Kareo recently released the December issue of our monthly e-newsletter, Getting Paid, and it featured a variety of articles you will want to review in order to improve your medical billing results. Also, be sure to subscribe to the newsletter so you receive it in your inbox automatically. The articles featured included:
Latest from Kareo
By Betsy Nicoletti, M.S., CPC
Isn’t getting a new CPT book a little like a birthday present? The excitement of unwrapping it, the suspense about what’s inside. A new CPT book may not be as much fun as a new video game or as intriguing as a jewelry box, but coders eagerly anticipate it. A listing of code changes for the year can be found… Read More
Thursday, December 15, 2011
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM PST
Speaker: Elizabeth Woodcock, MBA, FACMPE, CPC
The 2012 reimbursement environment isn’t just about fee schedules. New incentives, new coding rules and more are headed your way – and fast. National speaker, trainer and author Elizabeth Woodcock, MBA, FACMPE, CPC, will give you the practical tips and realistic strategies you can put into play now.
After attending this session, you will be able to:
• Identify the major changes in CPT codes in 2012 and how they will affect your practice
• List the critical points in Medicare physician reimbursement for 2012
• Describe the government’s incentive plans – and penalties – for 2012
• Summarize the trends in private insurance most likely to impact physician reimbursement in 2012
By Nancy Maguire, ACS, PCS, FCS, HCS-D, CRT
The purpose of this article is to highlight several changes in the ICD-10 code structure and the rules that could be missed when learning this new system. Be aware of the following changes (Part 1)… Read More
By Judy Capko
It is easy to understand why many physicians aren’t particularly interested in strategic planning. It seems they have enough on their minds just trying to keep the practice on firm ground today. In my opinion, they are missing out on a powerful opportunity to protect and guide their future… Read More
By Ron Sterling
Many EHR implementations have failed to meet practice expectations and, in the worst cases, have damaged the practice. EHR implementations by necessity will impact every process and activity in the practice. In order to set the stage for EHR success, practices need to… Read More
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Learn how Kareo medical billing software will make medical billing easy for you as you improve your profitability. You’ll hear how you can reduce your cost of ownership by eliminating costly software and upgrades, keep things from falling through the cracks with an easy-to-use “To Do List,” and more…
Register Now!
Case Study
Chester Minarcik, MD, Child Neurology Services of South New Jersey
“Our office had not changed its accounting and medical billing procedures since it opened in 1992,” recounts Chester Minarcik, MD. “While we did have computerized billing, we didn’t have electronic claims submission… Read More
Case Study
Dan Milosevic, Medical Billing and Consulting Services
After starting Medical Billing and Consulting Services in Houston, TX, Dan Milosevic was so effective — he doubled his client’s monthly revenue — that his client began talking about him to other practitioners. That was when Dan decided… Read More
Billing Tip of the Month
Tammy Chidester, CPC, CPMA, CEMC, PCS, Mera Consulting
Kareo helps me manage my accounts that I am preparing for collections. These are the steps I use: Under Settings > Other Lists > New/Find Collection Category, add the verbiage that you want to print on the statement… Read More
Top News and Ideas from Industry
Charles Fiegl, Amednews, Dec. 5, 2011
The failure of the congressional debt panel leaves the 2012 SGR cut unresolved and threatens physicians with additional pay reductions starting in 2013. Lawmakers again find themselves with less than a month to pass legislation to stop a steep decrease in Medicare payments… Read More
AAPC News, Dec. 2, 2011
Beginning Jan. 1, 2012, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will begin three demonstration projects aimed at eliminating Medicare fraud, waste, and abuse. The first of these, the Recovery Audit Prepayment Review, will allow Medicare recovery audit contractors (RACs) to review claims that historically result in high rates of improper payments before they are paid… Read More
Emily Berry, Amednews, Dec. 12, 2011
Physicians and health plans have a kind of grace period for the first three months of 2012 before they must comply with new HIPAA Version 5010 claims transaction standards. The deadline for the electronic claims format remains unchanged, but the threat of losing Medicare payments for noncompliance is delayed… Read More
Charles Fiegl, Amednews, Dec. 5, 2011
The remediation initiative will offer a doctor relief if personal and professional information are used to defraud Medicare or Medicaid. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has created the provider victim validation/remediation… Read More
David Glendinning, Amednews, Nov. 28, 2011
The IRS regulation was designed to target delinquent government contractors but would have affected some Medicare physician payments… Read More
AAPC News, Dec. 6, 2011
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will hold a National Provider Call to discuss changes to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule’s (MPFS) Physician Feedback Program and the value-based payment modifier (Value Modifier) for calendar year 2012… Read More
Pamela Lewis Dolan, Amednews, Nov. 21, 2011
Physicians might not realize it, but how they and their staffs use an electronic medical record system could open themselves up to accusations of fraud or misrepresentation… Read More
HIMSS News, Dec. 9, 2011
Several Notices of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRMs) are anticipated to come from CMS and ONC this winter. This chart outlines the regulations that are currently anticipated, the agency from which they will be administered, and the date for which public comments are due to the government. Also included is the anticipated timeframe for release of final rules… Read More
Medicare Now Covers Heart Disease, Obesity Screening, Expands Telehealth Services
Charles Fiegl, Amednews, Nov. 23, 2011
The Medicare program has expanded its coverage policy manual to include annual visits that screen for hypertension and prevent cardiovascular disease, covering office visits with primary care physicians to discuss how to prevent heart disease… Read More
AAPC News, Dec. 2, 2011
Medicare is adding coverage for preventive services to reduce obesity. Screening for obesity and counseling for eligible patients by primary care providers in settings such as physicians’ offices are covered under this new benefit… Read More
AAPC News, Dec. 2, 2011
Physicians and their patients are embracing web-based health solutions at a rapid rate, according to CNBC.com. In keeping with the times, Medicare will cover smoking cessation services in 2012, including those furnished remotely… Read More
Jaimie Oh, Becker’s ASC Review, Dec. 6, 2011
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has issued a final rule that allows for the release and use of standardized extracts of Medicare claims data for qualified entities to measure the performance of providers of services and suppliers… Read More
Amednews Editorial, Nov. 14, 2011
The American Medical Association wants more physicians to give themselves the gift of an improved, streamlined insurance claims process. Physician practices can take advantage of electronic claims processing to lower costs, save time and minimize headaches… Read More
Rob Saunders, ScrubsandSuits.com, Dec. 8, 2011
Over the years, I mostly dismissed the claims of falling reimbursement because they did not accurately depict market conditions. Instead, we have seen minor fluctuations in reimbursement rates, which often averaged out to equal reimbursement stagnation. Now, however, things have changed. And it’s time for everyone to pay attention. Here’s a list of 12 points to pay attention to… Read More
Kareo.com|Benefits|Demos|Features|Reviews|Support|Pricing & Sign Up|Unsubscribe
111 Academy, Suite 250, Irvine, CA 92617|888.775.2736
We hope you enjoy this issue of the newsletter. Be sure to subscribe now to the newsletter in order to insure you receive future issues.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) HIPAA 5010 deadline extension has given us time, but now the extension is over. On June 30, the CMS enforcement delay ends. As of July 1, you’ll need to know that your claims are processing accurately and efficiently. Even though CMS has delayed the 5010 compliance deadline twice now, the Office of E-health Standards and Services (OESS) retains discretionary authority over enforcement. We can’t expect another deadline extension.
