Feb 4, 2013 | Uncategorized
Was it: T71.141Ann
Asphyxiation due to smothering under another person’s body (in bed), initial encounter, accidentalnnOr was it: T71.143AnAsphyxiation due to smothering under another person’s body (in bed), initial encounter, assaultnn nnIn preparation for the upcoming deadline for ICD-10 implementation, Welter Healthcare Partners presents weekly ICD-10 Codes of the Week! Our goal is to familiarize you with the new and expanded code set and the additional clinical documentation needed from your providers to comply with ICD-10 coding, and more importantly, for accurate and clean claims submission to keep your revenue stream flowing! We are to help YOU prepare for the October 1, 2014 implementation date. Please don’t hesitate to contact us for all of your training and education needs!
Jan 30, 2013 | Uncategorized
CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL CODER (CPC) PREPARATION COURSE & CERTIFICATIONnn
Certified coders are in high demand! Advance your career in the medical field and get certified now! With limited time left to register, make sure you sign up today!
nThis course will be offered as a combination live and web-based class to offer maximum flexibility for any student. It is designed to offer the most comprehensive and complete coding information to prepare students for the CPC examination and a career in the medical field. This course will include a brief overview of medical terminology, anatomy, CPT, ICD-9 CM and HCPCS manuals, and coding scenarios for practical application in the work environment.nnUpon completion of this course, participants will be prepared to sit for the nationally accredited American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC)/Certified Professional Coder (CPC) coding certification examination.nnThis examination will be offered to class participants at the completion of the course.nnCourse Schedule: CPC Classes begin Tuesday, February 26, 2013. Classes will be held every Tuesday from 5:30 PM–8:30 PM, and every other Saturday from 9:00 AM–12:30 PM. The final exam is on June 15, 2013.nnCourse Format: Live and web–based to offer maximum flexibility for any student.nn nnClass size is limited, so register today to guarantee your spot!nnRegistration Deadline: Friday, February 15, 2013.nnClick here for more information.nnClick Here for Course Schedule and Registration Form.nnYou may also find the Course Schedule below.
Jan 23, 2013 | Uncategorized
nnIn response to the government’s continued focus on improving quality of care through payment policy, several changes to new and existing regulatory requirements recently came about through the 2013 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS), Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS), and the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) Final Rules (“Final Rules”). As a result, hospitals will be faced with new challenges in 2013 and beyond.nnWhat Hospitals Should DonnIn 2013, hospitals should pay particular attention to these requirements in the Final Rules:n
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- Closely monitor the IQR and OQR reporting requirements;
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- Understand the development of the Value Based Purchasing program and the new measures that will apply in future years;
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- Immediately focus on strategies to reduce readmission rates to avoid future penalties;
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- Know the process for appealing CMS decisions related to quality–based payment programs;
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- Immediately implement mechanisms to respond to changes in the 3-day payment window and its impact on hospital-owned physician practices; and,
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- Be aware of other payment policies that could change in the future.
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nSource: www.polsinelli.com; January 1, 2013.
Jan 16, 2013 | Uncategorized
January 14, 2013 — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:nnDenver, Jan 14, 2013 — Welter Healthcare Partners, Inc. (WHP) is very proud to announce the addition of Rebekah S. Gatti (CCS-P, CPC, CPC-I, CEDC, CPMA) to our healthcare management and consulting organization. WHP is an industry leader in providing healthcare facilities with consulting and medical coding services.nnRebekah S. Gatti has 30 years experience in the healthcare industry, both inpatient and outpatient (hospitals and physicians), with specialty in Emergency Medicine, General Surgery, OB/GYN, Cardiology, Orthopedics, Oral Surgery, Pain Medicine, Mental Health and Occupational Medicine. She holds multiple certifications from both the AAPC and AHIMA.nnMs. Gatti has extensive experience with medical practice management, including revenue enhancement, reimbursement analysis, collection issues, compliance plans, chart auditing, and personnel management issues. She provides educational seminars for physician groups and hospitals on coding, auditing, modifiers, evaluation and management, documentation issues and ICD-10 preparation and financial neutrality. She also provides instruction in medical coding, having successfully completed the PMCC instructor certification course. Ms. Gatti is an AHIMA-approved ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer. She is the author of “Introduction to Inpatient Procedural Coding Using ICD-10-PCS.”nnPrior to employment at Welter Healthcare Partners, Ms. Gatti was the ICD-10 Manager for a healthcare software company supervising the Content Team, and Coding Supervisor at a large multi-practice company in Virginia where she provided documentation training for over 300 physicians and physician extenders.
Jan 15, 2013 | Uncategorized
Medicaid Primary Care Payment IncreasennThe Affordable Care Act (ACA) enacted changes to Medicaid primary care reimbursement. Eligible physicians will receive supplemental payments for services rendered between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2014. These supplemental payments will raise the Medicaid reimbursement to Medicare rates. To be eligible for the supplemental payments, physicians must self-attest as having a specialty in family medicine, general internal medicine, and/or pediatric medicine. Only physicians can complete the attestation! Staff or other representatives are not allowed to complete the attestation on the provider’s behalf. Click here to complete provider attestation.nnBeginning in 2013, providers applying for initial credentialing or re-credentialing must submit a Certificate of CME Credit, which is received after completion of the opioid educational webinar. The webinar can be viewed by going to Pinnacol’s website.nnMedicare Electronic Prescribing (eRx) Incentive ProgramnnThose practices that did not meet the reporting criteria established for avoiding the 2013 eRx payment adjustment, or request a hardship exemption by July 2012, are subject to a 1.5% reduction in reimbursement in 2013.nnGood news for practices that did not meet the reporting criteria: CMS has re-opened the Quality Communication Support Page, as of November 1, 2012, to allow individual professionals an additional exemption for the 2013 eRx payment adjustment!nn What you need to do by January 31, 2013 to avoid the payment adjustment:nnSubmit a hardship Exemption Request via the Community Support Page –n
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- Hardship exemptions include: Demonstrate the intent to participate in the EHR Incentive Program and adoption of Certified EHR Technology by registering for the EHR Incentive Program. Participants in the EHR Incentive Program must provide their entire EHR Certification Number to receive this hardship exemption.n
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- Physicians who are unable to prescribe due to state, federal or local law;
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- Physicians with fewer than 100 prescriptions between 1/1/12 and 6/30/12;
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- Physicians in rural areas without sufficient high-speed internet access; or
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- Physicians in areas without enough pharmacies available for e-prescribing.
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- Meet the reporting criteria:n
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- Report the eRx measure for at least 25 denominator-eligible visits from January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011
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- Report the eRx measure’s numerator (G8553) on claims for at least 10 billable Part B Physician Fee Schedule services from January 1, 2012 through June 30, 2012.
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Medicare Provider Revalidations
nMedicare is continuing their efforts to re-validate ALL Medicare providers! There is 2 years left in their intended time frame.nnYou will be receiving a notification letter (letters being mailed between late 2011 & March 2015). You (the provider) only have 60 days to complete and submit the proper forms that must be completed. The process is/was to be suspended until after completion of the new MAC transition. However, if you do/ did receive a revalidation notice, don’t ignore it! PTANs will be deactivated if forms are not received and processed.n
Provider credentialing has become increasingly complex! Welter Healthcare Partners offers credentialing and reimbursement management services to support every practice’s needs! Call or email us today for more information!
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