Thanksgiving Day, while a time for celebration and gratitude, can sometimes present unforeseen medical challenges. To assist healthcare providers in accurately coding these instances, we have compiled a list of relevant Thanksgiving ICD-10 codes. Here are a couple of Thanksgiving ICD-10 codes you might find useful this Thanksgiving season: W61.43: Pecked by a Turkey, Initial […]
The healthcare industry continues to face significant challenges, driven by value-based care initiatives, evolving payer models, and increasingly stringent regulations. To optimize revenue cycle management and ensure financial sustainability, healthcare providers must adapt to these changes . The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these challenges, leading to historically low margins and high costs, particularly in labor. Simultaneously, […]
Often, a seemingly routine preventive visit or minor surgery can take an unexpected turn when a patient mentions a new concern, such as “Oh, by the way…” If a physician provides additional care beyond the originally scheduled service, you may be able to bill for a separate evaluation and management (E/M) service using modifier 25. […]
Healthcare payment integrity is a crucial aspect of efficient claims processing, and its improvement can significantly reduce costs and improve patient care. Healthcare costs continue to climb, burdening patients, providers, and insurers alike. A significant driver of this issue is the inefficiency of healthcare administration, particularly in claims processing. Despite standardized claim formats, outdated systems […]
Claim denials are a common challenge for healthcare organizations, often leading to significant revenue loss. While it’s impossible to eliminate denials entirely, proactive Claim denial management can significantly reduce their impact. Industry standards for claim denials are lacking, making it difficult to track and analyze denial trends. Each payer has its own unique policies and […]
Medicare Telehealth Policy Changes are set to reshape the landscape of telehealth services. As the COVID-19 public health emergency ends, Medicare will revert to pre-pandemic policies, imposing stricter rules for telehealth services starting January 1, 2025, unless Congress intervenes. Key changes include: Geographic Restrictions: Patients must generally live in a health professional shortage area, a […]
The constant updates in medical codes and evolving payer regulations, healthcare providers are increasingly turning to external coding audits. This blog post explores the importance of external coding audits, benefits, and how they support the healthcare industry in minimizing compliance risks, improving revenue integrity, and enhancing operational efficiency. 1. What Is an External Coding Audit? […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has finalized its 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, which includes a 2.9% Medicare Physician Pay Cuts to physician payments. This decision, despite opposition from major industry groups, will impact healthcare providers and potentially patient access to care. The rule also includes several positive provisions, such as expanded […]
As diabetes prevalence increases, the importance of diabetes self-management training (DSMT) and medical nutrition therapy (MNT) becomes undeniable. To empower patients, optimize health outcomes, and ensure sustainable access, healthcare systems must integrate DSMT and MNT into diabetes care protocols. This article highlights the critical role of registered dietitians (RDs) and nutrition professionals in providing these […]
In the realm of healthcare billing and coding, modifiers are crucial tools used to provide additional context and specificity to procedure and diagnosis codes. These modifiers help healthcare providers accurately communicate the nature of services rendered to payers. Two commonly used modifiers, Modifiers 26 and Modifier TC, play significant roles in clarifying billing practices and […]