Blogged Arteries

Will EHR Vendors Charge Doctors for Building "Crosswalks" Between ICD-9 and ICD-10?

2013-05-03T12:27:00.000-05:00

Since the adoption of the new ICD-10 medical coding system is mandatory, will physicians' electronic health record vendors charge medical practices to help with the transition to the new system?...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Senators Want Meaningful Use Law Reviewed

2013-04-30T10:54:00.000-05:00

Six Republican senators voiced "significant concerns" with the government's implementation of the HITECH Act and meaningful use program in a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

TMA Calls for Medicaid Payment Hike

2013-04-29T12:10:00.000-05:00

“Like a rundown house in need of repair, you’ve got to pick up a hammer and start somewhere. Increasing Medicaid payment rates to Medicare parity is the nail that needs to be hit first.” That was the...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

CMS Delays Plan to Deny Non-Enrollees' Medicare Claims

2013-04-29T11:27:00.002-05:00

Now you see it, now you don't. Technical issues have delayed plans by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to begin denying claims for services ordered or referred by a physician who...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

VIDEO: What’s the Main Difference Between ICD-9 and ICD-10?

2013-04-25T16:02:00.000-05:00

There’s been much buzz about the new ICD-10 medical coding system — and you’ll be hearing a lot more about it between now and the Oct. 1, 2014, implementation date. So what are the real differences...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Don't Get Mad, Get Politically Active

2013-04-18T15:40:00.000-05:00

Reprinted with permission from Texas Family Doc - "Don’t Get Mad, Get Even: Political Advocacy" Posted on April 18, 2013 by tfiesinger Last December, after months of “planning to,” I finally got...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

No to Chiros Conducting School Bus Driver Mental and Physical Exams

2013-04-10T19:23:00.001-05:00

The Texas Medical Association today asked the House Committee on Public Health to send House Bill 3183 back to the bus barn. The bill would allow a chiropractor to conduct the required mental and...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Antikickback Vs. Stark - Know the Difference

2013-04-10T17:44:00.000-05:00

Do you understand the difference between the antikickback statute and the Stark law? The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has begun ratcheting up enforcement in regard to billing and...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

TMA Strongly Opposes SB 1193 - A Medical Bully Bill

2013-04-10T08:29:00.000-05:00

Download and share flyer http://feeds.feedburner.com/bloggedarteries

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Experience TEDMED 2013 Free – Courtesy of TMA

2013-04-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

The Texas Medical Association is proud to host a live simulcast, April 17, of the TEDMED lectures direct from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. What’s TEDMED?...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

TMA Helps Improve Quality, Avoid Penalties

2013-04-09T18:12:00.000-05:00

PQRS is switching from the carrot to the stick. Learn how TMA can help you keep from getting hit.http://feeds.feedburner.com/bloggedarteries

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

TMA Wins Choosing Wisely Grant

2013-04-03T17:24:00.002-05:00

TMA, partnering with the TMA Foundation, is among 21 state and specialty medical societies and regional health collaboratives that won grants from the ABIM Foundation to advance the Choosing Wisely...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Medicare Starts Denying Non-enrollees' Claims May 1

2013-04-02T17:04:00.001-05:00

Starting May 1, Medicare will deny claims for services ordered or referred by a physician who is not enrolled in Medicare. Physicians who receive claim denials will need to contact the ordering or...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Doom No More

2013-04-01T18:39:00.001-05:00

TMA's "Calendar of Doom" is now "Deadlines for Doctors: Do This Now." It is still loaded with the key dates you need to know to stay abreast of all the upcoming state and federal regulations and...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

IRS Owes Some of You Money

2013-03-28T14:58:00.002-05:00

TMA has learned that if you were in residency or fellowship training between Jan. 1, 1995, and March 31, 2005, you may qualify for a refund of Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

TMA Calculates Impact of Medicare Fee Cut

2013-03-21T09:10:00.003-05:00

Medicare payments to physicians will drop 2 percent on April 1 because of the federal budget sequester. TMA's Payment Advocacy Department analyzed the impact of the fee reduction and compiled a list...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Take the "Silent" Out of Silent PPOs

2013-03-20T18:00:00.000-05:00

Physicians Call for End to Sneaky “Silent PPOs” A North Texas doctor was shocked last year to discover a health plan was using a discounted rate he had agreed to 20 years ago, in spite of the fact...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Dueling End-of-Life Bills to Face Off in Committee

2013-03-19T14:06:00.002-05:00

Dr. Weltge The Senate Health and Human Services Committee is taking up two bills on end of life today. One measure is an agreed-to bill supported by TMA, the Texas Hospital Association, the Texas...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

EHR Incentive Payments Are Taxable Income

2013-03-15T10:18:00.000-05:00

Incentives paid under the Medicare electronic health record incentive program are taxable, the Internal Revenue Service ruled in February. Find out why and what you need to know to stay out of IRS...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

U.S. Doctors Lead in Wellbeing

2013-03-14T07:00:00.000-05:00

U.S. physicians don't have to heal themselves ... or maybe they already have. Gallup's latest Well-Being Index report on 14 occupational groups puts physicians at the very top of the list that...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

RAC Audits: Alive and Well - Look out cardiologists

2013-03-13T17:04:00.000-05:00

The top problem uncovered by the Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) for Texas’ Region C involves showing medical necessity for cardiovascular procedures, according the Centers for Medicare &...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

TMA, CMS, Justice Fight ID Theft

2013-03-13T09:29:00.002-05:00

Learn how to protect your practice and patients by preventing fraud through identity theft at a two-hour seminar in Dallas April 17. TMA, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the U.S....

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Progress for Women’s Preventive Care

2013-03-11T12:52:00.000-05:00

By Janet Realini, MD, MPH Panels in both the Texas House and Senate have recommended $100 million additional funding for women’s preventive care, including family planning. The additional funding...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Medicaid Expansion in Texas -- By the Numbers

2013-03-08T16:15:00.000-06:00

Kyle Janek, MD As the Texas Legislature continues to search for a Texas-style solution to provide health insurance coverage to low-income adults, Texas Health and Human Services Commissioner Kyle...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

Feds Reject Request to Delay ICD-10

2013-02-25T17:03:00.000-06:00

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) officials rejected organized medicine's request to delay implementation of the ICD-10 coding system. That means the new coding system will take...

[[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]