Medical practices must collect revenue quickly and at the lowest possible cost. Manual systems, collecting months after the date of service and submit and hope for the best result in lower payments and net revenues. From the first phone call or emergency visit to a zero balance, practices must use up-to-date technology and work processes to effectively collect patient and insurance due balances. For each step in the revenue cycle, this session will describe the optimal processes and technology to yield results.

Learning objectives:

• Assess the effectiveness of Revenue Cycle Management in their practice
• Identify one key process and one technology for improvement
• Measure current denial rate, define a strategy for decreasing and set a goal to re-measure quarterly

This session is intended for Physicians and Coders

Description:
Claims for all services performed on or after October 1, 2013 must use ICD-10 diagnosis codes.  This three-hour session will introduce the important principles of ICD-10.  The session will cover general guidelines and the chapter specific principles that set the rules for code selection and sequencing.  The participant will learn how to select a diagnosis code by understanding the framework of the system and the correct procedure for using the index and tabular list to find a diagnosis.  Many coders find that additional documentation is needed in the medical record.  This session will show how to find out if more specific documentation is needed for ICD-10.  Finally, with the implementation date looming, practices must develop a timeline to learn, teach and use ICD-10.  The program will suggest a plan for small and medium size practices.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the structure of an ICD-10 code
• Understand and use the symbols, punctuations and conventions
• Sequence codes correctly based on general instructions and chapter specific rules
• Define key terms: blocks, Excludes1,  Excludes2, sequencing, placeholder, and seventh digit
• Identify documentation that will require additional specificity to code

CEUs
3 AAPC credits for 2012

The OIG, CMS and private payers have warned clinicians against producing identical notes using their EHRs. And yet, we want physicians to use the features of these programs to more easily document their services. Often the results are lowered productivity and clinical notes that don’t provide meaningful clinical data and look identical to one another. Medical practices need policies to guide clinicians and auditors with the Documentation Guidelines and guidance from payers in mind.

Learning objectives:

• Define a policy for copying/pre-populating from previous notes
• Identify audit strategies for new and established patient services
• List three strategies for engaging physician leadership