Why Are Medical Claims Denied? Most medical claim denials in practices aren’t related to coding. Medical claims are most frequently denied because … [Read more...]
Nicoletti Notes
This way for news!
Written for coders and medical professionals, Nicoletti Notes is a coding blog designed to keep you up-to-date with coding news and refreshers. Written by CodingIntel founder and coding expert Betsy Nicoletti.
Billing for Multiple Surgical Procedures
Multiple procedures on the same day. Use this step by step procedure to determine if you should bill for more than one procedure, and if so, if you … [Read more...]
Facility versus Non-Facility in the Physician Fee Schedule
CMS develops and publishes the Physician Fee Schedule in November of each year, as part of the Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule The fee schedule … [Read more...]
This practice paid Medicare $4.48 million
Do you sign up for email lists and then wonder why you did it? We all do, don’t we? But, one email I always read is from the Department of Justice … [Read more...]
Performing services that increase primary care revenue
CMS states it wants to increase pay to primary care physicians. And while we might quarrel with their strategies or with the speed of achieving the … [Read more...]
Overview of advance care planning
Advance Care Planning CPT® Codes Overview Primary care practices perform countless tasks every day for which there is no payment. CMS continually … [Read more...]
Pecked by a parrot. Oh no, not again!
We’ve all had a lot of fun with the ICD-10-CM external cause codes. But, do we need to use them? The answer to that is no according to the official … [Read more...]
Prescription drug management and medical decision making (MDM)
Whether using the original 1995/1997 guidelines or the 2021 new office/outpatient code guidelines for selecting the level of E/M service, the question … [Read more...]
Risky business, or tempest in a teapot: Are you an audit target?
Some days, it appears we compliance and coding folks are like the boy who cried wolf. We see shadows around every corner. We emulate Captain Kirk, … [Read more...]
Your Patient Wants to Talk: How to Bill for Discussion Visits
The current CPT rules for office visits say time may be used to select a code for new or established patients if counseling/coordination of care … [Read more...]
Coding for Screening Colonoscopy
An Overview of Colonoscopy Coding Guidelines Screening colonoscopy is a service with first dollar coverage. A screening test with an A or B rating … [Read more...]
No Chart Left Behind: Deadline to Complete Medical Records
Years ago, I worked with a physician who was chronically behind in dictating his notes. The charts were crammed into boxes by date, lining the walls … [Read more...]
The Physician Who Never Sleeps: Using the Correct NPI
Years ago, I worked with an Orthopedist who needed hours less sleep than I or the average person needed. While it would be incorrect to say he never … [Read more...]