 May 1, 2009 |
Issue No. 1 | |
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Newsletter Archive
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Greetings!
We were hoping to have news on Priority Health's new fee schedule. However, the fee schedule still has not been released as originally announced. We expect to hear from PH next week and will send you a newsletter update at that time.
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| Red Flag Rule Delayed |
Today, Friday, May 1st, is the day that the new Red Flag Rule was supposed to go into effect. However, we just received word that the FTC has delayed implementation of the Red Flag Rules until August 1, 2009.
The AMA and other organizations are still working at getting physicians' offices removed from the law. Chances are slim that they will be successful. The Commission also announced that it will soon release a template to help entities with a low risk of identity theft comply with the law. | |
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Medicare Plus Blue chart reviews are now mandatory
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Remember those chart reviews performed last year by MedAssurant on behalf of Medicare Plus Blue? Most doctors cooperated but, technically, the reviews were voluntary. Combing through charts to find additional unbilled diagnoses netted Medicare Plus Blue an additional $50 million in payments from CMS so the payer decided to make the reviews mandatory as of April 1, 2009.
However, the new policy has created quite a stir among Michigan physicians. Only this week, representatives of MSMS and MOS met with BCBSM and MedAssurant to voice their concern about the new policy. Stay tuned. We'll let you know if Medicare Plus Blue changes their policy.
In the meantime, you may be asked to send notes to MedAssurant in lieu of a visit by one of their reviewers. To offset this financial burden, Medicare Plus Blue will reimburse you $5 for each medical record sent to MedAssurant for review. This also applies to patients who are no longer your patients but were treated during the period under review.
To request reimbursement, you must complete a request form and attach a copy of your MedAssurant chart request letter. Click here to access form.
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| About Us |
If you have any questions regarding this newsletter, you can contact us at:
Mary Ellen Duffy med@ipcbilling.com Patricia Nevala pat@ipcbilling.comor call us at 616-459-6867 or 800-606-1455
Please feel free to forward this newsletter to your staff and peers.
Innovative Practice Concepts, LLC -- A full service medical billing company
Your Bottom Line is our Top Priority!
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