August 26, 2022 | By Beth Schleeper, COC, CPC, CPCO, CDEO, CPB, CPMA, CPPM, CRC, CPC-I, CEMC, CEMA Most of us are very aware of the risks inappropriate bundling modifier usage can cause, but when is the last time we thought about how other modifiers may put us at risk? For example, what about our surgical modifiers…
August 19, 2022 | By Shannon DeConda, CPC, CEMC, CEMA, CPMA, CRTT Training techniques used from the 2021 Documentation Guidelines training and implementation may be helpful with training for these updates as well, even though these updates relate to different types and places of service. However, a lesson learned from 2021 was that education,…
You know, sometimes, as coders and auditors, we’re the last ones to know about new things that come into the office, but sometimes we should be the first. This past week I got an e-mail from a friend (who is also a client and NAMAS member) who said their office received a new type of…
August 12, 2022 | By Sean Weiss, CHC, CEMA, CMCO, CPMA, CPC-P, CMPE, CPC Self-audits are critical. They demonstrate compliance, or at least a “good-faith effort” to be compliant; they minimize refunds of overpayments to “actuals” and also mitigate the potential for a multiple being added. Most importantly, they prevent an auditor, agent, or…
August 5, 2022 | By Michele Strickland, CPC, CEMA Incident-To is often discussed in coding and compliance circles, but when reviewing encounters, I routinely find the criteria fails to meet or support the billing of non-physician practitioners (NPPs) and/or other clinical staff (auxiliary). There are two types of Incident-To services; a component of the service…