Medical Billing Blog: Section - Medical Billing
Archive of all Articles in the Medical Billing Section
This is the archive containing links to all articles written in the Medical Billing section of our blog.
Click any of the article links below to read the entire article or browse another section to the right to read articles on another subject.
New HCPCS Medical Billing Tool
Your practice should know where to look for medical billing changes each year. When dealing with HCPCS consolidated billing, many billers become confused about what codes are excluded from this type of billing. Before allowing your staff members to do medical billing, be sure they know where to look for answers to their coding questions. The source to find consolidated HCPCS medical billing codes is no longer in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Skilled Nursing Facility Help File. Since September 25, 2005, CMS has tried to steer medical billing staff members away from this file. Now, however, it is more important to do so. A new website has …
Medical Billing Mesh
Medical Billing Mesh Mesh placement medical billing can be a mess. Hernia repairs are very common, therefore mesh placements are very common. To keep your mesh placement medical billing accurate there are four steps to follow. There are many different types of hernias. Mesh placement in medical billing is only allowed for two types: ventral and incisional hernia repairs. The first step to correctly do medical billing for mesh is to be sure the surgery was a ventral or incisional hernia repair. The second medical billing step for mesh placement is similar to the first step. You must always remember that any other hernia repair will not reimburse separately for …
Circumcision Medical Billing
Circumcision Medical Billing There are two main circumcision medical billing codes. Although one code is used more often, there are two that are acceptable. The two medical billing codes used for newborns circumcision are 54150 and 54160. 54150 means, circumcision, using clamp or other device; newborn. The current procedural terminology code 54160 means circumcision surgical excision other than clamp, device or dorsal slit; newborn. As you read a circumcision with any type of device or clamp uses the code 54150. Most physicians use this medical billing code because it is the most common way to perform a circumcision. Another important point to remember is to charge for a ring block …
Medical Billing CPT found for Transposition of Ovary
Medical Billing CPT found for Transposition of Ovary There are many procedures in which there is no particular medical billing code to represent it. For instance, an Oophoropexy is usually performed for radiation therapy, but what if it were performed for polycentric ovarian syndrome? Is there a CPT code to represent this? Knowing your options is an important trait in the medical billing world. In the oophoropexy example above, some medical billing staff members may use the current procedural terminology code 58825 (Transposition, ovary). Unfortunately, they would be incorrect. The definition of transposition is when an ovary is moved due to radiation therapy. Since radiation therapy is not being performed, …
Medical Billing for Emergency Procedures
Medical Billing for Emergency Procedures Knowing when to use code 90782 in emergency department procedures can help with your medical billing reimbursements. For example, if a doctor examines a patient in the ED for an injury, and injects a preventative tetanus toxoid, your first instinct might be to use 90782 as a modifier for this procedure. But you would not receive a medical billing reimbursement because the incident to provision does not apply in the emergency department so you would not be able to justify having the doctor administer this injection. There would be no way to justify the medical necessity of such a shot. However, when you are in …
Medical Billing Denials During A Natural Disaster
Avoiding Medical Billing Denials During A Natural Disaster Several natural disasters in America have demanded a new medical billing policy. The insufficient relief effort after Hurricane Katrina made everyone want to proactively prepare, should another disaster occur. The healthcare industry has been no exception. A new medical billing condition code and modifier have been created for disaster related care for the present and future. The two new medical billing codes are DR (Disaster related), and CR (Catastrophe/Disaster Related). DR is a condition code and CR is a new medical billing modifier. All Medicare contractors must use the new codes on claims for August 21, 2005 and after. These medical billing …
Medical Billing for 92552 And You
Medical Billing for 92552 And You Performing medical billing for current procedural terminology code 92552 can be difficult to distinguish from 92551. These hearing tests are similar, but there are slight differences. When billing for these medical hearing tests, it is important to match chart notes with CPT codes. The medical billing CPT code 92552 means pure tone audiometry; air only. This is a hearing test that a physician uses when testing the limits of intensity for each frequency heard. This means, for each pitch, high or low, the physician sees what the patient can hear at the lowest intensity possible. When doing medical billing for this procedure, one must …
Update Your Reporting Method To Medicare
Update Your Reporting Method To Medicare or Face Denials Times are changing when performing electronic medical billing to Medicare. Beginning on August 1, 2005, noncompliant electronic claims billed will be denied. These billed medical claims must be compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Currently there is a medical billing contingency plan in effect that does accept these noncompliant claims, but that will soon end. In order to ensure the most efficient payment possible, submitting compliant electronic claims is recommended. Otherwise, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will send the claim back to you unprocessed and with no payment. To get medically reimbursed for this billing, …
Ready for your Medicare Site Visit?
Securing a Medicare provider number is a priority for any new practice. Properly submitted electronic Medicare claims can turn to cash in 21 days and can help establish a predictable cash flow. Part of the approval process includes a site visit and presentation of “QID’s” such as #14120: DOCUMENTED BILLING PROCEDURES that states “Sound practice management provides for defined billing procedures and reference materials as a component of increased accuracy.” When you engage a billing and coding company make sure the support team you choose is familiar with all Medicare procedures including the all-important site visit and the information required and presented during the visit. A company that is familiar …
Doctor Disciplined – Told to Take Medical Billing Classes
In Texas, a Bastrop physician and an Austin doctor were among the over 60 physicians that were disciplined y the Texas Medical Board. are among the 64 doctors the Texas Medical Board recently disciplined. The Internalist that was disciplined, Dr. Rajeev Gupta, was disciplined because five patients were improperly billed and the radiology equipment was operated by a staff member that was unlicensed. Dr. Gupta was fined $1000 and required to take a course in medical billing. The attorney for Dr. Gupta stated, “We realize there were mistakes, and we’re taking steps to make sure there are no additional mistakes,” said Alex Fuller, an Austin lawyer representing Gupta. “It wasn’t …
