The many CPT and HCPCS modifiers can leave coders dazed and confused when it comes to appropriately appending them. Unfortunately, hard-coding certain modifiers into your chargemaster is not the answer. However, having coders take the time to brush up on them regularly can certainly help.
Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center in Mattoon, IL developed a productivity incentive plan for their coders and transcriptionists. For the hospital, the bonus plan serves as a retention and marketing tool, not to mention it has increased productivity, and the staff members appreciate it, too.
CMS has once again contracted with the TMF Health Quality Institute to release Program for Evaluating Payment Patterns Electronic Reports (PEPPER) data in 2010.
The start of the new year typically ushers in a multitude of code changes. But for 2010, there is an important change in Medicare’s payment of E/M codes many hospitals may have overlooked.
CMS finalized its proposal to stop paying for consultation codes (99251–99255 and 99241–99245), according to the 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule, published in the November 25 Federal Register.
