Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert
CMS Proposes Cutting Apheresis Up To 9%
Medicare may make a cutting-edge procedure to treat blood disorders impossible to provide.
The 2006 Physician fee schedule proposed rule includes 6.2- to 9-percent cuts for apheresis codes 36514-36516, according to the American Society for Apheresis. And the outpatient prospective payment system rule cuts the code that includes apheresis roughly 28 percent from last year.
Physicians could see reductions of hundreds of dollars in reimbursement for apheresis, says Patricia Jost Golden, the Society's past president. She blames a faulty Medicare process for calculating practice expense, and "improper billing" on the part of some physicians. Because the apheresis codes are fairly new, there isn't much data and physicians may be submitting the wrong charges.
Apheresis has been effective in treating leukemia and has reduced the mortality rate for thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) from 95 to 25 percent, Golden says. Apheresis allows physicians to remove plasma, leukocytes and platelets from patients' blood and replace them with healthy factors.
Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert
- Anesthesia Billing:
You Could Be Throwing Away Hundreds Of Dollars With Incomplete Reports
Some anesthesiologists use surgical reports instead of their own
As everybody knows, anesthesia begins some time [...] - Electronic Claims:
Don't Get Too Attached To Paper Attachments
When new electronic standards finally arrive, they'll be more opportunity than compliance burden
Tired of [...] - Orthopedics:
Practices Could Lose $1000 Per Week Under New Rule
CMS wants to stop paying separately for casting supplies
If your office provides a lot [...] - CMS Should Make Physicians Attend To DME Claims, OIG Says
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should do more to help physicians help their [...] - Reimbursement:
CMS Wants To See Some Codes Slashed In 2007
Some procedures may cost less if performed in the office
You may [...] - You Get 2 Chances To Choose CAP Vendor Next Year
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services clarified the timeline for implementing the controversial Competitive [...] - Medication Billing:
Ditch 90782, Reach For G0355 For Injections
If your practice provides in-office injections of Avonex for multiple sclerosis patients, you should be [...] - Fee Schedule:
CMS Proposes Cutting Apheresis Up To 9%
Medicare may make a cutting-edge procedure to treat blood disorders impossible to provide.
The 2006 - Part B Coding Coach:
Your Top 7 Drug Waste Coding Questions Answered
Don't miss your chance to get paid for a full vial of Botox no matter [...] - Physician Notes:
CCI 11.3 Adds 2,000+ Non-Mutually Exclusive Edits
Only 164 edits deleted in latest update
Prepare yourself for one last [...]
