Medical Billing Updates

The current economic climate is having a negative effect on physician practices. Flat or declining reimbursement, more regulatory paperwork, health reform, and IT implementation have but pressure on small practices. The good news is that there are ways to tighten up your belt and tune-up your practice going forward. Improving the revenue cycle starts with...

Medical technology and surgical procedures are following a trend towards minimally invasive surgeries that reduce both patient risk and recovery time. Medical application solutions are being geared towards this trend, with technology and devices shrinking in size while still providing precision and power. One such example of emerging medical technology is micro-precise surgery assistants. These...

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is warning providers participating in the 2012 e-Prescribing (eRx) Group Practice Reporting Option (GPRO) incentive program of Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) payment adjustments through 2014. Individual eligible providers who are not successful electronic prescribers can avoid the 2013-2014 payment adjustments by meeting reporting requirements during a specified...

Recent legislation changes how Medicare pays for oxygen equipment and supplies. Effective Jan. 1, Medicare will continue to pay 36 monthly payments (less deductible) to oxygen equipment suppliers, but beneficiaries will not own the equipment at the end of the three-year contract — as they have in the past. The law now says suppliers...

Here’s a stark reminder of the responsibilities – and risks – of being a business associate: Aetna is suing the company that mailed 12,000 envelopes last summer revealing the recipients had HIV for $20 million and more. Aetna hired claims administrator Kurtzman Carson Consultants (KCC) to send letters notifying Aetna members of a settlement the...