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Blog — Page 19

Practice management, team development, and multidisciplinary care.

390 articles · Page 19 of 20

Chiropractic PQRS Update for 2015

Blood Pressure is no longer required by chiropractors for PQRS 2015. Chiropractors are still required to take BP on 80% of patients age 3 and older for Meaningful Use criteria.

Nationwide D.C. Directory Supports Collective Goal Established in 2003

While the F4CP had its big debut in 2003, it didn’t get much attention until 2006 after retaining the services of CPR Communications . The public relations agency initiated a monthly campaign that included the distribution of press releases, print advertorials, public service announcements, social syndications and advertisements. As a result, for the past two years, the F4CP has distributed and tracked over 31 billion media impressions about chiropractic care and increased its monthly contributors to over 5,000 individuals. This impressive activity directly supported increased patient education, but it was not until this year that the campaign had the ability to increase market share – which, is being achieved through the new F4CP aggressive ad collection and D.C. Directory.

IS MODIFIER 59 GOING AWAY?

Anyone who uses modifier 59 needs to be aware that due to problems with the incorrect usage of this modifier (which by the way is also revised for 2015,) CMS has added four new HCPCS modifiers. An announcement by CMS stated that “CMS is establishing four new HCPCS modifiers to define subsets of the -59 modifier, a modifier used to define a “Distinct Procedural Service.”

Reminder: November 30 Deadline for EHR Incentive Program

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reopened the submission period for hardship exception applications for eligible professionals to avoid the 2015 Medicare payment adjustments for not demonstrating meaningful use of Certified Electronic Health Record Technology (CEHRT) for the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Programs. The new deadline is 11:59pm ET November 30, 2014 .

HHS OIG Auditing Chiropractic Records; ACA Offers Help to Members

The ACA was recently notified that the Office of Inspector General (OIG)* is currently conducting a nationwide review of the chiropractic profession. Doctors of chiropractic have received letters requesting records for services provided during calendar year 2013. It is critical that all doctors of chiropractic who receives a letter from the OIG responds with the requested documentation and by the specified deadline.

National Chiropractic Health Month

Hosted by the American Chiropractic Association (ACA), National Chiropractic Health Month (NCHM) is a national public awareness and education campaign held each October. NCHM strives to teach health care consumers about the benefits of chiropractic services and to promote the expertise of doctors of chiropractic (DCs) in helping their patients reach optimal levels of health and wellness.

HIPAA Reminder: Deadline for Updated Business Associate Agreements Approaching

In January 2013, the HIPAA Omnibus Final Rule was published in the Federal Register . While the initial compliance date for most components of the Final Rule was Sept. 23, 2014 , Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) did not have to be updated until the existing agreement expired or by Sept. 22, 2015 –the final compliance date. If providers have not already updated their existing Business Associate Agreements, they should start familiarizing themselves with the following before the Sept.

FINAL REMINDER: July 1 Deadlines for EHR Incentive Program

Two critical deadlines are coming up next week related to the Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program. Tuesday, July 1 , is the last day that first time participants can begin their 90-day reporting period of meaningful use (MU) in order to avoid the Medicare payment adjustment that will begin on Jan. 1, 2015 AND to qualify for up to $24,000 in incentive dollars over the next 2.25 years. For more information click here .

Medicare Fees for CMT to Increase on July 1

O n June 6, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued notification regarding updates to the 2014 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Database (MPFSDB) that will go into effect on July 1, 2014 . Included in the updates were new fees for Chiropractic Manipulative Treatment (CMT) codes 98940, 98941, and 98942. Following the completion of the Chiropractic Medicare Demonstration Project in March 2007, CMS determined that the costs of this demonstration were higher than expected and they were required to recover $50 million over a 5-year period by deducting 2 percent from payments for chiropractic services. CMS has now determined that the costs are fully recovered; therefore, effective for dates of service on or after July 1, 2014 , the 2 percent reduction for CPT codes 98940, 98941, and 98942 has been eliminated.

CMS Issues Proposed Rule – Potential MU Timeline Modifications

On May 20, HHS published a new proposed rule that would provide eligible professionals (EPs) more flexibility in how they use certified electronic health record technology (CEHRT) to meet meaningful use. Recognizing that many software vendors are having a difficult time making the necessary changes to get their EHR products certified and then getting their customers upgraded to the 2014 Edition CEHRT under the current timetable given in the 2014 Edition final rules, the newly proposed rule, from CMS and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), would let providers use their prior 2011 Edition CEHRT or a combination of 2011 and 2014 Edition CEHRT for the EHR reporting periods in 2014. Beginning in January 2015, all EPs would still be required to report using only a 2014 Edition CEHRT for the entire year. The proposed rule also includes a provision that would formalize CMS and ONC’s previously stated intention to extend Stage 2 through 2016 and begin Stage 3 in 2017.

Aetna’s Non-Covered Services–Are You Aware?

ACA’s Insurance Relations Department has received many calls from providers regarding Aetna claims denied and appealed for services represented with CPT 97140 with CMT. In an effort to assist each clinic in finding a resolution, ACA has developed a helpful Aetna-specific resource, How to File a Claim or Submit an Appeal , which is free to members. The document was updated to add information about physical therapy and alternative medicine services covered by Aetna. In reviewing some claims denied for 97140, it was determined that the issue was not that Aetna bundled manual therapy with CMT, but that the particular therapeutic procedure provided was excluded by Aetna. Aetna’s 97140 policy list of non-covered techniques includes Active Release, Graston, and Sacro-Occipital Technique, among others. ACA encourages each clinic to give extra consideration to the detailed information listed in these Aetna policies. Members who have denials for covered services should contact ACA’s Insurance Relations Department at [email protected] .

EHR Incentive Program: Waiting Doesn’t PAY!

In short, EPs must register to participate, become meaningful users of a certified EHR product for a 90-day reporting period in 2014, and successfully attest to MU to qualify for incentive dollars through the Medicare EHR Incentive Program. Act now! Visit our Alliance Partner page to find an EHR provider today before it’s too late. If you do not start by Oct. 3, 2014 , you will receive zero dollars and you will be subject to a maximum 5% decrease in your Medicare reimbursement . Don’t leave money on the table!

HIPAA and Meaningful Use and Windows XP

Answer: No. The Security Rule was written to allow flexibility for covered entities to implement security measures that best fit their organizational needs. The Security Rule does not specify minimum requirements for personal computer operating systems, but it does mandate requirements for information systems that contain electronic protected health information (e-PHI). Therefore, as part of the information system, the security capabilities of the operating system may be used to comply with technical safeguards standards and implementation specifications such as audit controls, unique user identification, integrity, person or entity authentication, or transmission security. Additionally, any known security vulnerabilities of an operating system should be considered in the covered entity’s risk analysis (e.g., does an operating system include known vulnerabilities for which a security patch is unavailable, e.g., because the operating system is no longer supported by its manufacturer).

Congress Reaches Preliminary Deal on Medicare Payment Reform

Three congressional committees reached an agreement today on the policy parameters of a bill to reform how Medicare pays physicians–including doctors of chiropractic–but they have not yet decided on how to pay for the replacement.

Important Notice: Federal EHR Reporting Periods for 2014 Amended

The Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program was designed in three steps with increasing requirements for participation. Originally, all providers needed to begin participating by meeting the Stage 1 requirements for a continuous 90-day period in their first year of meaningful use (MU) and a full year in their second year of meaningful use. After meeting the Stage 1 requirements, providers will then have to meet Stage 2 requirements for two full calendar years.