Gastroenterology Coding Alert

When you’re working in a busy medical office, it can be challenging to stay on top of every patient privacy concern. However, it’s your practice’s responsibility to ensure that you’re meeting all requirements and regulations.

Check out seven quick tips from Lori Langevin of Part B Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) NGS Medicare, who shared them during the webinar “Medicare Fraud and Abuse.”

1. Safeguard your NPI. “You never want to let anyone bill under your NPI,” Langevin warns. Make sure you let your MAC know if you relocate or retire, too, so that your MAC can deactivate your NPI, she reminds.

2. Cut down on employee risks. It’s important to utilize policies that encourage compliance and minimize risks. “You want to make sure you develop procedures that safeguard your practice and carefully delegate who you are giving signing authority to,” Langevin says.

3. Be cautious and savvy in your business relations. Deep discounts, free services, or incentives for referrals or supplies should give you pause. “Never allow yourself to be coerced into any fiscal or financial arrangement,” she cautions.

4. Keep on top of your billing services. This might entail setting guidelines with your billing services to follow your notes, use your codes, and never bill Medicare for something you didn’t perform or have documentation for.

5. Pay attention to Medicare updates and news. From listservs to webinars to open door forums — keep up with your MAC and any changes that impact your practice compliance and payments.

6. Talk to your patients. When you know your patients, it’s harder for fraudsters to hijack your practice by usurping beneficiaries’ Medicare numbers and information. Photocopy patients’ Medicare cards, update addresses and phone numbers, “and be aware of those that want to fabricate cards and numbers” because “as the provider you are responsible for verifying” the information is correct, urges Langevin.

7. Answer when Medicare calls. When your MAC asks for medical records or documentation, there’s usually a good reason. “Don’t ignore requests for information,” she says.