‘Tis the Season…for Appeals and Denials

‘Tis the season for a lot of things merry, but appeal and denials are not so cheery. Requests from Medicare Administrative Contractors (MAC) in the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) and Medicare Part B outpatient clinics are on the rise.  Time is of the essence when a facility receives communication from a MAC; however, some requests are more impactful than others. Let’s review the various types of appeals and the focus areas. The Centers for Medicare…

Improbable Day Scenarios for 1-1 Codes

Have you ever heard the term “improbable” day as it relates to coding and billing direct, one-on-one CPT Codes in Healthcare? You might be more familiar with the term “impossible day.” They both imply an improbable scenario of coding and billing volume in a given claim date based upon data analysis of payor paid claims. Based upon CPT Code definitions, attendance requirements, and clinician availability on a given claim date data analysis can flag providers…

How Do You Know if Your Therapists Are Coding Timebased Codes Accurately?

The recent self-disclosed conduct to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) by Team Rehabilitation Services (TRS) is a reminder of the importance of proper coding by physical and occupational therapists. TRS agreed to pay over $12MILLION for allegedly violating the Civil Monetary Penalties Law. There were issues identified with improper billing for time-based codes and for the specific CPT code of 97164, the re-evaluation code. When coding time-based codes for Federal payors, or those…