By Charles B. Brownlow, OD When I did my first presentation on medical record keeping after the release of the 1997 Documentation Guidelines for the Evaluation and Management Services (99000 codes), I was sure that the document would finally spur doctors and insurers to learn and follow the rules. The ‘DGs’, as we refer to…
By Charles B. Brownlow, OD ([email protected]) Medicare Fee Schedule…Thanks to the tireless efforts of our AOA leadership and staff (along with the AMA and other provider associations) the US Congress has finally ditched the flawed formula used for creating Medicare Fee Schedules each year. For a decade or longer, the formula had created Medicare’s schedule in…
**A follow up to an earlier Blog post by Dr. Snow (Patient-portals-and-direct-messaging-how-do-they-affect-me) By Dr. Jay Henry, Q: How would direct email messaging assist optometrists? Explain why it’s important for ODs to talk directly with the primary care physician (PCP) through Direct protocols. What could optometrists share that would be mutually beneficial to other physicians? A: Direct…
By Mark A. Ridenour This could very well be a headline in the future given the direction of changes in the healthcare industry today. Many Primary Care Physician (PCP) practices have converted to the Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) practice model. There are now more the 7000 accredited Medical Home practices nationwide with 535 in Ohio. …
By: Charles B. Brownlow, OD ([email protected]) Several years ago, I found myself jumping from one eye care chat room to another, trying in vain to correct bad information about patient care and record keeping that kept popping up there. It seemed that my colleagues in eye care would rather ‘take a poll’ of other ODs…
By Mark Ridenour In December, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) awarded a $75 Million four year grant to the Ohio via its State Innovation Model (SIM) awards to implement a payment reform model which will broadly move reimbursement models to recognize outcomes over volumes. Providers will get increased reimbursement for providing more…
Medicare Update for 2015 10 and 90 day global periods will be eliminated for minor surgical procedures in 2017 and for major surgical procedures in 2018. Current 0, 10, and 90 day post op periods are still in effect for 2015! Lots of ODs and staff have been asking me about the potential impact of…