Archive of entries

09/28/21 | CMS gives more insight into appropriate DOS for imaging
 

The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has guidance for reporting the date of service (DOS) for various services. Information provided for global reporting, technical reporting and professional reporting

 

CMS gives more insight into appropriate DOS for imaging
 
07/01/21 | New CPT code for Subchondroplasty
 

Effective July 1st 2021 - the AMA released a new code for Subchondroplasties - are you ready for it

New CPT code for Subchondroplasty
 
03/17/20 | Telehealth regulations loosened
 

With the Coronavirus issues CMS has loosened the regulations and HIPAA issues that have caused concerns about when telehealth can be used. Check out the new release

Telehealth regulations loosened
 
01/29/20 | New Drug Delivery Codes 20700-20705
 

Stop using 11981-11983 as of Jan 1st 2020- Use the new drug delivery codes 20700-20705 --

New Drug Delivery Codes 20700-20705
 
04/04/19 | Watch your "stem cell" wording - On going FBI investigations
 

For those offices that are using the wording 'stem cells' or charging patients for these services you need to be aware of the FBI ongoing investigations.

Watch your
 
02/28/19 | Great article on the issues with 63047 and 22633 and 22630
 

Find out about the issues between 22633/22630 and 63047 and get the history of these codes.  Great information you can use for your private payer appeals.

Great article on the issues with 63047 and 22633 and 22630
 
01/02/19 | Accessing Newsletters
 

How to get newsletters

Accessing Newsletters
 
01/02/19 | Calendar events
 

Calendar events

Calendar events
 
09/26/18 | Scam audio flyer Fionexia - please don't sign up
 

It has come to my attention that there is a flyer (from Fionexia) that is going out from a company that is fraudualent and stating I am doing an audio for them.  Please do not sign up it is a scam.  The audio they are advertising was done for AudioEducator.com. It appears if you pay for it you may not get anything for your pay!!!

Scam audio flyer Fionexia - please don't sign up
 
08/11/18 | Margie Vaught Newsletters
 

Now you can access and download the newsletters directly from this site. 

Margie Vaught Newsletters
 
07/20/18 | 2019 Proposed Fee schedule released
 

Proposed 2019 Fee Schedule is out – hang on to your seats…

CMS released the 12th of July the proposed changed for the physician fee schedule for 2019 (https://www.cms.gov/Newsroom/MediaReleaseDatabase/Press-releases/2018-Press-releases-items/2018-07-12.html).

2019 Proposed Fee schedule released
 
07/20/18 | CPT updates policy of 63047 with 22633
 

CPT updates their policy regarding nerve root decompressions and interbody fusions

AANS, NASS and AAOS have been working hard on getting CPT to change their previous October 2016 CPT Assistant regarding nerve root decompression 63047 and interbody fusion 22633 being inclusive

CPT updates policy of 63047 with 22633
 
03/05/18 | Total knee arthroplasty (27447) removed from Inpatient only list – causing confusion
 

You may have been experiencing feedback from a facility when trying to schedule your total knee replacements as inpatients. 

Total knee arthroplasty (27447) removed from Inpatient only list – causing confusion
 
07/10/17 | New Category III codes effective Jan 1st, 2018
 

You will want to update your bone marrow aspiration coding for 2018 as well as some adipose-derived cell therapy for hands

New Category III codes effective Jan 1st, 2018
 
07/10/17 | Spinal surgery
 

If you do any spinal surgery you want to be aware of the Medicare changes that are taking place regarding number of levels, number of cages as well as diagnosis issues.

Spinal surgery
 
06/10/16 | CMS starting to list ICD-10s not covered
  Unspecified ICD-10 codes be careful
CMS starting to list ICD-10s not covered
 
07/09/15 | Total joint issues from CMS
  Total joint issues from CMS
Total joint issues from CMS
 
12/31/14 | Holding claims and fee schedule issues for 2015
  Medicare wants claims held starting Jan 1, 2015
Holding claims and fee schedule issues for 2015
 
08/20/14 | Medicare finally catching on that modifier 59 is not enough
 
Medicare finally catching on that modifier 59 is not enough
 
07/22/14 | Proposed 2015 Fee Schedule is out
 
Proposed 2015 Fee Schedule is out
 
07/22/14 | Keep an eye on your private payer contracts..
 
Keep an eye on your private payer contracts..
 
06/16/14 | New list of Great Orthopedic Resourcs and References
 
New list of Great Orthopedic Resourcs and References
 
06/16/14 | MedLearn gives more guidance for modifier 59
 
MedLearn gives more guidance for modifier 59
 
06/16/14 | OIG audit findings regarding EM services
 
OIG audit findings regarding EM services
 
12/16/13 | SGR on hold for Three months
 
SGR on hold for Three months
 
12/16/13 | NCCI 2014 Guidelines - bigger bundling issues
 
NCCI 2014 Guidelines - bigger bundling issues
 
12/06/13 | Are you ready for 2014?
  Fee schedules released, new NCCI guidelines released and HCPCS 2014 file released
Are you ready for 2014?
 
06/13/13 | Contact your elected officials to maintain In-office ancillary exceptions
 
Contact your elected officials to maintain In-office ancillary exceptions
 
05/23/13 | Medicare and Therapy EOBs with problems
 
Medicare and Therapy EOBs with problems
 
05/17/13 | Medicare Fraud Strike Force
 
Medicare Fraud Strike Force
 
05/02/13 | FAQs Available for Revised and Clarified Place of Service Coding Instructions Effective April 1- finally...
 
FAQs Available for Revised and Clarified Place of Service Coding Instructions Effective April 1- finally...
 
05/02/13 | CPT issues more errata for the 2013 Manual
 
CPT issues more errata for the 2013 Manual
 
05/02/13 | CMS delays Medicare Phase 2 ordering/referring requirement
 
CMS delays Medicare Phase 2 ordering/referring requirement
 
03/26/13 | OIG renders opinion on POD
 
OIG renders opinion on POD
 
03/26/13 | Watch out emailing and patients vs. HIPAA compliance
 
Watch out emailing and patients vs. HIPAA compliance
 
03/06/13 | Don't but off your ICD-10 education.
 
Don't but off your ICD-10 education.
 
03/01/13 | Will sequester law's cause problems for your facility??
 
Will sequester law's cause problems for your facility??
 
02/25/13 | Some good news.. or is it just a bragging Mom...
 
Some good news.. or is it just a bragging Mom...
 
01/23/13 | Act by Friday to secure one-year HIPAA mega-rule extension for business associates
  Act by Friday to secure one-year HIPAA mega-rule extension for business associates
Act by Friday to secure one-year HIPAA mega-rule extension for business associates
 
11/01/12 | 2013 Physician Fee schedule released...
 
2013 Physician Fee schedule released...
 
09/21/12 | Becareful with level 4s and 5s and your EMR
 
Becareful with level 4s and 5s and your EMR
 
09/04/12 | 2013 CPT just around the corner
 
2013 CPT just around the corner
 
08/01/12 | Doctor fix - Congress starting the ball rolling
 
Doctor fix - Congress starting the ball rolling
 
07/10/12 | CCI 18.3 changes an allows loose body removal
 
CCI 18.3 changes an allows loose body removal
 
07/10/12 | Proposed physician fee schedule out for 2013 - not good...
 
Proposed physician fee schedule out for 2013 - not good...
 
05/31/12 | How many EMs are included in the global surgical package the OIG wants to know...
 
How many EMs are included in the global surgical package the OIG wants to know...
 
05/30/12 | Get your instrumentation and grafting paid with 22633-YEAH
 
Get your instrumentation and grafting paid with 22633-YEAH
 
04/09/12 | Proposed 1 year delay of ICD-10
 
Proposed 1 year delay of ICD-10
 
02/14/12 | ICD-10 now delayed until October 1, 2014
 
ICD-10 now delayed until October 1, 2014
 
01/17/12 | Florida & Trailblazers Medicare Carrier questioning medical necessity of total joints
 
Florida & Trailblazers Medicare Carrier questioning medical necessity of total joints
 
01/11/12 | Problems with 29826 and 29822 for 2012 - changes April 2012
 
Problems with 29826 and 29822 for 2012 - changes April 2012
 
12/09/11 | RAC audits for total joints and spinal procedures
 
RAC audits for total joints and spinal procedures
 
09/20/11 | MedPAC Releases SGR Repeal Proposal
  Bad news for 2012 and Sustainable Growth Rate...
MedPAC Releases SGR Repeal Proposal
 
04/19/11 | Official Interpretation of xrays and orders needed
 
Official Interpretation of xrays and orders needed
 
02/10/10 | What can you charge for copying records
 
What can you charge for copying records
 
01/15/10 | New PRP injection code
 
New PRP injection code