In order for a physician to be reimbursed for his or her services, those services must be documented. Your documentation should be able to stand on its own; it is your story of the visit. Just imagine if the news reported, “two people found dead” and nothing else. You would want to know who, when, where, and possibly why. A good news story gives all pertinent information, and your documentation should do the same.
Five Coding and Billing Myths that Can Hurt Your Practice
When it comes to billing, there are plenty of myths and erroneous sayings used by consultants and payers to keep you guessing and make your head spin. Billing seems endlessly mystical, and it is important that physician practices stay as informed as possible to be effective and efficient. With today’s financial situation, it is even more important that rheumatology practices know the rules of billing—This will save you time and money in the long run.
What Subliminal Cues Are Lurking in Your Waiting Room?
The current managed care environment and declining reimbursement rates are forcing physicians to see more patients to break even. With a constant stream of new patients and appointments booked back to back, waiting has become an unavoidable patient experience in healthcare. In fact, many patients spend more time in the waiting room than in an exam room with a physician.
Recovery Audit Contractors: What Are the Facts?
In March of 2008, by Section 302 of the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Recover Audit Contractor (RAC) program was made a permanent addition to the Centers’ goal preventing fraud, waste, and abuse in the Medicare system.
Five To-Dos for a Successful Practice in 2009
It is often a challenge for practices to keep up with all the coding changes that happen each year, and that’s why your ACR coding specialists are here.
Documentation History in Evaluation and Management Services
Does your staff know what is involved in taking a complete history from a patient?
November Is “Heal that Claim” Month
The ACR is joining with the American Medical Association (AMA) in promoting November as “Heal that Claim” month.
“My Office Manager Handles That”
Some rheumatologists in private practice are fortunate enough to have office managers who handle the business side of medicine for them. However, the truth is that it is the physician who is the leader of his or her practice, not the office manager. If nothing else, the physician is the one who manages the office manager.
Physician Leaders and the Business of Medicine
In a perfect world, in their work, all people would do what they do best—and only what they do best. Dancers would dance, singers would sing, and physicians and healthcare professionals would spend their time treating patients, teaching, and advancing the science of their profession.
Let the ACR Help You Improve Your Practice
Today’s rheumatology practices face increasing internal and external pressures. Staffing effectiveness and efficiency, overhead increases, coding and billing issues, litigious employees, conflicts with colleagues, new competition, changing patient attitudes, new revenue constraints, and managed care contracting and compliance are just some of the pressures that constantly push practices to their limits.