Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert
Physician Pay Dropped Since 1995
Published on Sat Jun 24, 2006
You may not be surprised to learn that physicians are making less money than they were 10 years ago. The average inflation-adjusted physician salary dropped 7 percent between 1995 and 2003, the Center for Studying Health System Change says. Primary care physicians saw a whopping 10-percent pay cut. Medicare raised physician payments 13 percent during that time, but inflation was 21 percent.
Other Articles in this issue of
Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert
- EMERGENCY MEDICINE:
Prepare For Imminent Audits Of Your ED Visits
Double-check: Does your E/M documentation support levels?
Your Emergency Department (ED) visits [...] - REIMBURSEMENT:
Work RVUs For Level-3 Office Visits Set For 37-Percent Hike
Everything changes starting next January. Will you be ready?
Good news: Your payments [...] - GENERAL SURGERY:
Don't Lose Out On Reimbursement For RNFA Services
Smart strategy: Master surgical assistant modifiers
Do you know how to bill for registered nurse first [...] - CONSULTS:
Report And Request Aren't Enough For Consults Without Medical Necessity
Use of modifier 25 exposes that doctor knew he flouted the rules
If you're worried about [...] - REIMBURSEMENT:
13 Coding Opportunities You May Have Overlooked
You could be turning away your rightful reimbursement for 100s of services
[...] - MedPAC Wants To Hold Your Feet To The Fire For Quality
You'll be "held accountable" for the quality of care you provide--if the influential Medicare Payment [...] - ANESTHESIA:
Clear Up These 3 Anesthesia Blind Spots
Not all thoracotomies are created equal
Anesthesiology coders, don't sleep on opportunities to gain extra reimbursement. [...] - Physician Pay Dropped Since 1995
You may not be surprised to learn that physicians are making less money than they [...] - NEUROSURGERY:
Reader Questions--Multiple Lesions Can Equal 61793 Times Five
Question: If our neurosurgeon performs stereotactic radiosurgery, is it true that he can report 61793 [...] - UROLOGY:
Simplify Your Coding Tasks With New ICD-9 Urinary Symptom Codes
Specificity increases your chances of reimbursement for some E/M services
You’ll soon [...] - GASTROENTEROLOGY:
You Be The Coder--Code Gastrostomy Tube Placements The Right Way Every Time
Scenario: Your surgeon performed a laparoscopic gastrostomy tube placement and laparoscopic fundoplication at the same [...] - PATHOLOGY:
Learn To Use Compatibility Blood Tests Only When Needed
Also: Be sure to charge for each unit of blood, but not for each transfusion
There's [...] - AUDIOLOGY:
Don't Confuse Your SOP Codes--The One You Use Depends On Your Carrier
Helpful hint: Medicare will reimburse you if your audiologist prepares properly
If [...] - ED CODING:
Choose the Right Service Level Code for Subsequent Hospital Care
To claim 99231-99233, you must meet 2 of the 3 key E/M components Your ED [...] - CARDIOLOGY:
3 Must-Know Tips To Ensure Payment For 37215 And 36216
Attach modifier 59 only when catheter placement procedures are distinct
The Office of Inspector General is [...] - Part B Coding Coach:
Learn The Secret to Coding Female Urinary Incontinence Surgical Procedures
Hint: Your physician's approach falls into one of three categories
The causes of female urinary incontinence [...] - Understanding Female Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence is identified as one of four common types: stress (625.6), urge (788.31), mixed [...] - Clip and Save:
The Diagnosis Points the Way to the Perfect Incontinence Surgery Code
When your physician documents female urinary incontinence treatment, you have a choice of several codes. [...] - PHYSICIAN NOTES:
CMS Comes To Your Rescue On IVIG Payments
One code will increase 12 percent next year
Your payments for Part B drugs won't change [...]
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