November 10, 2023 | By Toni Elhoms, CCS, CPC, CPMA, CRC On countless occasions, I have heard physicians and healthcare providers balk at the notion of learning how to level their E/M services based on medical-decision-making (MDM), and some will even go as far as to say things like “I don’t have time…
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Prescription Drug Management Requires More Than a Medication List Written by: Jill Young What documentation is required to show a provider is performing prescription drug management? It has been a question since the changes to the Office or Other Outpatient Services codes was announced by the American Medical Association (AMA) in 2021. The table Elements of Medical Decision…
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Non-Medically Necessary vs. Statutorily Excluded Services: Understanding the Differences Written by: Jennifer McNamara “That’s not covered.” It’s a phrase we hear all the time—but what does it really mean? There’s a definite distinction between non-medically necessary services and those that are statutorily excluded. Understanding the difference between non-medically necessary and statutorily excluded services is essential…
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Prevention of Patient Complaints and Payer Denials: Covered vs Non-Covered Preventive Services Written by: Pam Vanderbilt “I just got a bill for my free annual visit!! Sound familiar? Calls from patients who are upset because they got a bill for services they thought were covered. When I research these complaints, the issue causing the services…
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Law vs. Health Law Fundamentals Written by: Rachel V. Rose, JD, MBA When was the last time you thought about what the “law” actually is and how it differs from what is commonly known as “health law”? Black’s Law Dictionary (2nd Ed.) provides two definitions: That which is laid down, ordained, or established. A rule…
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The Auditor’s Role in Appeals: A Key Player in the Compliance Process Written by: Betty Hovey, BSHAM CCS-P CDIP CPC COC CPMA CPCD CPB CPCI The appeals process is a critical component of health care compliance, ensuring that denied claims are appropriately challenged and reconsidered. When providers and health care organizations receive claim denials, they…
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