One of the common reasons your medical claims may be denied is for missing modifiers or invalid modifier combinations, which basically means that your procedure code isn’t consistent with the modifier you’ve used. Accurate coding of treatment is essential, but it’s also important to ensure you include modifiers when necessary and ensure you’ve used the correct one for the code you’re using.
There are numerous long-awaited and requested changes and additions to codes from both the AMA and CMS that can be expected for the coming year as well as beyond. Many of these pertain to distance medicine and the technologies necessary to provide such services. Below are some more significant changes ahead for providers and their coding staff.
Finding ways to lower costs and increase revenue is essential if you want to keep your medical practice afloat financially. With rising business costs, effective and accurate medical coding is more important than ever. It’s the diagnostic and procedural codes submitted with reimbursement claims that mandate the amount providers are paid for their work. Medical practices must make sure they optimize coding procedures for financial success. Try implementing the following tips to ensure your practice is coding more effectively.
Although many internal medicine practices are focusing on big coding changes, such as the ICD-10 transition, which makes coding a bit trickier, it’s important for practices to avoid losing focus on the coding basics. With so many new codes introduced and trickier coding, claim denials have increased for many practices. Keep your internal medicine practice in the black by avoiding the following common coding errors that can result in claim denials, costing your practice big time.
In a number of specialty practices, such as internal or sports medicine, sooner or later a practitioner may find themselves participating as a consulting physician at the request of another provider. Whether functioning in an orthopedic capacity for x-ray readings, as in the case of a worsening condition, or an internist confirming pre-op surgery clearance, consulting can be tricky to properly code for reimbursement. Adhering closely to changing federal (CMS) and insurance industry guidelines while still providing the services and care required can be challenging; knowing which of the new ICD-10 codes and modifiers to use for accurate, reimbursable billing makes it more so.
