Healthcare Operations Training – Plano, TX – November 12-13, 2013

Mark your calendar, this healthcare training will revolutionize your operations management processes and improve your collections and accountability. We have limited seating available for this intense training on managing the healthcare office environment more efficiently during the trying times of reimbursement cuts, commercial contracts being closed to new providers, audits and investigations from every corner. We know these two days will be intense, but you will leave with viable information and forms to put in place on Thursday upon your return. All speakers have many years experience in the DME and Physician market from operations to audits and investigations.  Lunch is included both days.

Topics to be covered:  Start-ups, ICD-10 preparedness, Accountable Care Organizations (ACO), audits and how to prepare, retail selling, contracting, monitoring billing/revenue reports weekly, monthly, yearly, getting the most out of your EMR or billing software system, employee accountability, and more.

November 12 – Is designed to be applicable to any healthcare provider, physicians, dentist, DME, or Home Health. All providers can benefit from the training to have a more efficient office.

November 13 – Is designed specifically to address billing and collection problems in the DME industry.  We have a program on commercial insurance contracting, system reports, new start up DME process and more.  The building does have wi-fi, bring your computers for interactive sessions.

Read the full program here at this  Healthcare Operations Training Dallas TX Nov 12 13 2013

We are still working out a discount with the hotel and transportation company, so please register below as soon as possible and return the attached Healthcare Training Dallas TX Registration Nov 12 13 2013 packet completed by 10/30/13. In order to get the best discount possible, we need head count. We have worked out some discounts for coding books and such for those that register, with additional information coming in.

Register below for Training Nov 12- 13 2013 to pay by credit card all other payments may be made by mailing the Registration Packet to our office. If your are only registering 1 attendee, please register at the link below. If you have more than 1, please contact us so discount is calculated appropriately.

Health care Training November 2013

Sponsors include:

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Webinar on What is a Compliance Program 101!

Medical Auditing Solutions is providing a webinar in conjunction with The Cornerstone Insurance Group (Cornerstone) to discuss the Basic Compliance Program Requirements.  We will learn what a compliance program is, what laws require it, the elements of a compliance program, and how the program can be beneficial to the healthcare provide.

Any and all healthcare providers (medical and dental practices as well as ancillary providers such as DME, Home Health, Hospice, etc.) taking Medicare and Medicaid should attend.

No CEU credit is formally given, but you will be welcome to send the handout received post attendance to your accrediting agency and ask for credit.  Some will provide and the worse they can do is say no.

The Cornerstone Insurance Group (Cornerstone) in no way endorses the accuracy of the information being provided.  In registering for this program, you will release and hold Cornerstone harmless of any and all actions you take as a result of this call.  This call is basic information and is simply an avenue for you to educate yourself on compliance program requirements.  This call in no way provides legal advice or provider specific advice without adequate documentation to review.  This is informational purposes only.

Cornerstone providers Total HR management & products including benefits management, Total Insurance products, Wellness Management Services.  Read more about the services Cornerstone offers you may find services that could benefit your organization.  They are primarily in Missouri and surrounding states but do cover additional states.

Program Title:  Compliance Program Basics and Elements

Date:                     July 24, 2012

Time:                    11:30 am-12:30 am CST

Cost:                      Complimentary

Register:              https://cc.readytalk.com/r/yhypbz3hj2p

About more about the speaker and Medical Auditing Solutions LLC:

Angela Miller of Medical Auditing Solutions LLC has been in health care compliance, auditing, billing, collections and HIPAA for over 18 years.  Ms. Miller is Certified in Healthcare Compliance.  Ms. Miller has made it the  focus of the business to help providers run their businesses efficiently, collect money, and maintain compliance with federal and state regulations and coverage criteria through compliance program development, management and training.  Ms. Miller is very experienced with Medicare & Payer audits.  Ms. Miller ran a very successful compliance program for over 5 years for the largest private held HME/Pharmacy provider in the US at the time.  Ms. Miller  also works as a contract compliance officer to provide an avenue to compliance training to staff, implementation of policies, as well as handling anything that affects cash flow from the initial intake to back-end collections. You can visit our website at Medical Auditing Solutions LLC.

Physicians: Added Revenue for Assessments like Depression, ADD, BiPolar

Several months ago I met a representative from AssessMD.  I have observed and asked many questions.  AssessMD is a computer software that collects answers to questionnaires for assessments many physicians are doing manually now and not being reimbursed because the assessment is not scored.  AssessMD has assessments to score depression, bipolar, ADD, Anxiety, OCD, ODD,  and others with more test coming.  The patient completes the assessment in a few minutes on the physician’s computer or tablet, and produces scored results for the physician in real time.  The physician can then bill for this assessment in addition to the Evaluation and Management Code (E&M) with the documentation provided by this computerized assessment.

Medicare is now requiring annually assessment for depression among the elderly patients.

This is reimbursed by most insurance companies except certain Medicaid.  The reimburse on average is about $60, which would go direct to the physician’s bottom-line because right now if it is handwritten assessment it is not reimbursed.

The physician has a 45 day trial period to test it in his practice.   If you are not reimbursed by the insurance company, there is no charge of the test to the provider.  As a note, AssessMd is not in a position to be a referral stream only a vendor.

This was initially marketed to limited physician practice types, but they have discovered that it is beneficial to many practice areas pain management, obstetrics/gynecology, elder care, and adolescents to name a few.

At the very least it is worth the time to investigate and discuss with your legal counsel to add revenue to the practice.  If you do not have healthcare counsel, click for a list of affordable healthcare attorneys to ensure this is the right model for your practice.

Contact LouAnn McNaughton  at  “214*538*1123”  or   “LouAnn@assessMD.com”

Angela Miller of Medical Auditing Solutions LLC has been in health care compliance, auditing, billing, collections and HIPAA for over 18 years.  Ms. Miller has made it the  focus of the business to help providers run their businesses efficiently, collect money, and maintain compliance with federal and state regulations and coverage criteria through compliance program development, management and training.  Ms. Miller is very experienced with Medicare & Payer audits.  Ms. Miller ran a very successful compliance program for over 5 years for the largest private held HME/Pharmacy provider in the US at the time.  Ms. Miller  also works as a contract compliance officer to provide an avenue to compliance training to staff, implementation of policies, as well as handling anything that affects cash flow from the initial intake to back-end collections. You can visit our website at Medical Auditing Solutions LLC.

Training for Compliance & HIPAA Privacy and Security

Medical Auditing Solutions LLC launched the Compliance University in September 2011 and is please to announce that for 6 of the programs we have received Continuing Education Credits by Texas Occupational Therapist Association (TOTA) (15 hours) , Texas Board of Professional Counselors (6 hours minimum) , and BOC USA (9.5 hours).

What are you waiting for?  You have to train staff annually on compliance program requirements, fraud and abuse, billing,privacy and security. You have to be able to prove this training was given.  Does your staff have time to develop, track and update?  Did you know the OIG is auditing for these policies, training, sanction checks, and more in 2013 for providers that $5M in annual collections from Medicaid programs?  Did you know that OCR is auditing all types and sizes of healthcare providers from HIPAA privacy and security in 2012 and years to come?  Did you know the state inspector generals and health and human services will be auditing for these policies as well?  We can help you will all aspects of your compliance and HIPAA programs.

These requirements apply to all healthcare providers, DME, home health, physicians, and dental providers.  The size of your business does not matter for HIPAA.  As of  February 2013 for Compliance applies to all as well.

Angela Miller of Medical Auditing Solutions LLC has been in health care compliance, auditing, billing, collections and HIPAA for over 18 years.  Ms. Miller has made it the  focus of the business to help providers run their businesses efficiently, collect money, and maintain compliance with federal and state regulations and coverage criteria through compliance program development, management and training.  Ms. Miller is very experienced with Medicare & Payer audits.  Ms. Miller ran a very successful compliance program for over 5 years for the largest private held HME/Pharmacy provider in the US at the time.  Ms. Miller  also works as a contract compliance officer to provide an avenue to compliance training to staff, implementation of policies, as well as handling anything that affects cash flow from the initial intake to back-end collections. You can visit our website at Medical Auditing Solutions LLC.

ZPIC Audits What We’ve Learned from 2011 and other Audit Risks Webinar

Edward Vishnevetsky, healthcare attorney with Munsch Hardt has asked Angela Miller to join him as a guest speaker during his presentation next Thursday, February 9, noon-1pm CST.  Audits are inevitable at this point, so better be prepared and proactive for the audits that are coming.  Join us as we discuss ZPIC audits and other audits you can expect in 2012, such as HIPAA, OCR, Medicaid RAC, Commercial audit expansion. Also learn how best to prepare and prevent  adverse outcomes.

You are Invited to Join our Complimentary Medicare ZPIC Audit Webinar

Featuring Topics on:

	Changes to Medicare ZPIC and RAC Audits
	The Office of the Inspector General’s (OIG) take on Audits in 2012 based on the 2012 OIG Work Plan
	Which HCPCS codes may be most vulnerable and subject to scrutiny
	How DME suppliers can work with physicians, hospitals and manufacturers to assist in responding to audits
	Tips on how to effectively respond to audits (based on lessons learned in 2011)
	Other Audit Risk and Prevention

Presentation Given By:

Edward Vishnevetsky

Attorney at Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C.

Featuring Guest Speaker:

Angela Miller

President of Medical Auditing Solutions LLC

Date: Thursday, February 9th, 2012

Time: 12:00-1:00 PM CST

Cost: Complimentary

To reserve your Webinar seat, please click here.

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

If you have any questions, please contact Ashley Thomas.

Edward Vishnevetsky has successful defends over 40 physicians, DME providers and HHAs against ZPIC, CERT, MAC and RAC Audits; achieved 100% success rate in removing providers from pre-payment audit.  Successfully defended over 100 providers through all stages of Medicare appeals, including the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) level.  Read more at Munsch-Vishnevetsky

Angela Miller of Medical Auditing Solutions LLC has been in health care compliance, auditing, billing, collections and HIPAA for over 18 years.  Ms. Miller has made it the  focus of the business to help providers run their businesses efficiently, collect money, and maintain compliance with federal and state regulations and coverage criteria through compliance program development, management and training.  Ms. Miller is very experienced with Medicare & Payer audits.  Ms. Miller ran a very successful compliance program for over 5 years for the largest private held HME/Pharmacy provider in the US at the time.  Ms. Miller  also works as a contract compliance officer to provide an avenue to compliance training to staff, implementation of policies, as well as handling anything that affects cash flow from the initial intake to back-end collections. You can visit our website at Medical Auditing Solutions LLC.

OIG Work Plan 2012

I participated in a call on Thursday January 19, 2012, on the OIG Work Plan for 2012.  Please reference the link for the full OIG Work Plan spelled out by provider type.  Many items on the Work Plan never change but there were a few points I felt important to draw your attention to for risk management purposes.  Here are a few notes I made because I think the audit risk is high since the result can be subjective:

1.  Outpatient Observation Billing

2.  Critical Access Hospitals:

A.  Distance to nearest, non-critical access hospital

B.  Herceptin and other Chemo Drug quantity

3.  Hospice because 82% of patients do not meet criteria to be admitted to hospice.

4.  Incident to Services by non-qualified personnel.  Even Blue Cross and Blue Shield is recouping and extrapolating on commercial claims for mid-level practitioner billing.  Make sure modifier is used when appropriate and the mid-level meets the licensing requirements to provide the services billed.

5.  Off Label Prescriptions.  Physicians ordering a drug that is approved for Diagnosis A but the drug is used for diagnosis B.

6.  Home Health-but not specific because they are going to review 2010 billing before they decide.

7.  Dialysis and ESRD Drug costs.  What is the drug cost to the provider versus the reimbursement.

8.  Contracts providers have with other providers/facilities.  Make sure you have a health care attorney to review the contract before executing because the health care attorneys are familiar with the Stark and Anti-Kickback provisions which typically the corporate business attorney does not have to consider.

9.  Checking employees, vendors, and providers against Sanction Databases MONTHLY.  You may find the federal links on my website.  The states have their own links.

10.  NY Medicaid reduced the annual revenues to $500K in Medicaid/Medicaid HMO/Managed Care Organizations (MCO) funds for compliance program requirement.

11.  Compliance Program Requirement under Federal Deficit Reduction Act that required all healthcare providers to have a compliance program in place by 2007 if their annual collected revenue of State reimbursement was $5M or more.  This would include Medicaid and respective Medicaid HMO or MCO.

12.  As of 2013 a healthcare compliance program is required for all providers billing Federal or State plans no matter what the annual billing revenue may be.  This would include dental practices because they bill Medicaid!

13.  Overpayments must be disclosed and refunded within 60 days of identification that it is an overpayment.  Failure to refund this money can result in “False Claims” charges and penalties.  Ensure you have someone that is accountable for working your credit balance reports monthly.  Keep documentation of these reviews and refunds issued as a result in a manner that can easily be explained and found.

The OIG Work Plan can be used to determine risk analysis, structure audit plans, and determine growth opportunities.

Do you have a Healthcare Compliance Program?

Do you review the OIG Work Plan Annually?

What else do you review to determine your audit plan?

We can help you analyze the status of your healthcare compliance program and ensure you have focused on the correct risks for your business model.  We are the compliance expert with a vast history and a cost effective way to ensure your compliance program is operating and managing your risk.

Angela Miller of Medical Auditing Solutions LLC has been in health care compliance, auditing, billing, collections and HIPAA for over 18 years.  Ms. Miller has made it the  focus of the business to help providers run their businesses efficiently, collect money, and maintain compliance with federal and state regulations and coverage criteria through compliance program development, management and training.  Ms. Miller is very experienced with Medicare & Payer audits.  Ms. Miller ran a very successful compliance program for over 5 years for the largest private held HME/Pharmacy provider in the US at the time.  Ms. Miller  also works as a contract compliance officer to provide an avenue to compliance training to staff, implementation of policies, as well as handling anything that affects cash flow from the initial intake to back-end collections. You can visit our website at Medical Auditing Solutions LLC.

Allergy Technician Position – Beaumont Texas

I have a ENT in southeast Texas (Golden Triangle) that is looking for an allergy technician. This office services patients from Orange, Beaumont, Lumberton, Port Arthur and surrounding towns. It is a solo practice that sees patients in the office. Person does need previous experience in administering allergy testing as well as immune therapy.  The salary is $15/hr plus bonuses and commission based on production.  At the moment no health benefits. Please forward resumes to fax 214-461-0295 or email medaudsolutions@aol.com

Patient Visits: Changes, Increase Revenue, & Ordered Services

“15 MINUTE THOUGHT”

New Patient Visit Requirements: Increase Your Revenue

MAS is pioneering an informational program that you can listen to over a cup of coffee while you organize your day or on your drive to work. The name of the program is “15 Minute Thought”.  These calls will be free and informative.  Our focus is to give you a new thought once per month to help improve your business during these tough regulatory times.  The call participation should be maintained although CME/CEUs are not attached, it documentation of education efforts.

We will discuss health care reform changes that impact the requirements for patient visits, date last seen, and chart documentation.  We will discuss how to make lemonade out these lemons!  We need to cease the opportunity to increase revenues out of these changes.  Spend 15 minutes and learn about changes that can stop your payments as well as how to increase your revenue.

Program your Phone and Calendar:

The 2^nd* and 3^rd Wednesday Every Month

July 21, 2010  at 8:30am-8:45am CST

Speaker:          Angela Miller, CHC, Compliance & Billing Expert & Edward Vishnevetsky of Thompson Coe

MAS Conference Call Dial-in#:         218-862-1300

Conference Code:                               622911

MAS Office number:                          972-459-1508

Who should call in?

All health care provider, Health care business owner or manager, Physicians, Home Health, DME, HME, Attorneys, Compliance Officer, and Office Managers

Follow MAS Blog for Schedule & Updates.  You can “follow” MAS on all social media and new blog links are published.  We only publish useful information and breaking news.

Blog:  http://www.angelamillermas.wordpress.com or via website
Linkedin:  http://www.linkedin.com/in/medicalauditingsolutions
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/AngelaMiller.MAS

Edward L. Vishnevetsky has extensive experience in the area of health law and commercial litigation. He routinely argues before state and federal courts in areas of health law, employment law, and complex commercial litigation, and also represents hospitals, physicians, durable medical equipment (DME) providers and manufacturers before various state and federal regulatory agencies. Edward advises health care clients on operational matters, liability exposure, privacy issues, federal and state health care regulatory compliance, health care reimbursement disputes, as well as risk management issues. He has represented individuals, physician groups, hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, sleep laboratories, dialysis clinics, independent diagnostic testing facilities, and DME suppliers.

Angela Miller of Medical Auditing Solutions LLC has been in health care compliance, auditing, billing, collections and HIPAA for over 18 years.  Ms. Miller has made it the  focus of the business to help providers run their businesses efficiently, collect money, and maintain compliance with federal and state regulations and coverage criteria through compliance program development, management and training.  Ms. Miller is very experienced with Medicare & Payer audits.  Ms. Miller ran a very successful compliance program for over 5 years for the largest private held HME/Pharmacy provider in the US at the time.  Ms. Miller  also works as a contract compliance officer to provide an avenue to compliance training to staff, implementation of policies, as well as handling anything that affects cash flow from the initial intake to back-end collections. You can visit our website at Medical Auditing Solutions LLC.

Physician Fee Cut on Hold & 2.2% Increase for now

Docs Get Six-Month Reprieve; Industry Looking for Longer Fix
WASHINGTON—President Obama signed legislation Friday canceling a scheduled 21.2 percent pay cut for Medicare physicians and instead giving them a 2.2 percent increase. While it offers the docs some current relief, the new measure is effective only through the end of November.

That means months, a decade even, of congressional wrangling over the issue could start up again before the year’s end, offering HME advocates another shot at a possible legislative vehicle that could carry language to stop competitive bidding.

The American Medical Association and other physician groups have been urging Congress to revise Medicare’s current “sustainable growth rate,” or SGR, payment formula—which has resulted in annual pay decreases for physicians over the past decade—in favor of a permanent fix. But the cost of such a change has quashed any long-term action.

“Delaying the problem is not a solution,” the AMA said in a statement issued last week. “It doesn’t solve the Medicare mess Congress has created with a long series of short-term Medicare patches over the last decade—including four to avert the 2010 cut alone.”

In December, the physician pay cut “will be a whopping 23 percent, increasing to nearly 30 percent in January,” the statement read.

“The baby boomers begin entering Medicare in six months, and if the physician payment problem isn’t fixed, these new Medicare patients won’t be able to find a doctor to treat them,” the AMA said.

In a Friday afternoon legislative update, Waterloo, Iowa-based VGM Group said because the cuts to physician reimbursement have only been postponed through November, “the temporary ‘doc fix’ will need to be addressed once again towards the end of the year. This will offer another vehicle to eliminate competitive bidding.”

In the meantime, the group urged continued support for H.R. 3790 to repeal the bidding program.

LATE-BREAKING: CMS’ proposed physician fee schedule for 2011, released late Friday, calls for a 6.1 percent cut for Medicare physician services that would take effect Jan. 1, 2011.

As outlined under health reform, the proposed regulation would also expand Round 2 of the DMEPOS competitive bidding program from 70 MSAs to 91, for a total of 100 in the national bidding program.

Taken from http://www.homecaremonday.com weekly email blast received today.

Follow MAS Blog for Schedule & Updates.  You can “follow” MAS on all social media and new blog links are published.  We only publish useful information and breaking news.

Blog:  http://www.angelamillermas.wordpress.com or via website
Linkedin:  http://www.linkedin.com/in/medicalauditingsolutions
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/AngelaMiller.MAS

Angela Miller of Medical Auditing Solutions LLC has been in health care compliance, auditing, billing, collections and HIPAA for over 18 years.  Ms. Miller has made it the  focus of the business to help providers run their businesses efficiently, collect money, and maintain compliance with federal and state regulations and coverage criteria through compliance program development, management and training.  Ms. Miller is very experienced with Medicare & Payer audits.  Ms. Miller ran a very successful compliance program for over 5 years for the largest private held HME/Pharmacy provider in the US at the time.  Ms. Miller  also works as a contract compliance officer to provide an avenue to compliance training to staff, implementation of policies, as well as handling anything that affects cash flow from the initial intake to back-end collections. You can visit our website at Medical Auditing Solutions LLC.

Numerous Physician, Physician Groups, and DME Revocations Coming

The American Health Lawyers listserv released yesterday, there are numerous revocations across physician, physician groups, and DME providers for failure to respond to 855 validation or update requests or the provider was not open or available during a sight visit.  Please ensure you or your staff open mail in a timely manner!  Be sure you take immediate action on any requests from Medicare.  Medicare periodically requests for updates, validation or new 855 payor applications be completed. If the Medicare contractor does a sight visit, you must have hours posted and the door must be unlocked and the person greeted, if it is during your business hours.   Likewise, if you are closed for vacation, post a sign on the door & answering service vacation dates and who patients should see in an emergency.  This may have come as a PECOS notice.  Think of PECOS as your online 855 submission and application management.  Educate your staff to review mail timely and notify you immediately of any requests from Medicare for any response, forms, documentation.  You as the business owner need to review it or have it reviewed.

It seems every time  we turn around there is bad news to deliver to health care providers.  This is a very scary time from audits, revocations, reimbursement cuts along with legible documentation and getting patients to come into the office for an in-person visit when they are physically not capable.  The industry is facing challenges.

Medicare must be notified if you move because they mail requests to the address on file.  Remember, an invalid telephone number or area code can result in revocation as well.  Likewise, the post office does not always deliver the mail and they do not send communication with a tracking number!

You have 30 days to submit a corrective action plan, but be proactive and do it immediately!  The Corrective Action Plan form can be located via the MAC contractor website.  If the Correction Action Plan is denied, there is no appeal!

It is crucial for you to keep your provider number because without it you will not be reimbursed and are subject to loosing other payor contracts. You have to get your number placed in good standing, but this can be a long process.  They also do not have to activate it back to the date it was turned off.  If you need help completing or validating the 855 application or working an appeal, we can help you in a cost effective manner.   We work with several health care law firms that can assist you also.  Be sure no matter who you have help you, they have experience with the application process, understand the health care industry and/or are health care attorneys.

I feel like I need to have a drink or joke of the week blog so I can bring some good uplifting news.

Angela Miller of Medical Auditing Solutions LLC has been in health care compliance, auditing, billing, collections and HIPAA for over 18 years.  Ms. Miller has made it the  focus of the business to help providers run their businesses efficiently, collect money, and maintain compliance with federal and state regulations and coverage criteria.  Ms. Miller is very experienced with Medicare & Payer audits.  Ms. Miller ran a very successful compliance program for over 5 years for the largest private held HME/Pharmacy provider in the US at the time.  Ms. Miller  also works as a contract compliance officer to provide an avenue to compliance training to staff, implementation of policies, as well as handling anything that affects cash flow from the initial intake to back-end collections. You can visit our website at Medical Auditing Solutions LLC.