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Practice E-Tips on Billing and Collections - 09/26/2024

Practice E-Tips on Billing and Collections

Medicare May Seek Payment Recoupment for 2023 Claims - 04/09/2024

A new report by the Government Accountability Office shows physicians may face possible recoupments – or additional payment – for claims filed in 2023 as a result of over and underpayments by Medicare, Medicaid, and other federal programs.

Physicians May Face Lower Payment as CMS Resumes Lab Data Collection - 03/11/2024

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will continue to collect data from physician-owned laboratories to inform private payer rates despite pushback from the Texas Medical Association.

Spending Growth Rate for Physician Services Slows - 01/09/2024

Although spending on physician and clinical services increased 2.7% year-over-year to $884.9 billion in 2022, the spending growth rate fell, due in part to a slowdown in the use of such services and in physician prices. In comparison, spending on physicians and clinical services grew 5.3% in 2021.

How to File a Medicare Extended Repayment Plan - 12/06/2023

  Extended repayment plans (ERPs) are an option for returning overpaid money to Medicare. Ideally, you should request an ERP immediately after receiving the initial demand letter. However, you can request an extended payment plan any time while the overpayment is outstanding. 

CMS to Recoup Chronic Care Management Payments - 08/21/2023

Some Texas physicians and outpatient facilities might have to refund payments they received for chronic care management services performed during 2015 and 2016 under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, federal officials said.

Preauthorization Denial: What’s Your Recourse? - 07/25/2023

So a health plan has denied your preauthorization request for a patient’s treatment. What options do you have?

5010 Deadline Extended; Dual Eligible Problem Not Fixed - 07/25/2023

Acknowledging that many physicians and billing entities still aren't ready, federal officials are giving physicians three more months before it begins enforcing the use of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability (HIPAA) 5010 transaction standards. The new deadline is June 30.

Practice e-Tips on Claims - 07/20/2023

Appeals Appealing Claims Can Have Appealing Results   Claim Forms Multiple Place-of-Service Codes on a Single 1500 Claim Form   Fees New Laws Require Billing Di

Practice e-Tips on Reimbursement - 07/20/2023

Billing & Fees Claims Coding & Documentation Collections Copayments & Deductibles Medicaid & Medicare Workers' Comp Billing & Fees Are You Missing Out on Your Money?    Billi

You Can Get Paid for Medicaid Emergency Services - 07/20/2023

You Can Get Paid for Medicaid Emergency Services

Congress Weighs Legislation Tying Medicare Physician Payments to Inflation - 04/26/2023

Heeding advocacy by the Texas Medical Association and others in organized medicine, Congress is weighing bipartisan legislation that would index Medicare physician payments to inflation, overriding cuts scheduled to take effect in 2024.

TMA to Congress: Tie Medicare Physician Payment to Inflation - 03/29/2023

As part of a broader push for Medicare payment reform, the Texas Medical Association, along with the American Medical Association and 133 national specialty and state medical associations, recently called on Congress to index Medicare physician payments to inflation.

Labs – Including Those Run by Physicians – Face New Reporting Requirement in 2023 - 03/14/2023

Starting Jan. 1, medical laboratories – including physician-owned labs – face a reporting requirement from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that will create a paperwork burden and could negatively affect payment rates.

Here’s Your Billing and Collections Checklist for 2023 - 01/06/2023

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 2023 to keep your billing and collections on track throughout the year.

New FAQ Offers Information on Virtual Credit Card Payments - 07/20/2022

Federal authorities are clarifying the legality of health plans paying claims through virtual credit cards, which typically result in fees for practices.

A Long-Overdue Fix: Comprehensive Medicare Reform Could Halt Pay Cuts - 03/31/2022

Physicians say Medicare reform is the only solution to the problem of periodic pay cuts  – and they’re prepared to fight for it.

Reminder: Provider Relief Fund's Second Reporting Period Ends March 31 - 03/28/2022

If you received Provider Relief Fund distributions greater than $10,000 from July 1, 2020 to Dec. 31, 2020, this Thursday, March 31, is your deadline to report how you used those funds.

MIPS Deadlines Approaching for 2021 Data Submission, COVID Exception - 03/28/2022

Clinicians who participated in Medicare’s Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) in 2021 have until this Thursday, March 31, at 7 pm CT to submit and update their data for that performance year. That's also the deadline for MIPS-participating groups, virtual groups, and alternative payment model entities to apply for an extreme and uncontrollable circumstances exception for 2021 because of COVID-19.

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.

Out-of-Network and What It Means - 03/03/2022

A physician is out-of-network when a contract has not been established with a health plan. Get tips on what to do when providing services to out-of-network patients.

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.

Changing Your Medicare Participation Status for 2022 - 11/30/2021

The Texas Medical Association is still working to convince Congress to stop several cuts for 2022 payments for Medicare physician services that would total nearly 10%. But with those cuts still going into effect as of now, you may wish to modify their Medicare participation status.

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?

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.