device used to correct pelvic floor weakness. It is used during uterine prolapses and urinary incontinence. This device is a perfect non surgical method to treat uterus prolapse. Not only is it cheaper for insurance carriers, but also better for the patient and physician. Although medical billing reimbursement will be less, so will the costs of performing the procedure. …
Various Imaging Views in Medical Billing
Various Imaging Views in Medical Billing For imaging, medical billing should be done for views as opposed to film. Different payers require different methods of coding. There are many different ways to perform medical billing for a bilateral wrist x-ray with two views and a bilateral hand x-ray with two views. If a physician orders two views of both the wrist and a hand, it can get confusing when one film captures both the wrist and hand. You are able to do medical billing for both views. For the most part, payers accept the medical billing code 73100 (Radiological examination, wrist; two views) two times and 73120 (Radiological examination, hand; …
Suspension of Cytology Proficiency Medical Billing
Suspension of Cytology Proficiency Medical Billing Keep your medical billing ears open for cytology proficiency testing changes. The college of American pathologists (CAP) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services (CMS) have completely different ideas about cytology proficiency testing penalties. Your medical billing staff members may need to prepare for quick changes in the coming months. In 2005, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services introduced cytology proficiency testing to the country. Last year sanctions were not imposed on laboratories which performed this testing. Medical billing was allowed and failures in the testing itself were not penalized. 2006 is different. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services intend on …
Medical Billing for New Test Reduces Need for Colonoscopy
Medical Billing for New Test Reduces Need for Colonoscopy Medical billing reimbursement for colonoscopies may reduce in future years. The introduction of a new test called immunochemical fecal occult blood test (FOBT) is a better indicator of colon cancer. When used correctly, the immunochemical fecal occult blood test severely reduce the need for the colonoscopy in medical billing. During a screening exam, patients usually take a test called guaiac FOBT. If patients test positive for this traditional test, the use of the new immunochemical fecal occult blood test would be in order. Unfortunately, the old test produced many fake positives. This created the need for more colonoscopies to be performed. …
Medical Billing of Manual Blood Clot Evacuation
Medical Billing of Manual Blood Clot Evacuation Medical billing codes don’t always fit in a nice little package. You will inevitably run into problems in which you cannot find the correct code for your claim. There will also be times in which two codes fit your procedure description. Choosing the correct medical billing code is a skill that you will acquire over time. One example of a difficult procedure to code is a postpartum blood clot removal. For instance, if the patient delivers a baby and is then brought back to the operating room for a manual blood clot evacuation , bimanual exam , and a pelvic examination, what code …
Aneurysm Repair Medical Billing Coding
Aneurysm Repair Medical Billing Coding In medical billing, surgery can be fairly easy to code. However, analysis of imaging after surgery can be slightly more complicated. The analysis of an aneurysm repair image can be a head scratcher for any medical billing staff member. The year 2006 has brought many medical billing changes. Coding is one of those changes. There are two medical billing codes that would correctly describe an analysis of angiographic imaging after an aneurysm repair. 75956 (Endovascular repair of descending thoracic aorta; involving coverage of left subclavian artery origin, initial end prosthesis plus descending thoracic aortic extension if required, to level of celiac artery origin, radiological supervision …
Medical Billing Deficit Reduction Act Finally Passed
Medical Billing Deficit Reduction Act Finally Passed After weeks of discussion, the medical billing Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 has finally passed through the House of Representatives. February 01, 2006 was a day of victory for the act. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services are already taking action on the therapy cap exceptions process. Keep your medical billing year open for new changes to come along. By a narrow vote, the Deficit Reduction Act flew through the House of Representatives with a 216 to 214 vote. One of the major issues in this legislation deals with a new process for therapy cap exceptions. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid …
Modifier 32 Usage in Medical Billing
Modifier 32 Usage in Medical Billing Many things have changed for medical billing in 2006, but modifier 32 is not one of those things. Since 2005 several changes have occurred with the way hospitals and nursing facilities can bill claims. Some of these changes will affect medical billing reimbursement amounts. It is important to abide by all new medical billing rules to appease your payer. One medical billing change for 2006 is the removal of inpatient follow-up and confirmatory consultations. These codes range from (99261-99263) and (99271-99285). Even though consultations may give more medical billing reimbursement, the only codes allowed are subsequent care codes 99231-99233 for hospital and 99307-99310 for …
