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Medical Appointment Scheduling
2009-07-30 10:12:00
Proper management of the medical appointment scheduling process contributes to the betterment of a medical practice in terms of efficiency and economy. It is a fact that many medical practitioners have entered the medical profession not just for the satisfaction of bettering the health of a number of patients but because of the great monetary gains. Streamlining of the appointment scheduling process would ensure that the healthcare provider can spend more time with the patients, increasing patient satisfaction and revenue.Outsourcing - An Oft Preferred Option There are several medical establishments which approach medical outsourcing companies with the request to handle their medical appointment scheduling. If the scheduling is outsourced, it costs less that doing it in-house. Moreover, outsourcing saves considerable time. The medical outsourcing companies would use their own software or work with the client's medical scheduling software. They manage the scheduling efficiently an...
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2008 European Outsourcing Summit in Spain
2008-02-20 06:53:00
International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP), with 40,000 corporate, professional, and associate members worldwide, is leading the effort to transform the world of business through outsourcing. IAOP in association with FORTUNE Custom Projects is once again presenting The 2008 European Outsourcing Summit to be held in October, 2008 at Barcelona, Spain . It is designed to specifically meet the educational and business development needs of outsourcing professionals in Europe by connecting the best in global insights to the very real differences in how companies across Europe approach outsourcing.The last European conference was The 2004 European Outsourcing Summit, held in June, 2004. Do remember that the coming Europeon Summit is not a trade show. It is an educational conference keynoted by top business, academic, and government leaders, complemented by dozens of in-depth breakout sessions and case studies for customers and providers.Take a look at the schedule of even...

Hematology 2008 Coding and Reimbursement Conference at Denver
2008-02-20 05:27:00
The Coding Institute will conduct the Hematology Coding & Reimbursement Conference from April 13-15, 2008 at Denver , Colorado. Find below the different topics that will be dealt at the conference.Pre-Conference Workshops (Sunday, April 13th) Back to Basics: Gather These Nuts & Bolts of Oncology CodingConference Day 1: Main Sessions (Monday, April 14th)Ready, Get Set, COLLECT! Increase Your Charge Capture For Oncology DrugsNavigating the Neoplasm Table: Simple Strategies Every Coder Should KnowTune in on Stereotactic Radiosurgery CodingStay on Top of New ESA Rules Solid Solutions for Serious Oncology/Hematology Reimbursement LeaksDig Into Brachytherapy Coding to Get Every Penny You DeserveDon't Get Stuck With Phlebotomy and Blood Draw ConfusionConference Day 2: Main Sessions (Tuesday, April 15th) Become an Infusion Suites Coding Guru! Capitalize on Your NPP's Services Plump Up Your Ambulatory Pump PayPost-Conference Workshop (Tuesday, April 15th)Doc. About Your Documen...

The Importance of Medical Coding /Billing
2008-02-20 04:24:00
Why medical coding has become so important today? Well, for the simple reason that one must be able to recognize/identify and then appropriately bill every single medical service that has been offered. Let me give a similar and more familiar example for the layman. Whenever we get into a supermarket there are so many different sections in there that we walk into. From grocery to books to dresses, all we need to do is just pick up things and put them into our shopping cart. With so many different items and rates how is the billing managed? We soon realize that it is the barcode stickers on each item that store the entire story of the different item inside the supermarket and all the cashier needs to do is just scan each item. As he scans the rates / and all the other required details of all those product that we picked up is automatically incorporated calculated by the computer as our final bill is generated.It is very similar with medical coding and billing. Before the bill is prepa...
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HIMMS Annual Conference
2008-02-18 07:35:00
The Annual HIMSS (Health Information and Management Systems Society) Conference and Exhibition is recognized as one of the world's largest and most respected healthcare IT exhibitions. Founded in 1961 with offices in Chicago, Washington D.C., Brussels, and other locations across the United States and Europe, HIMSS represents more than 20,000 individual members and over 300 corporate members that collectively represent organizations employing millions of people. Over 900 companies will exhibit at the conference.This year's HIMSS O8 Annual Conference and Exhibition will be held from February 24-28 at Orlando, Orange County Convention Center.As Collin Brack, the Manager, Software Systems Programming The University of Texas Medical Branch has to say, " The Annual Conference has a wealth of information, from the nuts and bolts of electronic medical records to emerging trends in healthcare IT, topics that are important for healthcare professionals all the way up to the CIO level."Here i...

Specialty Credentials for Medical Coding Professionals
2008-02-18 05:28:00
The AAPC (American Association Professional of Coders) now offers specialty coding credentials for coding professionals like CPCs, CPC-Hs, CPC-Ps, CCSs, CCS-Ps, RHIT and MDs who are already working. This certification will help them move to new specialty area or prove their worth in any specialty discipline. Even though there are no prerequisite years of experience required for eligibility to take the examination, one must always remember that these are difficult high level examinations.These are the different specialty areas,Anesthesia - ANEST Cardiology - CARDIO Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery - CTS E/M Auditor - E/M Family Practice Medicine - FP Gastroenterology - GI General Surgery - GENSG Internal Medicine - INTMED Obstetrics/Gynecology - OBGYN Orthopaedics - ORTHO Pediatrics - PEDS Plastics and Reconstructive Surgery - PLRS More details are available at http://www.aapc.com/certification/special ty-credentials.aspxHere is the link to the coding examination information and ap...
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US Health Care Is Poised to Get Better
2008-02-16 07:45:00
One is for sure! Health care in this country is going to get better in the future than it is today. Even though there is a difference of opinion between the people in the US, as to whether there should be a Universal Health Care system in place or not. For the past few years this has been a core issue and has been a hot topic of discussion and debate. It will also influence voters to determine as to who is going to be the next American President. There are some who believe that the term Universal Health Care itself has to be analyzed and defined well before using it. Anyway, what are the main factors that have to be looked into when we discuss our current healthcare system? Well, clearly they are,Should every citizen have access to health care?Control of medical expensesHealth care qualityHere are a few links I came across that discuss on whether to have a Universal healthcare system its pros and cons:http://www.pnhp.org/http://www.u2kca mpaign.org/http://www.uhcan.org/http://ww w.peak...

2008 Coding Manuals
2008-02-16 03:38:00
The Naples based Coding Institute has published the following Coding manuals. These how-to manuals are easy to read, and specifically tailored for selecting the appropriate codes each time. These manuals will help in making your coding compliant without struggle. Chapters are packed with practical tips, strategies and tricks of the trade that one can try immediately to and benefit.So here is just the list of the manuals.For details/availability on each of these manuals do go to http://codinginstitute.com/books/index.ht ml 2008 Modifier Coding Survival Guide2008 Part B Coder's Rule Book2008 Cardiology Coder's Survival Guide2008 E/M Coder: Professional Edition2008 Gastroenterology Coder's Survival Guide2008 General Surgery Coder's Survival Guide2008 Orthopedic Surgery Coder's Survival Guide2008 Primary Care Coder's Survival Guide2008 Urology Coder's Survival Guide2008 CPT Implementation Guide2008 ICD-9 Update GuideOutsource Strategies International (OSI) is an Oklahoma based med...
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Medical Billing and Insurance Fraud
2008-02-15 07:57:00
Insurance fraud is defined as any act committed with the intent to fraudulently obtain payment from an insurer. A big chunk of the total claims received by insurers are fraudulent claims that run into billions of dollars annually. Health Insurance fraud is today a very serious problem and a great challenge, as it has proved to be very costly to America's health-care system.Just last week two New York based doctors were convicted of defrauding 60 insurance companies and a city transit agency of at least $15 million through clinic billing scams and were sentenced to be behind bars. Refer to the news article,http://www.amny.com/news/local/ny -bc-ny--medicalbillingsca0211feb11,0,4371 23.story?track=rss It is now evident that our Public healthcare programs such as Medicare and Medicaid are especially conducive to fraudulent activities, as they are often run on a fee-for-service structure.Dishonest Physicians and healthcare providers are also known to engage in fraudulent activities that i...
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Certified Medical Coding Professionals Get Better Salary
2008-02-15 06:28:00
The AAPC (American Association of Professional Coders) had conducted a survey (for the year 2007) questioning 5155 professional coders and the results clearly revealed the fact that certified coders earn an average of 17 percent more than theirnon-certified counterparts.The survey revealed the range of salary today for the 3 different categories of coding professionals;Noncertified coders earn (on average) $25K-$30KCertified coders earn $30K-$35KSpecialty certified coders earn $35K-$40K Here are some more facts that the survey indicated;41 percent of coding positions are closed to non-certified codersSpecialty coders get the most pay.Only one percent of non-certified coders took home over $85,000.Coding professionals from urban locations earned more than suburban or rural locations.More years of experience means more earningsGraduate coders earn more than non graduate codersMore details of the survey can be seen at,http://www.aapc.com/documents/Salary _S urvey2007.pdfFor details on di...
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American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC)
2008-02-14 04:37:00
AAPC or The American Academy of Professional Coders is an organization that is responsible for offering medical coders with credentials. These medical coders could be working in hospitals, surgical centers, physician's offices or in payer organization. It is the "Code of Ethics" that is followed by all the AAPC members that ensures a high level of professionalism.Founded in 1988 the AAPC has a global, worldwide membership of over 64,000 out of which over 50,000 are certified. AAPC certifications are gold standard for medical coding and include these three certifications,Certified Professional Coder (CPC)Certified Professional Coder-Hospital (CPC-H)Certified Professional Coder-Payer (CPC-P)The AAPC has three types of memberships. They are individual memberships, student memberships and also corporate memberships that are for those companies who have more than six AAPC members. What are the benefits of becoming an AAPC member? They include access to coding information, education, net...

Oncology 2008 Medical Coding Conference in Denver
2008-02-14 02:57:00
The Coding Institute will conduct the oncology coding and reimbursement conference from April 13-15, 2008 at Denver , Colorado. Check out the website for the complete agenda: http://www.codingconferences.com/oncology 08a.htmHere is the just the list of topics that will be covered at the conference:Pre-Conference Workshops (Sunday, April 13th)Back to Basics: Gather These Nuts & Bolts of Oncology CodingConference Day 1: Main Sessions (Monday, April 14th)Ready, Get Set, COLLECT! Increase Your Charge Capture for Oncology DrugsNavigating the Neoplasm Table: Simple Strategies Every Coder Should KnowStay on Top of New ESA RulesSolid Solutions for Serious Oncology/Hematology Reimbursement LeaksDig Into Brachytherapy Coding to Get Every Penny You DeserveDon't Get Stuck With Phlebotomy and Blood Draw ConfusionConference Day 2: Main Sessions (Tuesday, April 15th)Capitalize on Your NPP's ServicesPlump Up Your Ambulatory Pump PayPost-Conference Workshop (Tuesday, April 15th)About Your Docume...
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Benefits and Features of Medical Billing Software
2008-02-13 07:45:00
Medical billing and coding processes having become a mandatory part of the regular medical insurance claim process, irrespective of whether it is from private / government insurance company, Medicare/Medicaid etc. Due to the ever rising need for health care triggered by the increase in the percentage of the aging population, one can be assured that medical billing and coding is going to be an active profession. Today,there are many types and brands of medical billing software that have developed and used in the market.But, what are the benefits of having electronic medical billing software? Well, the foremost reason of course is because the software will speed up the actual work and greatly improve our work efficiency. The medical billing software can have some or all of the following features and assist us to do the following;Generate faster and better medical claimsLesser errors in billing Can generate variety of reports at one timeCustomizable reporting Windows based environmentE...
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Registered Medical Transcriptionists Credential
2008-02-13 05:04:00
What is RMT? It is a voluntary lower/entry level "Registered Medical Transcriptionist" credential offered by AHDI. The advanced level credential is the CMT or the Certified Medical Transcriptionist. What was the purpose of having such an examination and credential? The RMT exam was developed to assure consumers and employers that successful candidates are qualified to practice medical transcription and based on the skills and knowledge described in the AHDI Model Job Description Level 1 MT and the competencies outlined in the AHDI Model Curriculum. The RMT credential is maintained upon the successful completion of a required online course, including a final exam, and payment of a renewal fee. The AHDI also offers different training programs beside these credentials. Who is eligible for this exam? Recent Graduates MTs with less than 2 years experienceMTs practicing any single medical specialtyThe testing process consists of testing of both medical transcription-related knowledge item...
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Cardiology Specialty Coding Extravaganza 2008
2008-02-13 02:55:00
The Cardiology track of the 6th Annual Specialty Coding extravaganza meet is scheduled for February 13-14 in Orlando . This is a good opportunity to listen to cardiology coding pro Linda Gates-Striby as she is sure to take your cardiology coding knowledge to a higher level. She will focus on the following topics:Caths and interventions: Get the first-ever opportunity to code along with actual case movies of cardiac catheterizations and interventions from an actual cath lab, so you can see the procedure and code it with her hands-on supervision. Remote device monitoring: Increased utilization of Internet device checks because of device recalls put your coding for these services under Medicare and private payer microscopes. Learn how your frequencies compare to others, find out how to document your medical necessity for the increased visits, and learn just what is a reasonable frequency for pacemaker checks (which have coding guidelines) and ICD checks (that don't). Cardiac CTA: Get t...
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Pain Management Billing
2008-02-12 07:38:00
Pain management or pain medicine is about getting relief from physical pain. There are two basic types of pain, acute and chronic. The patients for acute pain often have a reversible cause while chronic pain is more difficult and takes longer to be diagnosed and reverse. What are the different treatments given for pain and how are these drugs billed? Pain management practitioners come from all fields of medicine. The pain fellowship trained physicians can be anesthesiologists, neurologists, physiatrists or psychiatrists. Treatments include, prescriptions like,Analgesics Narcotics NSAIDs Pain modifiers Tricyclic antidepressants AnticonvulsantsSteroidsTrigger point injectionsNeurolytic blocksSpine stimulatorsIntrathecal drug delivery system implantInterventional procedures, Physical therapy Physical exercise Application of ice/heat Psychological measures Biofeedback Cognitive TherapyWhat are the properties that a pain management billing company must have? Well they include, good codin...
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Dermatology 2008 Coding Conference in San Antonio
2008-02-12 03:27:00
The Dermatology Coding & Reimbursement Conference 2008 will be conducted by the Coding Institute on March 18th at San Antonio , Texas. Following is the list of topics that will be discussed at the conference.Conference: Main Sessions (Tuesday, March 18th)9:00am - 10:00am Heal Payment Leaks with Air-Tight Wound Repair CodingPresenter: Terri Brame, CPC-GENSG, CPC-H10:00am - 11:00am Successfully Maneuver Through Coding and Billing For Breast Excisions, Incisions, And BiopsiesPresenter: Nanette Orme, CPC11:00am - 11:15am Refreshment Break 11:15am - 12:15pm Defect-Free Coding For Skin Lesion ExcisionsPresented by: Nanette Orme, CPCPost-Conference Workshop (Tuesday, March 18th)2:30pm - 4:30pm Schedule Fundamentals: Using the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule DatabasePresented by: Marcella Bucknam, CPC, CCS-P, CPC-H, CCS, CPC-P, CPC-OBGYN, CPC-CARDIORegistrations for the conference is available at http://www.codingconferences.com/dermatol ogy08r.htmDetails about stay in Hotels and the spec...

Medical Billing / Coding and SADMERC
2008-02-11 06:12:00
Medical billing always requires adherence to proper coding and other procedures so that the insurance medical claim process is simplified. So what is SADMERC? Well, it refers to The Statistical Analysis Durable Medical Equipment Regional Carrier. It is a national entity that provides services under contract to the CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services). It's Reports and Analysis Unit provides data analysis support to the Durable Medical Equipment (DME) and Program Safeguard Contractors (PSCs).Thus, SADMERC is a liaison between medical suppliers, manufacturers, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to determine which Level II HCPCS codes work best for Medicare-reimbursed DMEPOS (Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics , Orthotics, and Supplies). CMS instructs the different manufacturers/suppliers to contact the SADMERC HCPCS units to get the proper codes and prices for items. SADMERC also performs a variety of national pricing functions for DMEPOS services b...
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Level II HCPCS Medical Coding
2008-02-11 03:52:00
Commonly pronounced as Hick-Picks, the HCPCS (The Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System) provides a standard coding system by describing all details of health care that is delivered. Medical coding of this kind is required by all health insurance programs including Medicare and Medicaid and has become a mandatory procedure today for being HIPAA compliant.There are two levels of HCPCS codes. While the Level I is numeric and consist of the American Medical Association's Current Procedural Terminology (CPT), the Level II codes are alphanumeric, and includes all the non-physician services such as ambulance services, prosthetic devices etc. The CPT codes basically identify medical services and procedures furnished by physicians and other health care professionals.Level II HCPCS coding are representing the different items, supplies, non-physician services that are not covered by the CPT-4 codes. It is a standardized system that classifies similar products that are medical in nature i...

Medical Billing by Non Physician Practitioners (NPP)
2008-02-09 07:47:00
Who are the Non-Physician Practitioners and can they also bill the patients? Well by non physicians we are referring to the,Physician Assistants (PA)Nurse Practitioners (NP)Yes they can also bill the patient. There are two concepts in billing here. They are,Direct method - Here the PA or NP is provided a unique number and services are billed under the non-physician practitioner's name itself.Incident-to billing method - Here service is provided under a physician's supervision and billing is in the Physician's name. What are the criteria for an "incident-to" billing? According to Medicare Manual, the PA or NP services may be billed "incident-to" a physician's care if they are:An integral, although incidental part of the physician's professional service.Commonly rendered without charge or included in the physician's bill.Of a type commonly furnished in physicians' office or clinics.Furnished by the Physician or by auxiliary personnel under the physician's direct supervision. A...
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Medicaid Medical Billing
2008-02-09 04:46:00
Medicaid is the United States health program for individuals and families with low incomes and resources. Who funds Medicaid? Well, it is jointly funded by the states and federal government, and is managed by the States. Medicaid is basically for low-income individuals that include,Children, Pregnant womenParents of eligible childrenSeniorsPeople with disabilitiesMedicaid was created through Title XIX of the Social Security Act on July30, 1965. Individual states monitor their own Medicaid programs and may also have their own names. Thus, Medicaid also helps eligible individuals that have no medical insurance or poor health insurance.Medical Billing of Medicaid and Medicare are very different processes. The main difference between these two programs is that while Medicare is entirely funded at the federal level, Medicaid is not solely funded at the federal level. It is more of a needs-based social protection program than a social insurance program. Medicaid payments assist nearly 60 ...
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Clinical Laboratory Coding and Reimbursement Conference 2008
2008-02-09 03:00:00
The clinical laboratory coding and reimbursement conference 2008 will be conducted by the Coding Institute from April 10th to 12th, 2008 at the Brown Palace, Denver, Colorado. Here is a list of the topics that will be discussed at the conference.Pre-Conference Workshops (Thursday, April 10th)Modifier Power: Make Sure You Know How Modifiers Can Tell the Whole Story Conference Day 1: (Friday, April 11th)PQRI: Make Sure you're Not Missing Out On Medicare's Bonus PayDiagnosis Coding Primer: Error-Free Expert Tips You Can Bank OnIntra-operative Consultation: Insider Tactics to Get Every Penny in the DoorGrab Onto These PAP ICD-9 Coding Tips for Accurate Reimbursement EVERY TIME!Stop Leaving Money on the Table: Maximize Your Breast Coding Skills and Increase Your practice's Bottom LinePut an End to the Medically Unlikely Edits (MUEs) Mystery with Solid Expert TipsConference Day 2: (Saturday, April 12th)Successfully Maneuver Bone Marrow Case CodingMaximize Your Coding Skills for Special...
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Anesthesia, Pain Management, and Neurology Medical Coding Conference, 2008
2008-02-08 05:10:00
The Coding Institute is conducting the Anesthesia, Pain Management , & Neurology Medical Coding Conference from April 27-29, 2008 at San Antonio, TX. Take a look at the agenda at http://www.codingconferences.com/anesthes ia08a.htmDo you wish to be a presenter? Then go to, http://www.codingconferences.com/anesthes ia08s.htmRegistration is available at http://www.codingconferences.com/anesthes ia08r.htmFor accommodation at the Hyatt Regency San Antonio Hotel go to, http://www.codingconferences.com/anesthes ia08h.htmOutsource Strategies International (OSI) is a US based medical transcription company that offering outsourcing services in medical coding, medical transcription and medical billing.
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ABC Medical Coding
2008-02-08 03:47:00
What are ABC Codes? ABC Codes are five-digit Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliant alpha codes (e.g., AAAAA) used by licensed and non-licensed healthcare practitioners on standard healthcare claim forms (e.g., CMS 1500 Form) to describe services, remedies and/or supply items provided and/or used during patient visits.Developed by a private New Mexico company called "Alternative Link" and FIHC (The Foundation for Integrative Healthcare) the ABC codes support and fill gaps in the CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) codes. The ABC codes contain both a short description and an expanded definition of the service, remedy and/or supply item. Here is the homepage of the site http://www.alternativelink.com/ali/home/d efault.aspOur medical coding system had been mainly for the allopathic stream and today there are many alternative healthcare professionals who are not able to make claim from insurance companies. ABC codes fill gaps in healthcare coding and the N...
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National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI)
2008-02-07 08:28:00
The CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) has developed the National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) with the objective of promoting National correct coding methodologies and also to control improper coding that leads to wrong payments in Part B claims.What are the CMS policies developed from? They include,Coding conventions from CPT manual, National and local policies / edits Coding guidelines developed by national societies Analysis of standard medical and surgical practicesReview of current coding practices.Every year the CMS updates the Coding Policy Manual for Medicare. It is used as a general reference by the Medicare Carriers and Fiscal Intermediaries (FIs). The CMS Online Manual System is used by CMS program components, partners, contractors, and State Survey Agencies to administer CMS programs. It offers day-to-day operating instructions, policies, and procedures based on statutes and regulations, guidelines, models, and directives. For specific NCCI edits, one...
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Objectives of the American Medical Billing Association
2008-02-07 06:17:00
The American Medical Billing Association or AMBA has the unique ambition to provide industry and regulatory education, networking opportunities for all its members so that they can share information and ideas among themselves, besides helping to market the member's abilities and professional services as a group.AMBA has its focus on actual participation by its members. Thus Professional medical billers from across the country can interact with each other and share information with each other irrespective of their location. AMBA has formed its National Medical Billing Advisory Board. This advisory board will guide and support AMBA leadership with advice. The National Advisory Board (NAB) will be working with National AMBA for the betterment of the entire association and the Medical Billing profession by actively participating in their nationally sponsored meetings, conferences, events, publications, educational programs and other activities. Take a look at the eight Board members fo...

Pediatric Coding 2008 Conferences in Naples and Las Vegas
2008-02-05 07:14:00
The Coding Institute will be conducting the 2008 Pediatric Coding & Reimbursement Conference in two different cities. From May 15-17 it is in Naples , FL, and in Las Vegas , NV from July 10-12. The conference is meant for coders, billers, office managers, pediatricians, billing companies, coding or management consultants, practice & clinic administrators, administrators, compliance professionals, and anyone concerned about pediatric revenue.Here is a brief Agenda for the conference at both the locations:Pre-Conference Workshops (Thursday, May 15th & July 10th)11:00pm - 1:00pm Early Registration1:00pm - 5:00pm The Business of Providing Care2:45pm - 3:15pm Refreshment Break - Exhibits Conference Day 1: Main Sessions(Friday, May 16th & July 11th)8:00am - 9:00am Registration, Continental Breakfast & Exhibits 9:00am - 10:00am Modifiers10:00am - 11:00am Vaccinations 11:00am - 11:15am Refreshment Break11:15am - 12:15pm Office Procedures12:15pm - 1:15pm Lunch & Exhibit...
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Medical Billing and Medicare Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG)
2008-02-05 06:04:00
Health services were always referred to as retrospective payments earlier because payment was always made after the service given. This was then convenient as the payment was made by the insurance companies. The 1980s saw the introduction of cost limiting programs. One such program was the prospective payment system initiated by Medicare and other payer groups. Here each disease is assigned a Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) where the doctor/hospital received a fixed payment and calculation was done considering average parameters like stay, treatment etc. DRGs may be further grouped into Major Diagnostic Categories (MDCs).In the early days, most health care was on a fee-for-service basis. It was referred to as retrospective payment because the fee for health care services was paid after all the needed services were provided. During the 1970s, a period of high inflation, health care costs skyrocketed. Most Americans had health insurance and were not worried about costs because the insur...
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Medical Billing Process
2008-02-02 07:06:00
Medical billing was done on paper for many decades. Today our world is computerized and also networked, thereby making medical billing and claims process a very efficient process. It also allows for a lot of claims to be managed in much lesser time.Many companies have developed medical billing software with the intention of selling them to potential users. A newer development in this area is the availability of online medical billing interfaces that can be accessed on the Internet. Thus one need not even invest or purchase on individual medical billing software to use it.The process of medical billing involves an interaction between a healthcare provider and the insurance company that finally pays the bill. A record of all the event of the patient's visits to the doctor is summarized that will contain the following details:Demographic details Nature of illnessDetails of examinationsMedication detailsDiagnosisTreatmentFor the purpose of medical billing, now the level of service has ...
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Medical Coding and Out Patient Reimbursement
2008-02-02 03:04:00
Quite often we find radiologists, hematologists and other consultants having a confused state of mind with regards to taking decisions on medical coding. This is because on one end there is the risk of being penalized for over charging the patient and at the other end is the risk of getting insufficient reimbursement. So what is the solution to this problem?The obvious solution is to be careful while billing and coding. Essential skills include,Detailed awareness of Coding Medical terminologiesAbility to get into detailsBasic coding principlesProper documentationUnderstanding all codesRegulations of Medicaid/ Medicare/ Blue Cross etcHOPPS is the payment system, implemented August 1, 2000, and is used by CMS to reimburse for hospital outpatient services. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) issued a final rule on the 2008 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) on November, 1, 2007. This final rule affects outpatient services furnished by general acute care hospit...
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