Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert
In other news ...
• Despite heightened focus on how to stay compliant with the Stark law, some medical practitioners are still getting nabbed for infractions. On Oct. 5, the OIG entered into a settlement agreement with a California hospital director who paid $64,000 to resolve allegations that he violated the Civil Monetary Penalties Law and the Stark law, which prohibits self-referral. The hospital director, who also served as the compliance officer, allegedly "personally negotiated financial arrangements with physicians and directed improper payments to them," according to an Oct. 5 OIG press release. In addition, the OIG also accused the hospital director of causing "submission of false claims to the Medicare program that should not have been paid based upon the Stark Law violation." To read the OIG's press release on the subject, visit www.oig.hhs.gov/publications/docs/press/2009/BasktCMPNewsRelease508.pdf.
Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert
- NEW CPT CODES:
AMA Reveals Which Cat. II and III Codes Won't Appear in CPT 2010
Add these codes to new CPT Codes book when it arrives. Our CPT [...] - VACCINES:
Differentiate Between CPT's New H1N1 Admin Code Vs. CMS's
Code 488.1 does not guarantee a confirmed dx. Swine flu has made an early arrival [...] - COMPLIANCE:
OIG Intends to Hone in on Modifier GY Claims, POS Errors, and More in 2010
The OIG's 2010 Work Plan indicates which areas the agency will be reviewing next year, [...] - PART B REGS:
Licensed Physicians Can Enroll in PECOS Even If They Don't Intend to See Medicare Patients
Plus: CMS plans to debut two new physician specialty designations for hospice providers and geriatric [...] - READER QUESTION:
Note Length of Wound Before You Report a Laceration Closure Code
Plus: Make sure you report the appropriate wound code to represent the patient's diagnosis. Question: [...] - PART B CODING COACH:
Mark Manipulation to Potentially Recoup $100 or More Per Encounter
No maybes here -- answer this question wrong and you will code your fracture claims incorrectly. [...] - PHYSICIAN NOTES:
OIG Finds That CMS's Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) Results Were Inaccurate
Plus: OIG nabs California hospital director for alleged violations of the Stark and Civil Monetary [...] - In other news ...
• Despite heightened focus on how to stay compliant with the Stark law, some medical [...]
