Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement

Make the most of the new preventive services coverage additions.Have you started filing claims for any of the five new preventive care services which Medicare added to its list in 2011? Read on to find out what Medicare experts have to say on how to code intensive behavioral therapy for cardiovascular disease (CVD) correctly.Understand the Purpose and FrequencyIntensive behavioral therapy (IBT) for cardiovascular disease is also known as a CVD risk reduction visit, says Jamie Hermansen, a health insurance specialist with CMS. In general, the visit consists of three components:Encouraging aspirin use for primary prevention of cardiovascular diseaseScreening the patient for high blood pressureIntensive behavioral counseling to promote a healthy diet for adults with known risk factors for cardiovascular and diet-related chronic disease."A qualified primary care physician or other primary care practitioner in a primary care setting can furnish the exam," Hermansen adds. "Medicare allows for one face-to-face CVD risk [...]