H1N1: Same code for diagnosis, new one for vaccine :: Nov. 23, 2009 CPT codes are the same for all flu, but H1N1 has separate procedure codes. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/23/bisb1123.htm- 28.4KB

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Need a practice management system? Here's what to look for :: Nov. 2, 2009 Upgrading, replacing or adopting a practice management system can be difficult. Asking the right questions will ensure you get the right system. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/11/02/bisa1102.htm- 37.7KB

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How to code, bill for H1N1 flu vaccine :: Oct. 12, 2009 .. American Medical News Practice Management - A column about keeping your practice in good health http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/10/12/bica1012.htm- 32.5KB

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Rapid rise in COBRA enrollment creates billing hassles :: Sept. 14, 2009 .. ... Physicians can go months without pay while waiting for laid-off patients' coverage to kick in. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/09/14/bisb0914.htm- 31.0KB

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Health plans still need to work on basic skills :: Editorial Sept. 7, 2009 .. ... The AMA report card shows the mixed progress insurers have shown in improving their services for physicians. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/09/07/edsa0907.htm- 29.4KB

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Sliding economy leaves physicians wary about collections :: Aug. 31, 2009 .. ... An MGMA survey finds the biggest challenges for practices are covering expenses and getting paid by patients. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/08/31/bisa0831.htm- 32.0KB

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How to reduce your practice's credit card fees :: Aug. 17, 2009 .. American ... Practice Management - A column about keeping your practice in good health http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/08/17/bica0817.htm- 32.9KB

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Practices see slow progress in instant claims adjudication :: Aug. 17, 2009 ... Barriers such as work-flow changes and high rejection rates have physicians hesitant to use a technology that promises a quicker path to getting paid. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/08/17/bil20817.htm- 36.0KB

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Facility fees added to patient bills have some crying foul :: Aug. 10, 2009 .. ... Clinics that charge patients extra say the cost of meeting Medicare standards justifies the fees, but the response is calls for more billing transparency. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/08/10/bisc0810.htm- 30.1KB

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Indiana medical association files complaint against WellPoint over payment ... The health plan says glitches caused by a new computer system have been resolved, but doctors say problems persist. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/08/03/bisb0803.htm- 31.5KB

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Patient portion of fees often a mystery :: July 20, 2009 .. American Medical News A survey finds half of practices and billers don't know, outside of co-pays, what to charge at the time of service. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/07/20/bil20720.htm- 32.8KB

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Minn. health plan consortium develops online claims portal :: June 29, 2009 .. ... A Web-based service will help physicians comply with a July 15 deadline to submit claims electronically. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/06/29/bisb0629.htm- 28.8KB

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More practices refusing to accept credit cards from patients :: June 22, 2009 .. ... Increasing transaction fees are cited as a major factor. But experts say those fees are still cheaper than issuing paper statements and chasing payments. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/06/22/bil20622.htm- 34.8KB

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5 answers to your recession questions: Tips to keep your practice solvent :: June ... The concerns aren't new, but the urgency is. Practice management consultants answer the questions physicians are asking most often. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/06/15/bisa0615.htm- 37.6KB

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State medical societies strategize against collector :: May 18, 2009 .. American ... Legal action is one option against Health Research Insights. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/05/18/bisc0518.htm- 27.5KB

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Cigna backs off documentation requirements :: May 11, 2009 .. American Medical ... After organized medicine objections, Cigna amends its list of when documents are needed for coding modifiers. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/05/11/bisa0511.htm- 29.9KB

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Company stops tapping physicians for 'overpayments' :: May 11, 2009 .. American ... Doctors protested self-insured Georgia-Pacific's attempt to collect refunds of suspected claims upcoding. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/05/11/bisb0511.htm- 27.9KB

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How to set your fee schedule: Experts advise updating it every 3 to 12 months :.. You know what third parties pay you. But experts say you also need to know what your base charge is for every service you provide. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/05/04/bisa0504.htm- 40.6KB

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Self-insured companies going after doctors to recover 'overpaid' claims :: April .. There is no clear time limit on how far back ERISA-protected companies can go to recoup money. One company is turning that into a business. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/04/13/bil10413.htm- 35.8KB

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When patients declare bankruptcy: What happens to your unpaid bills? :: March 9, .. Experts offer tips on what you can do, and how you can recognize when a patient might be headed for financial trouble. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/03/09/bisa0309.htm- 41.8KB

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Medicare tries to push doctor enrollment online :: March 9, 2009 .. American ... Complaints voiced after the system rollout are prompting CMS to change its policy and let physicians' staffs use PECOS. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/03/09/gvsa0309.htm- 32.6KB

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United sets new basis for fee schedule :: March 2, 2009 .. American Medical News UnitedHealthcare abandons a program that allowed for changes in reimbursement without warning to physicians. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/03/02/bisb0302.htm- 28.1KB

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Cigna develops cost-of-care estimator :: March 2, 2009 .. American Medical News The tool allows physicians to compute a patient's bill at the appointment. Experts say it's not fair to limit such collections to one plan's members. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/03/02/bisd0302.htm- 29.0KB

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Texas physicians voice time, pay frustrations :: Feb. 23, 2009 .. American ... Doctors say their pay is going down but the hassles continue to increase. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/02/23/bisc0223.htm- 30.6KB

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Court sides with doctors on privacy of Medicare claims, reverses 2007 ruling :.. The AMA joined the government in appealing an earlier decision that would have led to selected data being posted online. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/02/16/gvl10216.htm- 33.8KB

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Riding the revenue cycle: Coping with seasonal fluctuations :: Feb. 9, 2009 ... Experts offer tips for smoothing the peaks and dips of your money flow. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/02/09/bisa0209.htm- 33.5KB

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United agreements: Fair payments ahead :: Editorial Feb. 2, 2009 .. American ... UnitedHealth Group agrees to bring out-of-network rate calculations into the sunlight as well as pay back some of those physicians who were underpaid. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/02/02/edsa0202.htm- 28.5KB

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Keeping rubber checks from clogging revenue flow :: Jan. 26, 2009 .. American ... Practice Management - A column about keeping your practice in good health http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/01/26/bica0126.htm- 30.1KB

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California's high court bans balance billing :: Jan. 26, 2009 .. American Medical ... Doctors say the decision will burden an already strained emergency care system. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/01/26/prsa0126.htm- 31.7KB

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Taking a financial history: Determining the health of your patient's credit .. Getting credit information on your patients could help them qualify for assistance and help you figure out who is likely to pay bills. Plenty of companies will sell you the information, but is it worth the ethical and ... http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/01/19/bisa0119.htm- 40.2KB

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What bosses want: Accuracy with health insurance claims tops the list :: Dec. 1, ... Quick View - An occasional snapshot of current facts and trends in medicine. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/12/01/bicb1201.htm- 27.4KB

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Tough economic times call for vigilant business sense :: Dec. 1, 2008 .. American ... Practice Pointers - A column answering your questions about the business side of your practice http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/12/01/bicc1201.htm- 30.6KB

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AMA initiatives fight inequities of claims processing :: Nov. 3, 2008 .. American ... AMA Leader Commentary - A message to all physicians about current events in medical practice http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/11/03/edca1103.htm- 31.4KB

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Stake your claim for accurate reimbursement :: Editorial Oct. 20, 2008 .. ... An AMA initiative is designed to provide doctors the tools to appeal inappropriately denied and underpaid insurance claims. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/10/20/edsa1020.htm- 29.0KB

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Doctors decry payment delays after Medicare overhauls carrier system :: Oct. 13, .. Low-bidding contractors taking over from the old carriers are ill-equipped for the task, physicians say. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/10/13/gvl11013.htm- 39.7KB

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Don't rush change to ICD-10 codes :: Editorial Oct. 6, 2008 .. American Medical ... CMS' 2011 deadline for updating to a far more complicated coding system with a new transaction form is unreasonable and unrealistic. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/10/06/edsa1006.htm- 28.8KB

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CMS calls for transition to ICD-10 codes in 3 years :: Sept. 8, 2008 .. American ... Physicians would still be able to use CPT codes for billing but would adopt the greatly expanded ICD-10 codes for diagnoses. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/09/08/gvsa0908.htm- 32.8KB

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Massachusetts law requires drug firm gift details, uniform billing codes :: Sept. ... The wide-ranging health care legislation also will promote ways to expand access to primary care. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/09/01/gvsc0901.htm- 29.9KB

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Rating insurers will help fix inefficient claims system :: Editorial July 21, ... A new AMA initiative is designed to improve the process and provide doctors with accurate payments. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/07/21/edsa0721.htm- 28.7KB

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Medicare double-delay: Senate fails to act, CMS holds physician claims :: July 14 ... The government won't process doctors' Medicare claims until July 15 to give lawmakers more time to pass legislation stopping pay cuts. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/07/14/gvl10714.htm- 35.0KB

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Medicare audit overreach? Doctors think so, but audits aren't going away :: July .. Physicians decry the heavy-handed methods of Medicare's 'bounty hunters,' but Congress and the White House are expanding the program nationwide. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/07/07/gvsa0707.htm- 40.7KB

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AMA meeting: AMA grades health plans on how they handle claims :: July 7, 2008 ... The Association hopes to reduce the administrative costs and other obstacles doctors face in collecting from insurance companies. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/07/07/prl10707.htm- 38.0KB

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Illinois Medicaid paid physicians too slowly, state audit says :: June 16, 2008 ... But doctors are applauding the state's efforts to speed up payment. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/06/16/gvsb0616.htm- 33.1KB

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NPI deadline: Insurers won't pay claims with old IDs after May 23 :: May 12, 2008 ... Physicians should not count on getting any additional time to become compliant, a CMS official said. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/05/12/gvl10512.htm- 33.9KB

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EMR success stories: Practices that are thriving after the changeover :: May 5, .. Physicians who have seen an electronic medical records system pay for itself within a year share how they, and their systems, made it happen. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/05/05/bisa0505.htm- 39.4KB

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Getting paid for prevention: Physicians facing coding challenges :: March 24/31, .. Promises of payment for managing chronic illness and preventing disease have doctors struggling to track and bill for both 'well' and 'sick' care. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/03/24/bisa0324.htm- 39.3KB

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Charting your patients' insurance: It's all in a simple grid :: Feb. 25, 2008 ... With one sheet of paper, a suburban Chicago practice found a way to navigate the maze of insurers' requirements for referral and reimbursement. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/02/25/bisa0225.htm- 34.9KB

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Picking the right process: Deciding the best way to submit claims :: Feb. 18, .. Getting a claim paid can be a maddening experience. Making it smoother takes the right technology, but also requires monitoring how your practice works with its claims processor and health plans. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/02/18/bisa0218.htm- 38.7KB

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Analyze payer mix before deciding how to change it :: Jan. 28, 2008 .. American .. Practice Pointers - A column answering your questions about the business side of your practice http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/01/28/bica0128.htm- 35.2KB

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Giving credit to get what's due: How doctors can help patients pay the bill :.. Your waiting-room sign says, 'Patient portion must be paid at the time of service.' But what if your patient can't pay? Setting up a payment plan could be the answer. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/01/21/bisa0121.htm- 37.9KB