Practice Management Alert

5 questions help you get a grip on challenging billing topics and avoid billing catastrophes You know you-re stronger in some billing areas than others. Are you wondering where you should focus your time and energy? This quiz will help you determine whether you-re on the right track with topics like workers- compensation and the infamous birthday rule, or if you should crack open your books and take another look. Hint: You can find all the answers in one of these five past Medical Office Billing & Collections Alert articles: - "Write Off Patient Copays and Watch Your Revenue Plummet" from the January 2007, Vol. 7, No. 1 issue - "Banish NPI Hassles With These Expert Answers to Your Top-4 Questions" from the 2007 Volume 7, No. 3 issue - "Decipher Carrier-Specific Processes for When a New Provider Signs On" from the 2007 Volume 7, No. 4 issue - "Take Your WC Claims From Stressful to Simple With These 3 FAQ Answers" and "Keep This Simple Chart Handy for Dependent-Child Billing Questions" from the 2007 Volume 7, No. 10 issue. Question 1: You bill for a group practice. With the implementation of National Provider Identifier (NPI) numbers, you no longer need a group ID number on your claims. True or False? Question 2: A new physician joins your practice. You are in the process of credentialing the physician with Medicare and the other carriers your practice contracts with. Should the physician begin seeing patients before the credentials come through? Question 3: Your physician wants to waive copays for certain Medicare patients because they are frequently seen in your office. Should your office adopt this practice? Question 4: A physician in your practice treats a patient for injuries she suffered while at work. Your practice is in New York, but the patient works and lives in New Jersey. She filed her workers- compensation (WC) claim in New Jersey. Which state's WC regulations apply to this patient's treatment? Question 5: A 5-year-old child presents to your practice for treatment of an illness. The child's parents are married. You should bill the insurance carrier of the parent whose birthday comes first in terms of the year the parent was born. True or false? Check yourself: Take this quiz to see if you-ve got a handle on these billing topics, and then review your answers against the answer key that will appear in the next issue of Medical Office Billing & Collections Alert.