May 2009 Client Newsletter
Medicare Deductibles
Amazingly this year, we are STILL seeing patients meeting their Medicare deductibles as recent as today, May 1, 2009. This is by far the latest in the calendar year we have seen in our 19 years of business.
HOSPITAL OBSERVATION STATUS
Recently some physician clients have been experiencing occasional issues with differentiating hospital observation vs. inpatient status. Because the patient can be on a floor in what appears to be an inpatient bed, it can be confusing. In speaking with the VP of Medical Affairs of one hospital, he said it solely depends on the admission orders – they will either say “admit to hospital†or “admit to observation.†The CPT codes are different for each. If in doubt, and to avoid a delay in your payments, we suggest verifying the status before sending us your billing information.
If you need any assistance, please feel free to call.
Common Myth
Every once in a while a patient will write a check for part of their balance and write “Paid in Full†on it. This has no force or effect legally – imagine if you wrote it on your next mortgage check! If it was true, we would have all done it. In those cases, you can safely cash the check and the patient can be billed for any remaining balance.
Not A Myth
When calling a patient about medical issues, it is a violation of HIPAA Privacy to discuss issues with a spouse or parent of a child who has reached majority age (18) without written permission to do so. That does not prevent you from reminding patients about appointments by calling and/or leaving a message, unless the patient has specifically asked you not to.
HITECH ACT
The new federal HITECH Act provides financial incentives to physicians, hospitals and certain other providers through either the Medicare or Medicaid programs for the "meaningful use" of Electronic Health Records.
Amazingly this year, we are STILL seeing patients meeting their Medicare deductibles as recent as today, May 1, 2009. This is by far the latest in the calendar year we have seen in our 19 years of business.
HOSPITAL OBSERVATION STATUS
Recently some physician clients have been experiencing occasional issues with differentiating hospital observation vs. inpatient status. Because the patient can be on a floor in what appears to be an inpatient bed, it can be confusing. In speaking with the VP of Medical Affairs of one hospital, he said it solely depends on the admission orders – they will either say “admit to hospital†or “admit to observation.†The CPT codes are different for each. If in doubt, and to avoid a delay in your payments, we suggest verifying the status before sending us your billing information.
If you need any assistance, please feel free to call.
Common Myth
Every once in a while a patient will write a check for part of their balance and write “Paid in Full†on it. This has no force or effect legally – imagine if you wrote it on your next mortgage check! If it was true, we would have all done it. In those cases, you can safely cash the check and the patient can be billed for any remaining balance.
Not A Myth
When calling a patient about medical issues, it is a violation of HIPAA Privacy to discuss issues with a spouse or parent of a child who has reached majority age (18) without written permission to do so. That does not prevent you from reminding patients about appointments by calling and/or leaving a message, unless the patient has specifically asked you not to.
HITECH ACT
The new federal HITECH Act provides financial incentives to physicians, hospitals and certain other providers through either the Medicare or Medicaid programs for the "meaningful use" of Electronic Health Records.
A word of caution, the financial incentives can be offset thru seeing less patients if the system is not efficient. If you decide to test an EHR system, be sure you have a no risk, trial period during which you can return it for no further obligation if you do not like it. If you find a system you like, CPB will arrange to have it interfaced with our system.
A quick look at the Medicare physician financial incentives to use EHR:
Now if they could just make it quick and easy to use!