PPR News :: You Can Now Follow PPR on Twitter

Looking for the latest updates on medical billing, coding and industry news? Follow Professional Practice Resources on twitter. 

Billing News :: Medicare Advantage Update

Effective January 1, 2010, State of Michigan retirees will transition from BCBSM’s Medicare Advantage PFFS plan to BCBSM’s Medicare Supplemental plan. As a result of the transition, SOM retirees will be issued new ID cards. Be sure to ask for the new ID cards after January 1, 2010 and check benefits and eligibility on web-DENIS.

Billing News ::  2010 Physician Fee Schedule Available

The 2010 Medicare physician fee schedule is online and available for download. The fees schedule will be effective January 1, 2010 - February 28, 2010. Legislation eliminated the proposed negative 20% update to the Medicare Physicians Fee Schedule and has provided for a zero percent update for the months of January and February 2010. In addition, there have been revisions to the Physician Fee Schedule Conversion Factor and Practice Expense Relative Value Units (RVUs).

You can download the 2010 fee schedule from the WPS Medicare website.

Coding News ::  CMS Eliminating Consultation Codes

As it stands now, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will implement a new policy January 1 that eliminates consultation billing codes, except for telehealth consultations.

After January 1, physicians should bill services that are currently billed as consultation codes as new or established office visits, initial hospital visits, or initial nursing facility visits. CMS will no longer recognize consultation codes 99241-99245 and 99251-99255 for Medicare Part B.

Consultation services are evaluation and management services that are provided by physicians, based on a request by another physician or appropriate source.
CMS proposes to implement the rule in a budget neutral manner by increasing the relative value units (RVUs) associated with new and established office visits, and with initial facility visits for hospitals and nursing homes.

You can download additional information from the CMS website.