Click here for more sample CPC practice exam questions with Full Rationale Answers

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Click here for more sample CPC practice exam questions and answers with full rationale

Practice Exam

CPC Practice Exam and Study Guide Package

Practice Exam

What makes a good CPC Practice Exam? Questions and Answers with Full Rationale

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Laureen shows you her proprietary “Bubbling and Highlighting Technique”

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Practice Exam

2018 CPC Practice Exam Answer Key 150 Questions With Full Rationale (HCPCS, ICD-9-CM, ICD-10, CPT Codes) Click here for more sample CPC practice exam questions with Full Rationale Answers

Practice Exam

Click here for more sample CPC practice exam questions and answers with full rationale

Doctor’s Practice to Pay Nearly $180K to Resolve False Claims Act Liability Regarding “P-Stim” Devices

First Assistant U.S. Lawyer Jennifer Arbittier Williams proclaimed that Richard P. Frey, D.O., and Physicians Alliance Ltd. (“PAL”) have agreed to pay nearly $ 180,000 to resolve liability underneath the False Claims Act for the alleged improper charge of “P-Stim” devices. From may 2013 through June 2014, Frey and PAL billed Medicare for the implantation of neurostimulator electrodes, a surgical operation generally necessitating an OR for which Medicare reimburses thousands of dollars. Frey didn’t conduct surgery, however. Instead, he applied a “P-Stim” device in a workplace setting while not using surgery methods or general anaesthesia.

Click Here To Read The Full Story!

The post Doctor’s Practice to Pay Nearly $ 180K to Resolve False Claims Act Liability Regarding “P-Stim” Devices appeared first on The Coding Network.

The Coding Network

RUC & CMS: The Difference Between Them Could Mean Money To Doctors

Physicians ought to review the direct monetary impact as several of the managed care contracts can pay these auxiliary services at the CMS RVU rates. the great news is they aren’t set in stone; so doctors can discuss the projected WRVUs or the other a part of the rule until September 27th.

Read The Full Story Here!

The post RUC & CMS: The Difference Between Them Could Mean Money To Doctors appeared first on The Coding Network.

The Coding Network

Two Doctors on One Note, Not Assisting or Co-Surgeons

Hello,
I have a provider (we’ll call her Dr. A,) who performed an office visit, she also dictated in her note that "Dr. B performed OMM during the visit." Dr. A dictated the procedure just like she would if she had performed it herself. We asked Dr. B to do a separate note to dictate his procedure and to sign it, he has relayed to us that we shouldn’t need a separate note for his procedure. I am unable to find any articles or resources to clarify whether or not a provider can document another provider’s procedure and sign for it. If anyone has anything that can help, I would surely appreciate it.

Thank you,

Mary

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Coding Opportunity with Island Doctors, FL

Good afternoon! I am the 2018 Vice President (and the 2019 President) of the St. Augustine AAPC chapter. I had written to you about openings previously, but hiring was put on hold. I am attaching detailed information about the openings we are now interviewing for, and would ask that you share with your chapter members in case anyone is interested. Thank you so much!

Island Doctors currently has multiple openings for certified coders. We have 42 offices in Northeast Florida and continue to expand.

This is a wonderful opportunity to gain Risk Adjustment experience! We prefer someone with experience but are willing to train the right individual who has a strong work ethic.

THESE ARE NOT REMOTE POSITIONS. Candidates must have a reliable vehicle and be willing to travel locally. We presently have openings in our Pensacola and Panama City locations.

Interviews will be scheduled over the next several weeks. These positions will be filled quickly, so time is of the essence. If you are presently looking for a position and the following description interests you, please forward me your resume ASAP.

Position Summary
The Medicare Risk Adjustment (MRA) Coder ensures all significant chronic conditions found in the patients chart affecting the risk score are identified to allow the Clinical Provider to determine which conditions are current so they can be addressed during the patient visit. This role is also responsible for proper identification of respective ICD-10 codes to ensure the accuracy of billing for addressed diagnoses. In addition, the MRA Coder provides educational support regarding complete documentation.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
The essential functions include, but are not limited to the following:
• Review complete chart including progress notes, consultations, and hospital discharge reports and flag definitive risk-adjustment diagnoses.
• Document found diagnoses with respective codes and location of definitive diagnosis.
• Maintain binders for pre and post-visit chart review including reviewing patient records before scheduled visits and updating the patients MRA card as needed
• Review post-visit progress notes, ensuring supporting documentation and ICD-10 codes are accurate
• Ensure all significant chronic conditions are identified and documented in patients chart to ensure that the Clinical Provider can discuss conditions during patient visits
• Meet with affiliate staff to address observed trends, provide education, and provide a list of encounters to rebill that do not appear on Prostar.
• Work on other MRA projects as assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)
• High School graduate or equivalent required.
• CPC or CPC-A required. 1-year medical office experience required.
• Ability to stay current on Medicare Risk Adjustment education and CMS updates.
• Ability to utilize CMS spreadsheets with risk adjusted diagnosis data and ICD-10 book for proper identification of risk adjusted diagnosis and codes
• Medicare Risk Adjustment experience preferred.
• Microsoft Office experience preferred.
• Must possess excellent communication skills including telephone skills.
• Ability to stay focused and give great attention to detail.

Tara Russo, MPH, CPC, CPMA, CRC, CPC-I, FACHE
Vice President, Medicare Risk Adjustment, HEDIS and Navigate Directorate
Island Doctors
2 McCormick Drive
Palm Coast, FL 32164
Office: 386-237-6506
Cell: 386-597-3202
Fax: 386-237-6776

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Changing the Way Medicare Pays Doctors

Besides taking a machete to E/M reimbursement and the way Medicare looks at E/M services, the current administration has proposed some large changes in the way Medicare pays doctors. They have also proposed ways that hospital facilities disclose prices to patients, providing more transparency. Changing Payment The pipeline for immediate changes includes the government paying more […]
AAPC Knowledge Center

Need Tips on Getting Hired at Doctor’s office

Let me start off with my journey… it has been a long one.
I started pursuing medical billing and coding in 2013 and finally got a Claims job last year, only to be laid off this year. I have experience in claims, Accounts Receivable, and sending medical records by mail and electroncially, and as a health and life benefit administrator (dealing mainly with eligibility).

I’m certified as a CPC ( did the online program to get the A off) and have the ICD-10-CM certificate of proficiency. I have to other smaller certifications related to medical billing and coding.

Am I qualified to do medical billing and coding in a specialty office, or medical insurance verification?

I don’t want to come across as whiny or sarcastic. I’m serious and somewhat frustrated. It took me so long to get to claims and I feel like I have to sort of start over. What are managers looking for? I absolutely love dealing with billing and medical insurance. I would love to code. This is my dream job.

Am I getting too easily frustrated? I feel like the doors keep shutting and I have applied eveywhere possible near me.

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Why Do Doctors Run Behind? Reflections of a Medical Secretary

It’s no wonder why doctors run behind. From my 13 years of secretarial experience I have seen it all, both the doctors and the patients point of view. First, doctors are overbooked with trying to accommodate patients needs, wants, and sometimes demands. It sometimes cracks me up when patients call the office and ask to speak with the doctor, like he’s just sitting in his office waiting for a phone call. Sometimes patients call in and ask to speak with the doctor, but will not tell me what about!!!

Love that one!!! Like I haven’t heard it all, but it’s part of the job, so we explain to the patient that an appointment is required for professional medical advice. Another reason why doctors fall behind is because patients who are scheduled for one medical concern end up talking to the doctor about several medical concerns.

For example, a patient may be scheduled to come in for a lump on their arm and the doctor examines the lump and prescribes the proper treatment. But as the doctor puts his hand on the door to leave, the patient also expresses that they have been having some discomfort in their chest area for the past two days! SURPRISE!!!

As a physician, the doctor cannot morally leave the room and just ignore what the patient has said. He  then proceeds in making sure that the patients health is secure enough to leave the building. But in doing so, time is taken away from the doctor, the other patients, and the nurse who has a stack of charts complete with phone messages, prescription refills and specialist referrals, all to be done in an eight hour shift!

Think what you like, but this happens daily. . .several times!

There are also the normal occurrences that cannot be ignored, like walk-in emergencies. This happens more frequently then people realize. As a secretary, it can at times be difficult to accurately block off the time allotted for patient appointments and to be precise about the length.

Being a patient myself, however, I also realize the agony of sitting in a waiting room, sometimes with crying babies, and in the company of other patients, it can be quite scary. And once you’re finally called back to the exam room, you often find yourself sitting in isolation for a long period of time,waiting, until ironically

IT’S YOUR TURN!!! You’ve had a sore throat that’s been so bothersome that you need a diagnosis and treatment.

You are examined and treated, but wait, you forgot to mention that stomach pain that’s been troubling you for a week…and…and…and!!! Not to mention that your pharmacist informs you that the prescription is not covered by your insurance company and around we go again!

Phone calls, forms that need to be completed in order to convince your insurance company that your doctor knows what he is doing…etc, etc, etc

So why can’t I speak with the doctor? Why is he so far behind?

Rich Niemeyer is an avid researcher of anxiety attacks and panic disorders. He believes in a natural course of action and works for an independent family practice in Leola PA. Visit his website at http://leolafamilyhealth.com for more information on Lancaster Family Practice