CMS released an NCD for ABPM on July 2, 2019. CMS has expanded the coverage for ABPM by allowing it for a greater range of BP measurements. Of course, … [Read more...]
Incident to and change to medications
Question: A CodingIntel member writes: "I am getting mixed information about incident-to and I was wondering if you could weigh in? If a NPP … [Read more...]
That’s final, and I mean it! | 2019 Physician Final Rule
The 2019 Physician Final Rule was released right on time on November 1, 2018. By now, you’ve heard the news that CMS is not implementing its major … [Read more...]
Billing inpatient consultation for Medicare patients | Initial visit or subsequent
Question: What should a consulting physician bill when seeing a hospitalized Medicare patient? An initial hospital service or a subsequent hospital … [Read more...]
Intensive behavioral counseling for cardiovascular disease, HCPCS code G0446
Medicare pays a primary care physician or other primary care practitioner in a primary care setting to annually provide one face-to-face behavioral … [Read more...]
Other new proposals in the 2019 Proposed Physician Fee Schedule Rule
This is the second CodingIntel post about CMS proposed changes to the 2019 Physician Fee Schedule rule. If you missed it, be sure to read the first … [Read more...]
Coding Guide – How Physician Services are Paid
Table of Contents CPT® HCPCS Modifiers NCCI Multiple procedures Fee calculation Global surgical payment Diagnosis … [Read more...]
Coding Guide – Medicare Incident-to and Shared Services
This in depth guide reviews the requirements for billing Medicare Incident-to and shared services including: When/where these services can be … [Read more...]
Coding Guide – Preventive Medicine Services
This is the resource guide from CodingIntel's one hour course on preventive medicine. Coding for preventive medicine services should be easy, but … [Read more...]
Screening for depression | HCPCS code G0444
Annual depression screening code G0444 Medicare pays primary care practices to screen all Medicare patients annually for depression. The service … [Read more...]
Behavioral counseling for obesity, HCPCS code G0447
Medicare pays for ongoing face-to-face behavioral counseling for patients with a BMI of ≥ 30, who are alert and able to participate in … [Read more...]
Two visits for the price of one? | Multiple medical visits on the same day
Patients often schedule two medical appointments on the same day with physicians of different specialties. It’s convenient for them. It saves travel … [Read more...]
Preventive Medicine Services – Medicare
Medicare has very specific requirements for preventive services. What can you bill, what must you document? This article covers all the bases … [Read more...]
Shared Visits – Medicare
Medicare has specific rules for billing for Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants as shared services in the hospital. These rules are explained … [Read more...]
Are you missing the initial annual wellness visit? | G0438
After I gave a presentation at a family medicine conference a physician said to me, “What you just told me will pay for the entire cost of my coming … [Read more...]
Age and wellness visits | Eligibility for Welcome to Medicare
Question: Does the patient need to be 65 years old in order to bill the Welcome to Medicare Visit? Answer: No, there is no age restriction … [Read more...]
Teaching physician rules | Bedside procedures
Question: Can an attending bill for a bedside procedure that a resident did without the attending being present? If so, is this billed at 85% like … [Read more...]
Billing physician services for hospice patients
Overview of hospice care Medicare beneficiaries who have a terminal illness with a life expectancy of six months or less can elect to have their … [Read more...]
Wellness visits and prolonged care | How to use G0513 & G0514
Medicare stunned us by creating two prolonged services HCPCS codes for use with Medicare covered preventive medicine services in 2018. They may be … [Read more...]
Medical necessity isn’t medical decision making
Have you heard of Talk Ten Tuesdays? It’s an internet radio program hosted by Chuck Buck and Dr. Erica Remer, and every week they discuss current … [Read more...]