HHS/CMS has set up an official website dedicated to the EHR/EMR Incentive Program. This site is for those of you who like to hear things directly “from the horse’s mouth.” If you would rather someone else do the reading, I’ll continue to report on significant developments as they occur.
{ 1 comment }
Good News: On Thursday, June 24th, congress passed legislation to delay the scheduled 21% fee reduction (retroactive to June 1) for another six months, and actually gave you a 2.2% increase!
Bad News: We’ll have to go through this “wait-and-see” again this fall. Also, Medicare did start sending out checks reflecting the 21% cut, so have your billing staff on the lookout for incorrect EOBs (DOS June 1, until now).
{ 0 comments }
Hands-Free Ultrasound is different than traditional ultrasound in that it doesn’t require constant attendance (direct one-on-one patient contact by the provider) to deliver the service. For this reason, you cannot bill 97035 (a constant attendance modality) for hands-free ultrasound – because constant attendance is not required. The most appropriate CPT code for this service would be 97039 (unlisted modality).
Keep this in mind if you plan on purchasing a hands-free device, or currently use one, as the savings in personnel overhead, may be negated by the fact many payers don’t reimburse unlisted codes such as 97039.
{ 0 comments }
