Radiology Coding Alert

Radiology coders wonder what ACO structure will mean for the future.The U.S. has been buzzing about the United States Supreme Court's recent decision to uphold the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In that decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the requirement that individuals must have health care coverage or face a penalty was an allowable tax (rather than a penalty). But the Court decided the federal government couldn't require states to expand existing Medicaid programs by proposing to disqualify noncompliant states from Medicaid funding.Many coders are taking the "wait and see" approach regarding how the law will affect their day to day job functions, but there are a few areas to keep on your radar.Preventive services: If patients "have a new health insurance plan or insurance policy beginning on or after September 23, 2010," certain preventive services must be covered when delivered by a network provider. For these [...]