tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86779199955561508102011-12-23T11:04:45.854-08:00Helping to build your practice for future. This Blog contains latest medicare news, views and comments from different resources like MGMA, Physicians Journals and other credible groups. All information is provided based upon our understanding of the medicare laws and facts as we see them. Use at your own risk or send us an email for clarification at sales@practiceforces.comKunal Jainnoreply@blogger.comBlogger301100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677919995556150810.post-38906031938875580032011-12-23T11:03:00.000-08:002011-12-23T11:04:45.864-08:00

Senate, House Agree on Temporary Medicare Physician Rate FreezeCongressional leaders came to agreement late Thursday on a legislative package that freezes Medicare payments to physicians for two months, preventing a 27.4 percent cut that was scheduled to go into effect on Jan. 1. The deal is expected to be approved in voice votes on Friday that will require only a handful of lawmakers to be

Kunal Jainnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677919995556150810.post-4509773994852280572011-11-02T11:52:00.000-07:002011-11-02T11:54:07.758-07:00

CMS finalizes 2012 Medicare physician fee scheduleThe Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for 2012. Unless Congress intervenes, the rule implements a 27.4 percent reduction in Medicare physician payments in 2012 based on the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula. The final rule also: Significantly expands CMS's focus under the Misvalued

Kunal Jainnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677919995556150810.post-32334209485277662132011-06-07T12:54:00.000-07:002011-06-07T12:54:31.801-07:00

PracticeForces: Gift of EMR From Providers to Patients with love ?

Kunal Jainnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677919995556150810.post-23128699905805633972011-06-07T12:53:00.000-07:002011-06-07T12:54:04.464-07:00

As Health care Industry has shifted its focus in implementing a valuable proposition, known as Electronic Medical Records (EMR), it has proved to be a big roll-out in the long touted paperless systems. As the whole EMR process has become viable for both the physicians and the patients; it is astounding to observe its gradual growth in the last five years.The EMR vendors create “Patient Portals”

Kunal Jainnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677919995556150810.post-69777865780989810972011-02-16T12:42:00.001-08:002011-02-16T13:00:29.988-08:00

Are you waiting from Medicare to get your ERX Incentive for the year 2009? If this is true then good news is that they started sending it now. I know a physician who lost his incentive just by 1%. The requirement to submit ERX for Medicare patient was 40% and he was determined that his qualified numbers were only 39%. I was disappointment more than him because we made sure all of our doctors who

Kunal Jainnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677919995556150810.post-23938660614754361402010-07-08T10:29:00.000-07:002010-07-08T10:30:36.684-07:00

Medicare working with ordering and referring providers and suppliers to streamline enrollment processThe Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is working with providers to address concerns about enrollment in the Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (PECOS) to ensure that Medicare beneficiaries continue to receive the health care services and items they need. PECOS is the

Kunal Jainnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677919995556150810.post-63902063970971933352010-06-22T13:26:00.000-07:002010-06-22T13:27:14.718-07:00

The Senate just passed via a unanimous consent agreement a provision blocking the 21.3 percent cut to Medicare physician payments until Nov 30. Since this provision is different than the House-passed version, the House of Representatives must vote on the matter again and is expected to do so next week. If this bill becomes law, medical practices will receive a 2.2 percent increase to Medicare

Kunal Jainnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677919995556150810.post-500753592745251682010-06-22T13:23:00.000-07:002010-06-22T13:25:31.513-07:00

Today the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services(CMS) released an interim final rule that implements several Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) provisions, which impact Medicare and Medicaid enrollment and claims. The rule requires providers with a National Provider Identifier (NPI) to include it on their Medicare and Medicaid enrollment applications and claims. Medicare Part B

Kunal Jainnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677919995556150810.post-20031560694796354892009-06-19T12:10:00.000-07:002009-06-19T12:15:22.779-07:00

Frequently Asked QuestionsI’ve seen lots of numbers out there about the health IT parts of the Stimulus - $19 billion, $23 billion, $36 billion and $38 billion. What is correct?Originally, it was estimated that $19.2 billion in health IT was included in the American Reinvestment & Recovery Act (commonly referred to as the Stimulus). This was based on $2 billion for the Office of the National

Kunal Jainnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677919995556150810.post-18247691042907451472009-05-11T11:56:00.000-07:002009-05-11T11:57:33.440-07:00

I have been reading a book written by Jim Collins addressing the CEO and presidents of fortune 500 companies? But I found my way to interpret the finding and correlate in healthcare practice management arena. Surprisingly the business rules are changing so fast that if even the smallest doctor’s office do not coup up with those logics you can be either compromising on results or extinct very soon

Kunal Jainnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677919995556150810.post-39810830653755855122009-04-14T06:39:00.000-07:002009-04-14T07:07:15.984-07:00

Since past couple of days i have been taking complete bed rest due to the toe injury, one of the muscle got ruptured. i hope to recover fast as there is no bone found broken in the X-Ray. I was thinking what could make us unique that our clients trust us blindly. The answer i found was that if we continue to provide value to their business and keep our trust within the scope of our services can

Kunal Jainnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677919995556150810.post-45172137155869119702009-01-10T18:32:00.000-08:002009-01-10T18:56:44.146-08:00

In the days before managed care, billing was a snap. It seemed you could simply look sidewise at a third-party payer and get paid. Today, as legalistic coding rules have taken root and payers have gotten stingier, collecting what you’re owed requires fighting a battle on two fronts: the draconian payers on one front — and patients on the other. You need the latest tools and tactics just to avoid

Kunal Jainnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677919995556150810.post-64325100121972630992008-12-19T09:40:00.000-08:002008-12-19T09:41:51.196-08:00

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently published an informative document, “Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI): 2007 Reporting Experiences.” It highlights common errors made by both the agency and medical practices participating in the PQRI during the 2007 PQRI reporting period. The issues raised may help practices contemplating participation in the 2009

Kunal Jainnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677919995556150810.post-35663598701429599632008-12-16T14:17:00.000-08:002008-12-16T14:18:16.810-08:00

Beginning on Jan. 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will apply a new rule to certain diagnostic tests (excluding clinical diagnostic lab tests) ordered and billed by physicians or their group practices.In an attempt to curb what it sees as overuse of diagnostic tests and abusive arrangements between providers, CMS has expanded a Medicare billing rule that prevented physicians

Kunal Jainnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677919995556150810.post-84047292384694852008-12-16T14:11:00.000-08:002008-12-16T14:16:41.864-08:00

CMS rapidly expands access to Web-based provider enrollment systemThe Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched the long-awaited Internet-based version of Provider Enrollment, Chain and Ownership System (Internet-based PECOS) for use by individual practitioners in 15 states and the District of Columbia on Dec. 4. Internet-based PECOS is a scenario-driven system that enables

Kunal Jainnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677919995556150810.post-16974738006395747642008-11-21T06:42:00.000-08:002008-11-21T06:43:17.359-08:00

The final 2009 Medicare physician fee schedule includes a number of changes that will have a detrimental effect on medial practices and practitioners' ability to enroll in the Medicare program. Most significantly, beginning on Jan. 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will limit the ability of practices to retroactively bill for services provided to Medicare patients by defining

Kunal Jainnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677919995556150810.post-4979208645256940982008-11-21T06:41:00.000-08:002008-11-21T06:42:29.350-08:00

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released the e-prescribing measure specification which includes the appropriate reporting codes needed for eligible medical groups to qualify for the e-prescribing bonus. Practices that meet the e-prescribing criteria can earn a 2 percent bonus of the allowed Part B charges in 2009 and 2010, a 1 percent bonus in 2011 and 2012 and a 0.5

Kunal Jainnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677919995556150810.post-54942240760351539412008-11-15T21:33:00.000-08:002008-11-15T21:35:01.669-08:00

The search for billing and coding goldIn the days before managed care, billing was a snap. It seemed you could simply look sidewise at a third-party payer and get paid. Today, as legalistic coding rules have taken root and payers have gotten stingier, collecting what you’re owed requires fighting a battle on two fronts: the draconian payers on one front — and patients on the other. You need the

Kunal Jainnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677919995556150810.post-90579674615816997482008-11-12T11:52:00.000-08:002008-11-12T12:01:03.157-08:00

Q: We have been receiving Florida Medicaid EOB's Electronically till Aug.2008, now it has stopped and we do not receive any paper EOB's as well? A: this is the common issue with Florida Medicaid as local agent in Florida has changed and they did notify most of the physicians by a letter stating that doctors office can create a web based log in and pull the EOB's from their website. The new

Kunal Jainnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677919995556150810.post-80524632181308168322008-11-12T11:35:00.000-08:002008-11-12T11:49:29.536-08:00

Q: Lot of our new clients asks this question, How to get the data from previous billing company or what format it should be given so that it can easily be transferred to the required format?A: This is a simple questions but answer is very tricky , Data migration or transfer from previous software to new software or billing company depends on various factors:1. if your agreement allow you to get

Kunal Jainnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677919995556150810.post-7914164662837955622008-11-12T11:24:00.000-08:002008-11-12T11:28:29.395-08:00

Q: We have received medicare denials even after fixing the SSN instead of Tax id?A: in above scenario there are some software where you can insert SSN in place of Tax id however this does not actually send s the qualifier which is required for the claims to get accepted all claims which are supposed to go through SSN should have SY qualifier in the end where as any other claims goes through Tax

Kunal Jainnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677919995556150810.post-81132271206762059502008-11-12T11:15:00.000-08:002008-11-12T11:24:07.479-08:00

Q: our medicare claims getting rejected because our Tax id is not registered with the medicare id.Answer: Lot of practices or solo physician were enrolled in medicare program through their SSN , this has resulted into confusion when a new billing company starts submitting their claims using the tax id. You have 2 choices.1. The billing software should be able to generate claims with 2 different

Kunal Jainnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677919995556150810.post-12041624093938779042008-11-12T11:06:00.000-08:002008-11-12T11:23:32.334-08:00

Q: Solo physicians should submit the claims under individual NPI or They have to apply for a group NPI?Answer: this questions has been raised several time since the NPI crossover is implemented and our experience with this is as follows.medicare asks new physicians or practices who apply for medicare no to have separate NPI for their corporation even if they are solo. once they apply for a

Kunal Jainnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677919995556150810.post-45744081091638004492008-11-12T09:40:00.000-08:002008-11-12T09:53:23.755-08:00

Please feel free to ask the author if you are facing any challenges to manage your practice. Kunal will share his expert advice with you free of cost. Kunal checks all his messages posted here and reply within 24hours. We have a panel of certified coders and billers who will answer any questions related to medical Billing and coding.Please be brief and one question at a time.

Kunal Jainnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677919995556150810.post-9953544454463301572008-09-12T20:13:00.000-07:002008-09-12T20:19:13.334-07:00

Inspired by the Indian IT-ITES success story, several other locations have been presented as alternate options for offshore outsourcing. However, feedback received from several MNCs having multi-country operations as well as syndicated analyses comparing the various sourcing locations has revealed that India continues to offer and deliver the best ‘bundle’ of benefits sought from global

Kunal Jainnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677919995556150810.post-85533140910005596742008-05-08T09:02:00.001-07:002008-05-08T09:02:12.396-07:00

Physician leaders' tasks • Maintain clinical quality in the group practice • Assure work effort and efficiency of the physicians • Assure retention of physician staff • Develop an effective physician compensation plan • Determine physician recruitment needs and recruit competent staff • Resolve physician personnel issues • Deal with exceptional and problematic physicians • Be responsible for

Kunal Jainnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677919995556150810.post-61479404598180400362008-04-03T07:50:00.001-07:002008-04-03T07:50:32.753-07:00

Policy#1: New Patient Registration Policy: Demographic and insurance information will be collected from all new patients. This information will be verified prior to or at the time of the scheduled appointment. Procedures: Any patient being seen must be registered in our practice management system. This will ensure that pertinent patient demographic and insurance data is captured in the system

Kunal Jainnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677919995556150810.post-70735830605951617642007-08-22T09:07:00.001-07:002007-08-22T09:07:52.611-07:00

Protecting IT Infrastructure from Internet-based ThreatsRelated Products•Microsoft Exchange Server•Microsoft SharePoint Server•Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2•Microsoft ForefrontRelated Solutions•Microsoft Branch Office•Secure Messaging & CollaborationDefending Your Environment Against External and Internal Internet-based ThreatsBusinesses need to eliminate the damaging effects of malware and

Kunal Jainnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677919995556150810.post-85161028384892942732007-07-25T08:52:00.001-07:002007-07-25T08:52:37.672-07:00

Kunal Jainnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8677919995556150810.post-16242760375461804052007-07-25T08:26:00.000-07:002007-07-25T08:34:52.116-07:00

Practical EMR Implementation: Live case study. 1. Group Practice transformed them completely from paper based to paperless in 1 month.2. Upgrade the old pms or billing software from unix to Web based PMS system for multi location use and charge capture facility through PDA for real time billing. or alternate chose and integretad PMS and EMR system.3. Purchase an EMR which has flexibility for HL7

Kunal Jainnoreply@blogger.com0