Optometry Coding & Billing Alert
Breathe Easier Thanks to the Red Flags Rule Delay
You'll have more time to get your optometry practice in shape.
Be Ready By August 1
Just one day before the original compliance deadline (see "Think Red Flags Rule Doesn't Affect You? Think Again," in Optometry Coding & Billing Alert, Vol. 7, No. 4), the FTC, which oversees the government's implementation of the Red Flags Rule, announced that you'll have until Aug. 1 to get your practice ready.
More good news:
The FTC also noted in the delay announcement that "for entities that have a low risk of identity theft, such as businesses that know their customers personally, the Commission will soon release a template to help them comply with the law."Reason for the delay:
Many medical practices were unclear about how, and if, the rule affected them at all.Plus, when practices did realize they needed to comply with the new rule, they weren't sure how to implement a policy. The three-month extension allows practices extra time to get their programs together.
"From my experience there was not enough effort in many industries, not just healthcare, to get the word out that companies were required to comply," explains Ester Horowitz, MBA, owner/certified management counselor and practice marketing advisor with M2Power Inc. in Merrick, N.Y.
For more information, visit www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/04/redflagsrule.shtm.
Optometry Coding & Billing Alert
- 2 Tips Lead to Proper Glaucoma Visit Coding
Let form and severity drive your coding choice. Often, optometrists find themselves in a bind [...] - News You Can Use:
Breathe Easier Thanks to the Red Flags Rule Delay
You'll have more time to get your optometry practice in shape. If you're still trying [...] - E/M Corner:
ID All HPI Elements for Most Accurate E/M Coding
CPT, CMS don't see eye-to-eye on duration. Not accurately counting history of present illness (HPI) [...] - Correction:
An article in Vol. 7, No. 3 of the Optometry Coding & Billing Alert, "Prevent [...] - Better Collections Rates Start With Better Collections Skills
Well-trained billers may be your biggest assets toward improved collections. With the decreases in patient [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Let Disease Damage, Control Drive VF Coding
Question: How often will Medicare allow visual field testing (92081-92083) on a patient? California Subscriber [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Don't Just Cover Up Paper Claim Errors Question: When we make a mistake on a paper form,
Question: When we make a mistake on a paper form, can we just cross out [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Use Caution With FB Removal and E/M
Question: A patient with eye pain presented to our office. This is a Medicare patient [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Turn Over Records Even if Patient Owes You
Question: We have a patient with a large balance. She recently called our office and [...] - READER QUESTIONS:
Can Assistant Perform Laser Scan?
Question: What level of supervision is required for an ophthalmic assistant conducting a scanning laser [...] - You Be the Expert:
Primary Diagnosis for 'Foggy Vision'
Question: Many of our patients claim general reasons for their visit, such as "I can't [...]
