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Analysis: AMA Responds to E/M Proposal

The AMA sent a letter to the Administrator of CMS on August 27, 2018 with signatures from most of the medical societies and state medical societies with comments on the CMS proposal for the “Patients Over Paperwork” initiative. AMA Loves Paperwork Red… For more, read here: AAPC Blog

Recognize the New MBI

MLN Matters issued an article on July 11, 2018 to clarify that the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) format does not use the letters S, L, O, I, B, and Z. This was done so that there will never be a confusion between the numbers 5, 1, 0, 3, and … For more, read here: AAPC…
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E/M Changes May Hit Podiatry and Teaching Attestation

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) physician fee schedule proposed rule has some new Part B specific codes for Podiatry Evaluation and Management (E/M) services as well as some modification to Teaching Physician Attestation Rules f… For more, read here: AAPC Blog

CMS Proposes Add-on Codes for E/M Services

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing three new HCPCS Level II add-on codes to be used specifically with evaluation and management (E/M) codes, which would also be revised to create a single rate of $93 for established patients (99212-99215) and a single rate of $135 for new pa… For more, read…
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Changing the Way Medicare Pays Doctors

Besides taking a machete to E/M reimbursement and the way Medicare looks at E/M services, the current administration has proposed some large changes in the way Medicare pays doctors. They have also proposed ways that hospital facilities disclose prices to patients, providing more transpa… For more, read here: AAPC Blog

MD Anderson Pays $4.3 Million HIPAA Fine

In a time when many scoff at the potential of being levied steep penalties for violation of HIPAA rules, a judge just upheld a fine that the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued in 2017 for Texas-based MD Anderson’s use of unencrypted … For more, read here: AAPC Blog

E/M: 2019 Proposed Physician Fee Schedule – Next Steps

Proposed changes in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) for 2019 will change proposed reimbursement single evaluation and management (E/M) rates. Here’s a way for medical coders to see how much the new routes may affect your workplace’s … For more, read here: AAPC Blog

CMS Proposes a Single E/M Payment, Streamlined Doc Requirements

The Federal Register scheduled for publication on July 27, 2018 will include a proposal for a single E/M payment for new outpatient services, and a different single E/M payment for established outpatient E/M services, regardless of the E/M level subm… For more, read here: AAPC Blog

When Non-Covered and Covered Procedures Are Performed

There are times when a physician will be performing both covered and non-covered procedures at the same operative session. For example, the surgeon may be performing a septoplasty for a deviated septum (J34.2) and nasal obstruction (J34.89), which is … For more, read here: AAPC Blog

New Jersey’s New Law Aimed Eliminates “Surprise” Medical Bills

The New Jersey (NJ) governor signed a new law designed to curb the impact of costly “surprise” medical bills when a patient sees a non-participating provider during an admission. The bill is quite complex but tries to balance the needs of patients, … For more, read here: AAPC Blog