Related Stories

Texas Medicare Contractor Answers Critical Care Coding Questions - 05/25/2022

Confused about how to quantify critical care services or delegate such services to nonphysician practitioners? You’re in luck.

Practice e-Tips on Practice Operations - 05/25/2022

Billing Consulting HIPAA Forms Marketing Office Staff OSHA Patient Service Policies & Procedures Resources Billing Billing Medicare for Locum Tenens Billing Tip

Federal Surprise Billing Law in Effect: Get Educated - 04/05/2022

Despite ongoing litigation over certain aspects of the federal surprise billing law, the patient protection components of the No Surprises Act still took effect at the beginning of the year. With them come a number of changes that could significantly impact physician practices now that balance billing is largely prohibited.

Health Plans Not All Recognizing New Telehealth Code - 04/05/2022

A new telehealth code and a series of coding modifier descriptors have already taken effect in 2022 or will take effect soon. But not all health plans are recognizing the new coding elements, according to Texas Medical Association staff monitoring their status.

Practice e-Tips on Marketing Your Practice - 04/01/2022

Marketing Tips for Your Practice

Practice E-Tips on Billing and Collections - 03/18/2022

Practice E-Tips on Billing and Collections

Guide to Insurance Overpayments and Refund Requests - 03/18/2022

Use this guide to help you and your staff properly assess refund requests from health plans.

Human Resources Consulting Services - 03/07/2022

Would you like help with realigning staff duties, defining staff roles, streamlining work flow, and determining the most efficient staffing level for your practice? TMA Practice Consultants can help.

Here’s Your Billing and Collections Checklist for 2022 - 02/14/2022

TMA’s Reimbursement Services staff work year round with physicians and health plans to help make sure you get paid correctly and on time. They’ve put together a list of practical actions you can take at the start of 2022 to keep your billing and collections on track throughout the year.

Four Bill-Collecting Tips for New (or Any) Practices - 02/01/2022

Starting a practice can be daunting, and one challenge often overlooked is making sure you get paid. Although only a small number of patients will not pay you, or will pay slowly, they can hurt your bottom line. Writing off thousands of dollars in charges should not be an option.

Know State and Payer Rules for Clean Claims - 12/03/2021

Filing a clean claim gives you protections under Texas’ prompt pay law. For a claim to be “clean” you don’t have to fill out every field on the claim form, just the right ones.

Coding a Cancelled Procedure - 11/19/2021

How do we code a cancelled procedure, for example when a patient’s vital signs preclude continuing the procedure?

Instructions for Deleting Data Elements on NPI Applications - 11/19/2021

Step-by-step instructions to delete data elements on NPI applications

Sponsored Content: SEO for Medical Practices – Why It Matters - 11/17/2021

In the past, word-of-mouth referrals and repeat patients were the most reliable ways to grow and sustain any medical business. But in the age of the internet, online strategies are now the number one way to market health care services.‌

How to Calculate Underpaid Amount in Prompt Pay Rules - 11/17/2021

Even if the insurance company pays on time but underpays you - if it doesn't pay in full by the statutory deadline, it still must pay you a penalty based on the number of days the payment is late and the underpaid amount of the claim.

Late Fees Under Prompt Pay — How Much and When - 11/17/2021

Let’s say your contracted insurance carrier violates prompt pay laws and misses the deadline for paying or responding to your claim. When can you collect late fees and how much?

Preauthorization: What If the Diagnosis Changes? - 11/17/2021

Can the carrier deny payment for services performed to treat the final diagnosis? Can it refuse to pay for some of the inpatient days it initially authorized?

Sample Letter: Enlisting Patients Assistance for Claims Payment - 11/17/2021

This is a sample letter regarding a patient's outstanding health insurance payment.

Correct Code for Billing a Routine Venipuncture - 11/17/2021

Learn the correct code for billing a routine venipuncture.

Filing a Compliant With the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) - 11/17/2021

Filing a Compliant With the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI)

At-a-Glance Billing Guidelines - 11/17/2021

At-a-Glance Billing Guidelines

New Pocket Guides Added to TMA Quick Tips Page - 11/12/2021

Confused about billing for bilateral procedures or transitional care management? The wealth of resources on the Texas Medical Association’s Educational Quick Tips webpage recently grew with the addition of pocket guides for these services.

How to Avoid Coding Mistakes in Texas Medicaid - 10/15/2021

Ensuring Texas Medicaid dollars are spent for their intended purpose requires the Texas Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) to work with health care professionals to prevent waste. Accurate medical coding is part of that work. Incorrect codes result in overpayments – which impact taxpayers – and underpayments, which can impact your practice.

When Should We Write Off Large Patient Balances? - 09/23/2021

Is there a formula to calculate the net present value for the balance of a patient’s account compared with a small monthly payoff?

COVID-19: Billing and Coding - 09/16/2021

View COVID-19 resources related to billing and coding.