Dec 6, 2013 | Uncategorized
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- Do you want to be paid more?
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- Do you want to be treated with respect by the payers?
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- Are you working harder, taking more business risk and getting paid less?
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Stop It! Work smarter not harder!
nDoes your billing department understand when it is appropriate to unbundle diagnostic and interventional procedures to maximize reimbursement?nnDoes your practice verify medical necessity for allergy testing prior to billing to ensure timely payment? nnDoes your practice know how to preauthorize and get paid for investigational procedures?nnAMRS Does! We KNOW the new rules, the regulations and the hoops to jump through to get you paid more!n
Billing and A/R Management Services – ENT Expertise!
nHead and Neck, Otolaryngology, Otology, Rhinology, Laryngology, Allergy and more!n
Coding Services – Maximize Revenue on the Services You Provide!
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- Correct coding and billing for procedures using radiofrequency surgical techniques? – AMRS has the expertise!
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- Multiple procedures on the same day? – Knowing when to unbundle services!
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- Reporting Evaluation and Management codes in conjunction with office procedures? –Understand the guidelines!
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- Coding/billing for procedures performed in the post-operative period? – Don’t leave money on the table!
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nWe provide complete coding services including CPT, ICD-9, and HCPCS assignment, surgical coding, coding and documentation audits, and provider training. We also provide ICD-10 Training for Physicians and Staff! Our coders are certified through AAPC and AHIMA.n
After a FREE assessment*, there is no obligation — we will tell you if we can help you!
nWe have been doing this for years; we know where to look and the questions to ask.nnAllow us to quickly, professionally, and confidentially assess your practices’ revenue cycle. If we can help you we will let you know how, and why. If we can’t help, we will be straight up and tell you. You have nothing to lose and possibly a lot more reimbursement to gain! *Limited time offer through April 30, 2014.nnContact us today—ask for Jennifer Heuer! phone | email
Dec 6, 2013 | Uncategorized
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- Do you want to be paid more?
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- Do you want to be treated with respect by the payers?
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- Are you working harder, taking more business risk and getting paid less?
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Stop It! Work smarter not harder!
nAre physicians appropriately documenting and performing all of the elements required to meet medical necessity and get reimbursed for Mohs Micrographic surgeries?nnDoes your practice verify medical necessity of dermatologic procedures such as Botox injections prior to billing?nnDoes your billing department understand when it is appropriate to unbundle diagnostic and definitive procedural services to maximize reimbursement?nnAMRS Does! We KNOW the new rules, the regulations and the hoops to jump through to get you paid more!n
Billing and A/R Management Services – Dermatology Expertise!
nMohs Surgery, Lesion Excisions, Lesion Destruction, Dermabrasion, Botox and more!n
Coding Services – Maximize Revenue on the Services You Provide!
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- Multiple dermatologic procedures on the same day? – Knowing when to unbundle services!
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- For lesion excision, does your practice ensuring correct classification as benign or malignant prior to coding and billing? – Maximize your revenue!
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- Reporting Evaluation and Management codes in conjunction with office procedures? –Understand the guidelines!
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- Coding/billing for procedures performed in the post-operative period? – Don’t leave money on the table!
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- Coding for intermediate and complex repairs in conjunction with lesion excision? – AMRS has the expertise!
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nWe provide complete coding services including CPT, ICD-9, and HCPCS assignment, surgical coding, coding and documentation audits, and provider training. We also provide ICD-10 Training for Physicians and Staff! Our coders are certified through AAPC and AHIMA.n
After a FREE assessment*, there is no obligation — we will tell you if we can help you!
nWe have been doing this for years; we know where to look and the questions to ask.nnAllow us to quickly, professionally, and confidentially assess your practices’ revenue cycle. If we can help you we will let you know how, and why. If we can’t help, we will be straight up and tell you. You have nothing to lose and possibly a lot more reimbursement to gain! *Limited time offer through April 30, 2014.nnContact us today—ask for Jennifer Heuer! phone | email
Dec 6, 2013 | Uncategorized
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- Do you want to be paid more?
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- Do you want to be treated with respect by the payers?
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- Are you working harder, taking more business risk and getting paid less?
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Stop It! Work smarter not harder!
nDoes your practice maximize reimbursement for diagnostic and interventional cardiac procedures on the same date when appropriate?nDoes your practice verify medical necessity for cardiac imaging studies prior to billing? nDoes your practice know how to preauthorize and get paid for investigational procedures?nnAMRS Does! We KNOW the new rules, the regulations and the hoops to jump through to get you paid more!n
Billing and A/R Management Services – Cardiology Expertise!
nCardiology, Interventional Cardiology, Nuclear Cardiology, Electrophysiologyn
Coding Services – Maximize Revenue on the Services You Provide!
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- Certified Cardiology Coder on staff!
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- Multiple cardiac procedures on the same day? – Knowing when to unbundle services!
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- Coding/billing electrophysiology and ablative procedures in 2013? – Maximize your revenue!
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- Coding/billing for procedures performed in the post-operative period? – Don’t leave money on the table!
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- Coding interventional procedures for treatment of acute myocardial infractions versus chronic total occlusions? – AMRS has the expertise!
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nWe provide complete coding services including CPT, ICD-9, and HCPCS assignment, surgical coding, coding and documentation audits, and provider training. We also provide ICD-10 Training for Physicians and Staff! Our coders are certified through AAPC and AHIMA.n
After a FREE assessment*, there is no obligation — we will tell you if we can help you!
nWe have been doing this for years; we know where to look and the questions to ask.nnAllow us to quickly, professionally, and confidentially assess your practices’ revenue cycle. If we can help you we will let you know how, and why. If we can’t help, we will be straight up and tell you. You have nothing to lose and possibly a lot more reimbursement to gain! *Limited time offer through April 30, 2014.nnContact us today—ask for Jennifer Heuer! phone | email
Dec 6, 2013 | Uncategorized
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Do you want to be paid more?n
- Do you want to be treated with respect by the payers?
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- Are you working harder, taking more business risk and getting paid less?
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Stop It! Work smarter not harder!
nDoes your billing department understand the difference between CPT codes that differentiate between vertebral segment and interspace?nnDoes your billing department understand the difference between segmental vs. non-segmental spine procedures and how to code them appropriately?nnAre you capturing all additional levels for your spinal procedures?nnAMRS Does! We KNOW the new rules, the regulations and the hoops to jump through to get you paid more!n
Billing and A/R Management Services – A Decade of Spine Surgery Expertise!
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Coding Services – Maximize Revenue on the Services You Provide!
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- Multiple certified coders specializing in Spine surgery – Maximize your revenue!
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- Correct coding and billing for spine fusions and deformity corrections such as scoliosis? – AMRS has the expertise!
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- Correct coding and billing for laminectomy procedures (initial vs. revision vs. redo)? –AMRS has the expertise!
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- Understanding procedure “intents” and capturing all billable codes? – Maximize your revenue!
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- Coding/billing for procedures performed in the post-operative period? – Don’t leave money on the table!
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nWe provide complete coding services including CPT, ICD-9, and HCPCS assignment, surgical coding, coding and documentation audits, and provider training. We also provide ICD-10 Training for Physicians and Staff! Our coders are certified through AAPC and AHIMA.n
After a FREE assessment*, there is no obligation — we will tell you if we can help you!
nWe have been doing this for years; we know where to look and the questions to ask.nnAllow us to quickly, professionally, and confidentially assess your practices’ revenue cycle. If we can help you we will let you know how, and why. If we can’t help, we will be straight up and tell you. You have nothing to lose and possibly a lot more reimbursement to gain! *Limited time offer through April 30, 2014.nnContact us today—ask for Jennifer Heuer! phone | email
Nov 25, 2013 | Uncategorized
T26.11XA — Burn of cornea and conjunctival sac, right eye, initial encounternnT54.3X1A — Toxic effect of ammonia, accidental (unintentional), initial encounternnY93.E5 — Activity, floor mopping and cleaningnnIn 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!
Nov 25, 2013 | Uncategorized
nThis interactive and hands-on ICD-10 training is designed to prepare coders for the AAPC and AHIMA ICD-10 proficiency examinations. Participants will gain the tools they need to appropriately select ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS codes. These training sessions will be coder centric, and the content will be designed for those staff who will be responsible for applying (or verifying) these codes to documentation. Throughout the academy, participants will be given an assortment of scenarios to code to obtain the proficiency they need for coding in ICD-10.nnParticipants only needing ICD-10-CM training (physician and outpatient coding) should register for the first day of the academy only (Day 1).nnParticipants needing ICD-10-PCS training (hospital/inpatient coding) will need to register for the entire 3-day academy.n
Overview of ICD-10 Academy Agenda:
n(lunch, snacks and drinks will be provided each day)nn[twocol_one]ICD-10-CM (Day 1)nnnAHIMA-approved ICD-10-CM/PCS trainers will educate coding staff regarding ICD-10-CM with a focus on:n
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- Convention changes and additions
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- Concept changes and additions
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- Chapter specific guideline changes and additions
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- Live coding workshop
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n**This training has the approval of 8.0 CEU’s from the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) (AAPC members can submit these CEU’s to AAPC for credit)nn[/twocol_one] [twocol_one_last]ICD-10-PCS (Days 2 and 3)nnAHIMA-approved ICD-10-CM/PCS trainers will educate coding staff regarding ICD-10-PCS with a focus on:n
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- The structure of ICD-10-PCS text and codes
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- The definition and application of each root operation
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- The method by which an ICD-10-PCS code is selected
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- Live coding workshops
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n **This training has the approval of 16.0 CEU’s from the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) (AAPC members can submit these CEU’s to AAPC for credit)n
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Click here for detailed training agenda
n[toggle title_open=”Required Academy Materials:” title_closed=”Required Academy Materials:” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”]AHIMA ICD-10-CM Coder Training Manual and/or AHIMA ICD-10-PCS Coder Training Manual – Upon registration participants Training Manuals (CM only, or CM/PCS for 3 day training) will be ordered on their behalf – cost is $75.00 per training manual (discounted from $100.00 per manual) and will be added to the registration fee.nnContexo ICD-10-CM (Draft) and/or ICD-10-PCS (Draft) – Upon registration participants coding manuals (CM only, or CM/PCS for 3 day training) will be ordered on their behalf – cost is $90.00 per ICD-10 book and will be added to the registration fee. ($180.00 for both CM and PCS books for the 3 day training) (Discounted from $110.00 per book)nn**Book Pick-Up: In order for pre-requisites to be completed prior to the actual course date, participants will be required to pick up their books from 8am – 5pm, at Welter Healthcare Partners headquarters at 6870 W. 52nd Avenue, Suite 102, Arvada, CO 80002 on:n
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- Friday, February 28, 2014 – for the March Coder Academy
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- Friday, May 30, 2014 – for the June Coder Academy
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nIf you need to make alternative arrangements to pick up your books, please contact Jennifer at 303.534.0388.[/toggle]nn[toggle title_open=”Academy Pre-Requisites:” title_closed=”Academy Pre-Requisites:” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”][twocol_one]ICD-10-CM Only (day 1):nICD-10-CM Coder Training Manual: Pages 2-82; Reading and accompanying section review questions[/twocol_one] [twocol_one_last]ICD-10-CM-PCS (3 day academy):nICD-10-CM Coder Training Manual: Pages 2-82; Reading and accompanying section review questions and ICD-10-PCS Coder Training Manual: Pages 2-83; Reading and accompanying section review questions[/twocol_one_last][divider_flat][/toggle]nn[toggle title_open=”Academy Dates and Locations:” title_closed=”Academy Dates and Locations:” hide=”yes” border=”yes” style=”default” excerpt_length=”0″ read_more_text=”Read More” read_less_text=”Read Less” include_excerpt_html=”no”][threecol_one]Thornton, CO — REGISTRATION CLOSEDnFebruary 19-21, 2014n8:00am – 5:00pmnSpine Education & Research Instituten9005 Grant Street, Suite 100nThornton, CO 80229[/threecol_one] [threecol_one]Englewood, COnMarch 12-14, 2014n8:00am – 5:00pmn(On 3/13/14 training will be held from 9:00am – 6:00pm)nSwedish Medical Center – Pine B & C Conference Roomn501 E. Hampden AvenuenEnglewood, CO 80113[/threecol_one] [threecol_one_last]Thornton, COnJune 11-13, 2014n8:00am – 5:00pmnSpine Education & Research Instituten9005 Grant Street, Suite 100nThornton, CO 80229[/threecol_one_last][divider_flat] [/toggle]n
Academy Registration Fee:
nICD-10-CM Only (Day 1) – $275.00 per participant (plus $165.00 for the training manual and the ICD-10-CM book)nnICD-10-CM-PCS (3 Day Academy) – $800.00 per participant (plus $330.00 for the training manuals and the ICD-10-CM/PCS Books)n
Registration Discounts:
nPractices registering 3+ participants will receive $50.00 off each registration.n
Seating is limited, register now to guarantee your spot today!
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Click here for registration form
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Course Instructors:
nToni Woods, CPC and Whitney Horton, CPC, CCCnMs. Woods and Ms. Horton are AHIMA-Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainers. They are educators and trainers in the areas of ICD-10, physician documentation, Medicare coding and documentation guidelines, ambulatory medicine coding, hospital, and other facility coding and documentation. They work with physician practices of all specialties and are experts in analyzing chart documentation and in reengineering practices to enhance their reimbursement systems and processes, and overall increase revenue and profitability. Their goal is to empower physicians and health care professionals and staff to understand the language of the coding and billing world, and to give them the tools they need for successful reporting and reimbursement of their services. Ms. Woods and Ms. Horton are enthusiastic about the future of ICD-10 and are on the forefront of providing ICD-10-CM/PCS education and implementation processes.
Nov 18, 2013 | Uncategorized
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60.420A — Blister (nonthermal) of right index finger, initial encounternnS60.422A — Blister (nonthermal) of right middle finger, initial encounternnS60.424A — Blister (nonthermal) of right ring finger, initial encounternnW27.1XXA — Contact with garden tool, initial encounternnY93.H1 — Activity, digging, shoveling and rakingnnY92.017 — Garden or yard in single-family (private) house as the place of occurrence of the external cause
Nov 18, 2013 | Uncategorized
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- Do you want to be paid more?
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- Do you want to be treated with respect by the payers?
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- Are you working harder, taking more business risk and getting paid less?
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- Stop It! Work smarter not harder!
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nDoes your practice know how to preauthorize and get paid for investigational procedures such as Intacs?nDoes your billing department maximize reimbursement on unilateral and bilateral testing services?nDoes your billing department know when it is appropriate to unbundle Gonioscopy, Extended Ophthalmoscopy, and other office procedures to obtain maximum reimbursement?nnAMRS Does! We KNOW the new rules, the regulations and the hoops to jump through to get you paid more!n
Billing and A/R Management Services – 22 Years of Ophthalmology Expertise!
nGeneral, Retina, Cornea, Oculoplastics, Cataracts, Glaucoma, Neuro Ophthalmology – AMRS does it all and can increase your revenue!n
Coding Services – Maximize Revenue on the Services You Provide!
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- Multiple eye procedures on same day? – Knowing when to unbundle services!
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- Cataracts and YAG Lasers on same day? – Maximize your revenue!
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- Coding/billing for procedures performed in the post-operative period? – Don’t leave money on the table!
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- Complicated facial plastics and trauma coding and billing? – AMRS has the expertise!
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nWe provide complete coding services including CPT, ICD-9, and HCPCS assignment, surgical coding, coding and documentation audits, and provider training. We also provide ICD-10 Training for Physicians and Staff! Our coders are certified through AAPC and AHIMA.n
After a FREE assessment*, there is no obligation — we will tell you if we can help you!
nWe have been doing this for years; we know where to look and the questions to ask.nnAllow us to quickly, professionally, and confidentially assess your practices’ revenue cycle. If we can help you we will let you know how, and why. If we can’t help, we will be straight up and tell you. You have nothing to lose and possibly a lot more reimbursement to gain! *Limited time offer through January 31, 2014.nnContact us today—ask for Jennifer Heuer! phone | email
Nov 8, 2013 | Uncategorized
nS91.341A — Puncture wound with foreign body, right foot, initial encounternnW34.01XA — Accidental discharge of airgun, initial encounternnY93.89 — Activity, other specified — huntingnnY92.73 — Farm field as the place of occurrence of the external cause
Nov 8, 2013 | Uncategorized
Are you confident that you will pass a Medicare Meaningful Use audit if you’re selected?
nPrior to January 2013, CMS via the Figlozzi & Company firm has conducted meaningful use audits at random and only after the incentive money was distributed to the eligible provider. Since then Medicare providers who are eligible for the incentive money and those who have attested are subject to audits even before Medicare makes the incentive payment them!nnBe on the lookout for a letter from Figlozzi & Company (click here to see a sample letter). Eligible providers who receive this letter are required to submit the supporting or source documentation for the meaningful use attestation.nnBEFORE that happens, let Welter Healthcare Partners Meaningful Use Experts conduct a “mock audit” to determine your level of compliance, accuracy and preparedness. We can help you avoid the stress and headache of a real audit!nnIf you have successfully selected, purchased, implemented and are now utilizing a certified Electronic Health Record system meaningfully (according to CMS standards) and you have either already attested or you are about to attest to your achievements, we can give you peace of mind that your data is accurate and your practice and providers are in compliance.n
Contact us today for more information on our Meaningful Use Mock Audits!
Oct 31, 2013 | Uncategorized
S81.851A — Open bite, right lower leg, initial encounternnW51.01XA — Bitten by cat, initial encounternnY93.89 — Activity, other specified — trick-or-treatingnnY92.480 — Sidewalk as the place of occurrence of the external causennIn 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!
Oct 31, 2013 | Uncategorized
The ACA, declining and slow reimbursement, billing and coding challenges including the ICD-10 transition, ongoing changes in the healthcare landscape, new payment methodologies, etc. are all obstacles (and in some cases, opportunities!) that EVERY physician and healthcare organization is facing.nnAdvanced Medical Revenue Specialists (AMRS) is your complete Revenue Management Service and a leading provider of Billing, Coding and Revenue Cycle Management services for practices across the country. AMRS can increase your revenue and provide unique expertise, knowledge, and experience in the healthcare arena. AMRS provides complete revenue management for the following specialties:n
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- Orthopedics including Spine
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- OB/GYN
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- Neurosurgery
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- General Surgery
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- Cardiology and Interventional Cardiology
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- Ophthalmology including General, Surgical including refractive surgery, Retina, Cataracts, Cornea, and Oculoplastics – WE HAVE OVER 20 YEARS OF EXPERTISE IN CODING, BILLING, A/R and REVENUE MANAGEMENT for Ophthalmologic practices! We know the tricks of the trade!
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- Dermatology
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- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
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nAMRS is not just another medical billing service! AMRS’ services encompass the entire revenue cycle management for your practice! Let AMRS simplify your practice and deliver the financial results you deserve!n
Coding Services – Maximize Revenue on the Services You Provide!
nWe provide complete coding services including CPT, ICD-9, and HCPCS assignment, surgical coding, coding and documentation audits, and provider training. We also provide ICD-10 Training for Physicians, Hospitals and Staff!n
Payer Relationship Management – Managed Care Contracting and Credentialing Services:
nIn the ever-changing managed care world, with new lines of business, new amendments and new payment methodologies frequently hitting your desk, it is crucial to have knowledge and information at all times. Like the game of chess, in order to be successful you need to plan ahead and make strategic decisions. We provide complete independent research and strategic assistance with managed care contracting issues.nnFailure to stay on top of provider credentialing requirements, incomplete applications, or a failure to respond to requests can create a domino effect of negative actions including disruptions in your cash flow, claims denials, and improper reimbursement that your practice simply cannot afford. Our dedicated credentialing department will keep your providers and practice on track!n
What Makes AMRS Unique:
nWe are a Complete Revenue Service – we understand the nuts and bolts of all reimbursement issues!nnFlexible to Meet YOUR Needs! We work off multiple billing and EMR systems and will create a custom arrangement that fits your practice perfectly!nnCPC’s and AHIMA-Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS on staff! More than 50% of our staff are Certified Coders to help ensure your charges and payments are maximized!nnComplete Management of the Landscape of Healthcare! Our healthcare knowledge is full-circle. We will be your partner in strategy, growth, and development!nnWant increased revenue and profitability? What’s in your wallet?n
Contact us today for a free consultation!
Oct 28, 2013 | Uncategorized
The transition to ICD-10 will cost healthcare organizations and providers in a number of ways, not just in dollars and cents.nn“The cost is not necessarily in dollars,” says Sandra Macica, MS, RHIA, CCS, ROCC, product specialist for the Revenue Cycle, Coding and Compliance at MC Strategies, a segment of Elsevier. “It’s cost of time, too. Some of our clients over a year ago mapped out three hours of training a week, starting over a year ago. It’s not real dollars per se, but it’s the time that they’re having to take away from the job that they already have to do in order to learn the new coding.”nnThat’s not to say that financial resources are any less significant in terms of the cost associated with moving to ICD-10. Costs can escalate if it is determined that staff requires different forms of education. Limited budgets can easily become strained.nn“Learners don’t always learn one best way,” Macica explains. “Some people want online learning because then everyone has access to it, and other folks still want another component where they have actual live training with the speaker in front of the students, or combinations such.”nnWhile it’s common to look at leading healthcare organizations for examples of best practices, it’s not necessarily possible for other healthcare organizations and providers to follow their models.nnTake, for instance, one hospital that Macica is working with which is in the process of implementing dual coding.nn“They feel it’s necessary and certainly that would put them way more ahead of anyone else,” she observes. “But that surely is going to take a whole lot more time, and it might only be where they do a couple records or maybe want to date or just a few a week. At least they’re starting it. I don’t know what the investment in that is, but it certainly seems like a huge one.”nnIn the end, those required to be complaint with ICD-10 by Oct. 1, 2014, need to use whatever resources they have to get their affected staff some form of hands-on training. “Without actually working with it — you can read books you can listen to people talk and you can do lessons — but until you actually try to do it yourself (those were actual workers in the trenches), that’s where you see where you’re going to run into your issues,” argues Macica.nnAccording to Macica, that’s where you get to the heart of the matter. ICD-10 is a new experience for the industry. There is no history lesson to turn to. In this end, it comes down to be practical. “That’s not there right now, those support systems, so you just have to rely on commonsense sometimes,” she says.nnSource: www.ehrintelligence.com; Kyle Murphy, September 26, 2013.nn
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CHIEF ICD-10 Implementation Plan: 5 Steps to Success!( for Physicians and Outpatient Coding)
nAs your CHIEF trainer for ICD-10, we will guide your practice and providers through the implementation process to help ensure your practice is ready on October 1, 2014! Our AHIMA-Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS trainers will utilize the CHIEF ICD-10 Implementation Plan, and work closely with your providers, coders, billers, and other staff through each step of the implementation and training process.n
Click Here To Request A Formal Proposal For ICD-10 Training
nSave 10% off your total ICD-10 training cost when you sign up for the CHIEF ICD-10 Implementation Plan by November 15, 2013!
Oct 28, 2013 | Uncategorized
S02.2XXA – Fracture of nasal bones, initial encounter for closed fracturennW18.39XA – Other fall on same level, initial encounternnY93.B2 – Activity, push-ups, pull-ups, sit-upsnnY92.39 – Other specified sports and athletic area as the place of occurrence of the external causennY99.8 – Other external cause statusnnIn 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!n
Oct 11, 2013 | Uncategorized
CHIEF ICD-10 Implementation Plan: 5 Steps to Success!( for Physicians and Outpatient Coding)
nAs your CHIEF trainer for ICD-10, we will guide your practice and providers through the implementation process to help ensure your practice is ready on October 1, 2015! Our AHIMA-Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS trainers will utilize the CHIEF ICD-10 Implementation Plan, and work closely with your providers, coders, billers, and other staff through each step of the implementation and training process.nnStep 1: Collect data for your top 25 diagnosis codes (50 for Orthopedics!) and review your providers’ (physicians and mid-levels) current documentation to assess ICD-10 readiness. This step will also include forward-mapping of your top diagnosis codes with ICD-10 cheat-sheets for the providers and staff.nnStep 2: Highlight areas of needed training for your coding and billing staff. We will utilize your top diagnosis codes data and documentation reviews performed in step 1, and provide a 4 hour intensive, hands-on training and workshop for your coders and billers. We will also formulate a strategic plan for your coders and billers to continue the review and education process with the providers until the implementation date. CEU’s for your certified coders are given for this training!nnStep 3: Implement intensive provider training:nnProvider Training #1: A specialty-specific general overview of ICD-10 for all providers (2 hour group training).nnProvider Training #2: One-on-one education with each of the providers (1 hour per provider) to assess their ICD-10 readiness using results from the documentation reviews performed in step 1, and practical tips on how to improve documentation going forward. We recommend that your coding and/or billing staff participate in these one-on-one trainings so they are comfortable continuing the review and education process with the providers until the implementation date.nnStep 4: Evaluate EHR, PM, and Clearinghouse readiness. On your behalf we will prepare a “System(s) Readiness Guide” and query vendors on their readiness and routinely provide materials and updates on vendor status to help ensure your revenue stream will not be affected by this transition. We will also provide your staff with a plan to follow up on targeted vendor deadlines.nnStep 5: Follow-up provider ICD-10 documentation reviews and additional provider training. Final consultation with your staff on system and vendor readiness.n
ICD-10 Training – List of Medical Specialties:
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- Cardiology
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- Dermatology
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- ENT
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- GI/General Surgery
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- Neurology/Neurosurgery
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- OBGYN
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- Oncology/Hematology
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- Ophthalmology
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- Orthopedic Spine
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- Orthopedics
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- Primary Care/Internal Medicine/Pediatrics
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- Public Health/Title X
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- Urology
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nAdditional ICD-10 Services and Products:nnStaff Augmentation: Pre and Post Implementation Support – avoid frustration! Welter Healthcare Partners’s coding department can assist your practice by catching up coding back-logs prior to the ICD-10 implementation deadline (catch up on ICD-9 coding) and assist with increased workloads during initial period after implementation. We are here to help you stay on track! Reserve ICD-10-CM and PCS trained coders now!nn[gravityform id=”9″ name=”ICD-10 Training Formal Proposal”]
Oct 11, 2013 | Uncategorized
S92.411A — Displaced fracture of proximal phalanx of right great toe, initial encounter for closed fracturennW20.8XXA — Other cause of strike by thrown, projected or falling object, initial encounternnY93.E6 — Activity, residential relocationnnY92.014 — Private driveway to single-family (private) house as the place of occurrence of the external causennIn 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!
Sep 20, 2013 | Uncategorized
Todd Welter laughs about it now. When first approached about offering his “Fundamentals of Managed Care” course online for students in Regis’ Division of Health Services Administration, he admits he was resistant.nn”Back then – it seems kind of silly nowadays – I thought teaching online was just a fad,” said Welter, an affiliate faculty member. “It’s amazing how fast that has taken off.”nnNow more than 10 years into teaching his signature course and more than 75 percent of that time teaching it online, he can’t imagine it any other way.nnWelter’s teaching philosophy is simple: Engage online students no differently than those in a campus-based class. He maintains regular contact by jumping online frequently throughout the day, responding promptly to questions and making himself available away from the computer – whether by phone or even in-person to work through material face to face.nnClass discussions are still energetic. Personal attention is still a focal point. And everyone, Welter included, comes away from each session learning something new.nnStudents also gain the benefit of his more than 25 years of health care industry experience. He is president and founder of Welter Healthcare Partners, Inc., which works with providers, hospitals, public health agencies and other facilities around the world on the business side of health care. Welter, who earned a Master of Science in Organization Leadership and Management, credits his own Regis education with helping him see the big picture, think outside the box and find solutions. Those skills are what give Regis graduates an edge in the job market and help them excel in a field that is exploding with opportunity, including the ability to join in efforts to move health care forward, he said.nn”I am part of changing health care,” he said. “And I want to drag students into it. I want to tell them, ‘Get in the storm and be part of the change.'”nnConnect and find out how Regis can position you as a change agent in health care.n
Click Here To Learn More
nSource: www.regis.edu; 2013.
Sep 12, 2013 | Uncategorized
The U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) announced on Thursday that Medicare will begin accepting a revised CMS-1500 form (version 02/12) on January 6, 2014.nnEmbedded in this is a requirement for some healthcare IT vendors to start supporting a component of the International Classification of Diseases version 10 (ICD-10) earlier than the anticipated October 1, 2014 date.n
Starting April 1, 2014, Medicare will accept only the revised version of the form. The revised form will give HIPAA Covered Entities who are health care providers the ability to indicate whether they are using ICD-9 or ICD-10 diagnosis codes, which is important as the October 1, 2014, transition approaches. Effectively this means that any healthcare IT system that adjudicates, submits, or reports on claims data that was scheduled to be compliant as of October 1, 2014 with ICD-10 must actually comply with a component of the ICD-10 requirements related to claims data as early as of April 1, 2014.
nICD-9 codes must be used for services provided before October 1, 2014, while ICD-10 codes should be used for services provided on or after October 1, 2014. The revised form also allows for additional diagnosis codes, expanding from 4 possible codes to 12. ICD-10 CM must be used for all diagnosis for both inpatient and outpatient claims. ICD-10 PCS must be used for all inpatient procedures.nnOnly providers who qualify for exemptions from electronic submission may submit the CMS-1500 Claim Form to Medicare. For those providers who use service vendors, CMS encourages them to check with their service vendors to determine when they will switch to the new form.nnICD-10 promises to introduce better information to improve the quality of healthcare by providing more granular data on the condition of the patient, how the patient acquired a condition, how the patient was treated for the condition and why. This in turn it is hoped, will improve population health management and other components of healthcare.nnAt the same time ICD-10 is viewed as disruptive because it requires a re-write of healthcare IT systems, processes, and substantial re-training of medical coders, billing personnel, physicians, and other clinical staff.nnFrom a financial perspective ICD-10 introduces a new payment paradigm including opportunities for improved reimbursement and potential risks of decreased reimbursement for HIPAA Covered Entities who do not carefully examine the nuances of the ICD-9 to ICD-10 transition.nnHIPAA Covered Entities and healthcare IT vendors who are building test plans must take this into consideration as they plan for the ICD-10 transition.n
Online ICD-10 specialty-specific provider training modules coming soon!nContact us for more details.
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On-site, custom ICD-10 training for staff and providers – book your ICD-10 trainer now!
nSource: www.govhealthit.com; Michael F Arrigo; September 6, 2013.
Sep 12, 2013 | Uncategorized
S93.411A – Sprain of calcaneofibular ligament of right ankle, initial encounter.nnW03.XXXA – Other fall on same level due to collision with another person, initial encounter.nnY93.61 – Activity, American tackle football.nnY92.126 – Garden or yard of nursing home as the place of occurrence of the external cause.
Sep 4, 2013 | Uncategorized
For the ICD-10 transition to be successful, there will need to be a huge effort on the part of medical coders, IT staff, and physicians to put all the pieces together. However, the new code set also presents an opportunity for healthcare organizations to make some big-picture decisions about the future of data governance and the role of healthcare analytics. 2011 AHIMA President Bonnie Cassidy, MPA, RHIA, FAHIMA, FHIMSS, Senior Director of HIM Innovation for Nuance, sat down with EHRintelligence to explain how the ICD-10 decisions you make now can affect your organization in the months and years after October 1, 2014.n
What are you seeing right now as providers work towards ICD-10 readiness?
nOne of the things I’m seeing a lot is a focus on contingency planning. In the work plans or roadmaps, if the organization didn’t allow for contingency planning, they’re now realizing that it’s really something that’s very important. There’s a domino effect. If you find out that you didn’t address something that is critical to the mission or there’s a wrinkle in the plan, they must ask themselves: what did you do to allow for a contingency? It’s like business disaster planning. Maybe one of the vendors went out of business. Or maybe you never approached all of your payers. Whatever the case may be, good contingency planning is an important element to building a strong ICD-10 transition plan.nnProviders are also finding out about all of the challenges of working with payers or working with the vendors while they’re addressing everything that has to do with making sure that all their ducks are in a row for ICD-10 readiness. If one of those is out of alignment, it can disrupt your whole plan. Business partners, business associate agreements, IT vendors, contracts…all of those things need to be built in and accounted for in your contingency plan.n
What are some of the things providers and hospitals need to focus on right now?
nThe whole concept of information technology (IT) testing is going to be significant. It’s been announced that CMS will not be conducting testing for providers and payers, so I think there’s a renewed energy around the concept of testing. A lot of organizations are delaying it because they have underestimated the amount of time that it will take to thoroughly and properly evaluate and test their systems. It is a huge effort and many organizations haven’t even gotten to the point of thinking about it. But if you think about all of the systems and all of the databases that have to convert from ICD-9 to ICD-10, you have to test everything because you need to see if the data will flow. You need to prioritize what those systems are, and build separate test databases so you’re not disrupting your actual live transactions.nnDo you have a Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI) program? If you do, what is the goal and focus of the program? You need to do an evaluation, a gap analysis, of your current CDI program –what is your ideal result, and what’s falling in between? You should really look at your specialties, your physician population, and your patient population to see what you need to focus on. You have to get laser focused on your own patient population so you know what your top 25 DRG codes are, and you know what’s missing in your education and documentation. You already know what areas are going to be important to you. If you had to switch to ICD-10 today, you can predict where the trouble spots will be. That’s what CDI programs need to shift to right now.nnYou most likely also need to have more physician champions to get your physicians practicing the behaviors they need for ICD-10. That means you’re either hiring or contracting with physician consultants or finding physician champions in your organization. In order to do that education in your CDI program, you’ll need to think about what each specialty really needs to know. Physicians communicate best with each other, so physician-to-physician communication is your best strategy for enhancing your CDI program.nnThe other thing to focus on is your own staff. Have you really thought about what happens if one of your key players leaves the organization? The employee retention program is important. Be certain that you’ve really worked with human resources and established a program to retain your talented resources. Who are your critical success individuals?nnIf you spend all that investment in getting your coders educated and trained, as well as your clinical documentation improvement (CDI) staff, but you didn’t make the investment in an employee retention program, with the law of supply and demand, we’re going to have major capacity concerns. If those people leave, you might be left without the right staff to get the job done.n
Is there anything that looks like it might be forgotten in the implementation rush?
nICD-10-PCS coding for ambulatory surgery. Have you made a decision in your organization about what you’re going to do with ambulatory surgery? Are you going to code ICD-10-PCS for your procedures even though we know we only have to code CPT? The reason I introduce that under clinical documentation improvement is that CDI traditionally is not in the ambulatory setting.nnBecause of the need for very specific documentation in ambulatory surgery, if you’re going to use that for ICD-10 on the diagnosis side or the PCS side, you will then have clinical documentation requirements that are far more specific in ICD-10 than they are in CPT. You will probably need a CDI effort in that regard, because otherwise you won’t have enough information to code in ICD-10. You’ll have enough for CPT, but you won’t get the specificity necessary for ICD-10.nnMany people ask, “Well, why would I want to do that if the only thing that’s required is CPT?” But that connects to the overarching goal of analytics. If you want to be a progressive organization, you need to embark on something that allows you to have better information for analytics. You then will be a step ahead of the game because you’ll have that ICD-10 data in addition to your CPT data.nnAs we know, the world’s going to go from inpatient to ambulatory with the focus on outcomes and chronic disease management. So that’s going to be another push for CDI, but it’s also a huge organizational decision. It’s very much a strategic decision if you’re focused on your own data analytics in the future.n
Online ICD-10 specialty-specific provider training modules coming soon!nContact us for more details.
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On-site, custom ICD-10 training for staff and providers – book your ICD-10 trainer now!
nSource: www.ehrintelligence.com; Jennifer Bresnick; August 26, 2013.
