January 27, 2023 | By Stephanie Allard, CPC, CEMA, RHIT A large part of the last 6 months for auditors and educators has been spent in preparation for the new 2023 revisions to the 2021 E/M guidelines. For some of the patient settings, this is a large change. While many see the 2021 E/M…
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January 13, 2023 | By J. Paul Spencer, CPC, COC A major change to appeals submissions is set to begin on February 1st, 2023 that will effect practices and facilities across the country. United Healthcare (UHC) is mandating the submission of electronic reconsiderations and appeals for most types of claims and plans under their…
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January 19, 2023 | By Scott Kraft, CPMA, CPC Practices and providers can bill monthly chronic pain management services for Medicare patients beginning in 2023, using two new HCPCS G codes: G3002 and G3003. But these new codes come with specific guidelines that auditors will need to be on the lookout for when providers…
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Today’s Take is about independent interpretation, and I know we’ve talked about this before, but I think this is one we’ll have to discuss a lot. Recently I got a question about this topic from Tracy (Hi Tracy! I’m glad to answer your question.) So, Tracy explained that her providers are pain management providers and…
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January 13, 2023 | By J. Paul Spencer, CPC, COC I received a great question the other day, and I thought it was a great stepping-off point for a discussion in this space. It’s 2023, and a patient is placed in observation status by an admitting physician. A non-admitting physician is called in for…
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How many charts have you guys already audited in 2023? That’s a really big question. I hope you’re already starting to discuss your audit plan for 2023. It’s not too early, and I hope you’ve already started actually auditing charts for 2023. I recently sent out an audit tip that addressed productivity and quality production…
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January 6, 2022 | By Shannon DeConda, CPC, CEMC, CEMA, CPMA, CRTT Leaning into a new year, as I sit to write this audit tip, I am reflecting on questions that we have been asked throughout 2022 and wondering if any of these might help everyone launch a new year with greater perspective. Well, one…
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December 9, 2022 | By Rachel Rose, JD, MBA Overview Although it is said that “business is global”, there are some nuances to this blanket statement to consider when creating, receiving, maintaining, or transmitting electronic protected health information or electronic health information (herein the blanket term “PHI” is used) internationally.[i] Before delving into items…
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December 2, 2022 | By Jill Young, CPC, CEDC, CIMC While listening to the virtual AMA CPT/RBRVS Annual Symposium lecture by Gift Tee, BS, MPH, Director of the Division of Practitioner Services in the Hospital and Ambulatory Policy Group (HAPG) of CMS on the Update from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), I…
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Tough topics and gray guidelines are what we like to cover in these “Takes,” and this one is no exception. Independent Historian did get cleared up somewhat with 2021 guidelines, but there are still some nuances there. 2021 guidelines did bring about a definition for Independent Historian. It cleared up some of that grayness that…
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