Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert

Medicare could save $285 million per year if it cracked down on chiropractors billing for services that don't meet requirements, according to the HHS Office of Inspector General. In particular, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should keep chiropractors from billing for non-covered maintenance services, which accounted for $186 million in unallowed payments in 2001.

The OIG published its 2006 Red Book, a compilation of recommendations that could save Medicare and other programs money. Other recommendations included cracking down on podiatrists' inappropriate nail debridement services, encouraging the carriers to impose a "least costly alternative" policy on Lupron, and reviewing Part B therapy services.