ChiroCode
Alerts - Jan 27, 2010 by
LaMont J. Leavitt, President/CEO of ChiroCode Institute
1.
2010 Medicare Fees - An Update!
2. 2010 ChiroCode
DeskBook - A walk through of Basic and Premium Support
3. 2010 ChiroCode
DeskBook - Now Shipping!
4. The $44,000 Update
Webinar - You Don't Want to Miss This Event!
5. ChiroCode and Avazzia
- Announce New Seminar Schedule
6. ChiroCode Webinar
Archive and ChiroCode Spotlights - Now Available to Watch
1.
2010 ChiroCode DeskBook - Now Shipping!
We received mixed responses from Medicare in our initial requests on the status
of Medicare Fees for 2010. We would like to thank the doctors who sent us
updated feedback. The following response is a great source for help with
setting your 2010 Medicare Fees:
"Unfortunately,
the information you gave about the Medicare fees is incorrect. Congress
passed a bill to freeze the conversion factor (21.5% reduction) for 2 months,
but the 2010 RVUs are still in effect. The 2009 conversion factor is being
used with the 2010 RVUs which is resulting in a slight decrease in chiropractic
reimbursement for January and February 2010 (compared to 2009). This is
especially important for doctors that are non-par because most of them collect
from the patient at the time of service and would be collecting too much if
they use the 2009 fee schedule. Our Medicare carrier (WPS) posted the
2-month fee schedule to their website on January 4th, so I'm guessing the rest
of the MACs have done the same. Please alert your subscribers to this minor
change and direct them to their Medicare carrier's website for specific
rates." -Cathi Hammond-Medical Business Consulting, Inc.
Upon
receiving feedback we compared the 2010 fee schedule to the 2009 fee schedule
and there is a slight reduction. There is also a note that the fee schedule was
revised on January 20. It had also been stated in earlier publications
that the RVUs for chiropractic would not be changed this year. That seems
to not be the case. It speaks volumes that we are at the end of January and
there is still considerable confusion regarding the 2010 fee schedule. That
said, this is the action we recommend you take:
Go to your local carrier or MAC website
and check the 2010 fee schedule for your locality. Consider this fee
schedule to be the final word and follow it.
If you are a non-par provider and have
inadvertently overcharged your patients, correct their account on the next
visit and make a note of why the correction was made.
If you have sent billing to Medicare,
call the MAC or carrier to determine how to correct the billings. Do this
ASAP.
Regularly (weekly) check the MAC or
carrier website for any changes to the Fee schedule. There is more to
come.
We will
continue to monitor this situation and will alert you as things change. You can
also login to ChiroCode Basic Support http://www.chirocode.com/basic_support
and use the Medicare Fee Calculator as well as access your 2010 ChiroCode Fee
worksheets.
2.
2010 ChiroCode DeskBook - A walk through of Basic and Premium Support
Presented by LaMont Leavitt,
President-CEO ChiroCode Institute
The 2010 ChiroCode DeskBook comes with free Basic Support or the upgraded
Premium Support. Join us for a walk through of both services and learn how to
get the most out of each.
We are pleased to announce that the 2010 ChiroCode DeskBook is now shipping.
Our initial reviews have been that the new 2010 ChiroCode DeskBook is nothing
short of fantastic.
The 2010 ChiroCode DeskBook is packed with what you need to empower you to get
paid and keep it. This new 18th annual edition is more than just current codes.
Here are just some of the highlights:
The entire
book has been updated with critical information, forms, explanatory references
and internet links to information that helps you get paid and keep it.
Compliance
and Risk Management Section Several new pages have been added to the
Compliance and Risk Management section to help you weather the "perfect
storm" that the entire chiropractic industry is now facing, with post-payment
audits and refund demands. Refer to these tips often. Also new and updated are
the Red Flags Rules and OIG Compliance Program Guidance.
Documentation
Section
New pages for Initial Visits, Subsequent Visits and Treatment Plans have been
added. Applying the information on these pages to your practice is an important
part of protecting your practice against audits and refund demands. Also
included are updated standards for performance pay (bonuses), updated codes for
record keeping, and the Problem Oriented Medical Record (POMR). Learn the rules
so that you can play their game and win.
Denials
and Appeals Section
This section has critical and essential knowledge for the management of claim
denials and adverse determinations.
If you
haven't ordered yet, you now have three ways to get your book:
ChiroCode DeskBook with Premium
Support-One Payment: Regular $479, now only $429
ChiroCode DeskBook with Premium
Support-Monthly Payments: 1st Payment $129, 11 monthly payments of just
$29.95
ChiroCode DeskBook with Basic
Support-One Payment: Regular $129, now only
$109
4.
The $44,000 Update Webinar - If You Missed Our Last "$44,000 Stimulus
Money" Webinar, You Don't Want to Miss This Event! Presented by Reimbursement
Specialist and Health Care Attorney, Keith Pendleton, JD.
In the waning days of December, 2009, the US Department of Health and Human
Services released its rules for 'meaningful use' of an electronic health record/electronic
medical record (EHR/EMR). These rules will govern the eligibility status for
providers seeking stimulus funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment
Act.
Medicfusion EMR, the ChiroCode Institute, along with Find-A-Code.com, National
Injury Diagnostics, American Billing Association and the other sponsors of
Tipology will host a live and pertinent informational webinar and entertain
questions and answers on February 2 at 4pm Eastern Time. The webinar will be
presented by health care attorney, Keith Pendleton.
If you have specific questions you would like Tipology to address during this
webinar, you are invited to submit them in advance by email to gopaperless@medicfusion.com .
This webinar will cut through the clutter and misinformation circulating
throughout the health care world. Keith will provide honest information in a
pertinent 75-minute session that explores this complex topic.
5.
ChiroCode and Avazzia - Announce New Seminar Schedule
ChiroCode and Avazzia have joined forces to provide Chiropractors new
technology and therapies that will increase their practice revenue by giving
patients new relief from acute and chronic pain. The FDA-approved Avazzia
Biofeedback Electro-Stimulation Technology (BESTTM) uses micro-current
stimulation, enhanced by bio-feedback, to provide relief of pain from a myriad
of disorders. A series of accredited two-and one-half day seminars are now
being scheduled nationwide, with 16 CEUs offered by the Natural Therapies
Certification Board for each seminar attended.
The next
seminar is set for Dallas, TX, the weekend of February 12-14, 2010. Speakers
will include Tim Smith, developer of the technology, Dr. Stan Wolfe, expert in
microcurrent therapy physiological effects, and Drs. John and Lorry Hache, who
will provide instruction in clinical applications.
Seminar cost
with early registration is $250 (rising to $499 within 10 days of the event).
An additional 25% discount is offered to those who have already purchased an
Avazzia device. To RSVP, Call 214-575-2820, (Fax 214-575-2824), email info@avazzia.com. The seminars will be held
at the Avazzia Corporate offices, 13154 Coit Rd, Suite 200, Dallas, TX.
Affordable lodging is nearby.
6.
ChiroCode Webinar Archive and ChiroCode Spotlights - Now Available to Watch
ChiroCode Webinars are now available for 24/7 viewing. They are held usually
every Thursday at 2pm Mountain Time (4pm Eastern, 3pm Central, 1pm Pacific) and
cover a variety of topics that pertain to ChiroCode coding, reimbursement,
compliance and denial management. ChiroCode Webinars are live presentations
with both audio and video. ChiroCode Institute utilizes the excellent
GoToMeeting tool to allow you to participate via your phone and computer.
ChiroCode Premium Support subscribers may view ALL past ChiroCode Webinars.
ChiroCode Basic Support subscribers may view the three most recent
webinars.
ChiroCode Spotlights highlight new technologies, programs and services. We
believe that they can be a great benefit to Chiropractic offices. ChiroCode
Spotlights are held on Tuesdays (but not every Tuesday) at 2pm Mountain Time
(4pm Eastern, 3pm Central, 1pm Pacific). They are a live presentation with both
audio and video. ChiroCode Spotlights are available to everyone!
Save time with simple, fast code searching. Eliminate coding frustrations by getting the timely answers you need. Avoid denials and lost payments with current, up-to-date information. Improve your office's bottom line. Enhance your skills as a coder.
