Primary Care Coding Alert
It's Not too Late to Participate in PQRI
Question: Our family medicine practice did not begin the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) earlier this year, but now we are sort of regretting it. Is there any good reason to start PQRI reporting this late in the year? Kentucky Subscriber Answer: If you missed the PQRI boat earlier, you could join the alternative reporting program as of July 1. CMS- alternative reporting period this year runs between July 1 and Dec. 1. "So insofar as professionals that have not begun to participate, this will give an additional opportunity to begin participation in PQRI for this year," according to information noted on a June 10 CMS open door forum (ODF). "The incentive payment of 1.5 percent for Part B services will apply only to the second half of the year, July 1 to Dec. 31, but nevertheless, professionals who report this way will be able to get that incentive payment," a CMS official said during the ODF. For more about the PQRI program, visit the CMS Web site at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/pqri.
Primary Care Coding Alert
- Heed New Transmittal When Compiling Critical Care Time or Face Denials
Medicare release clears up family counseling, concurrent care rules If you can spot critical care [...] - Protect Incident-to Pay With This Added Phrase
Hassle-free option: NPP can report the service directly without having to satisfy criteria Your FP [...] - ICD-9 2009 Update:
Prepare to Expand Fever Diagnosis so Fall Claims Will Sail Through With Ease
Your 780.6 entry soon will require four more lines To report a fever of unknown [...] - You Be the Coder:
How to Code Admit to Hospitalist
Question: An FP sees an established patient in the office for high fever and dehydration. [...] - Reader Questions:
Use Modifier 51 on Some Surgery Encounters
Question: A patient reports to the FP with two cuts on his right forearm: a [...] - Reader Questions:
Get Your MIA CPT Codes Here
Question: I read that the CPT Codes 2008 manual doesn't contain three new [...] - Reader Questions:
It's Not too Late to Participate in PQRI
Question: Our family medicine practice did not begin the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) earlier [...] - Reader Questions:
Choose Code After Checking for Preservatives
Question: The FP's physician assistant (PA) administered a preservative-free intramuscular flu vaccine without pneumonia vaccine [...] - Reader Questions:
Patient Actions Guide Insulin OD Code Choice
Question: Encounter notes indicate that a patient with uncontrolled type II diabetes had an insulin [...]
