Audit Action Alerts

Medicare OPPS Proposed Rule for 2009  (7/14/2008)
On July 3, CMS published on its website the Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) proposed rule for 2009. It is to be published in the Federal Register on July 18.  

Blood Glucose Testing  (4/17/2008)
Bulletin discussing blood glucose testing.  

Reporting Hemoglobin or Hematocrit When Billing Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agent (ESA)   (2/29/2008)
Bulletin on requesting payment for the administration of Erythropoiesis Stimulating Agent, the most recent levels of hemoglobin or hematocrit.  

Packaged Services in 2008
Reporting Diagnostic Radiopharmaceuticals on a Medicare Outpatient  (1/29/2008)
Diagnostic radiopharmaceuticals are one category that CMS "packaged" when billing services for a Medicare outpatient in CY 2008.  

New Laboratory Panel in 2008  (1/18/2008)
CPT code 80047 (Basic metabolic panel with the ionized calcium test) is new in 2008  

Medicare Observation Status in 2008  (1/9/2008)
Effective January 1, 2008 observation services are packaged. When there has been Extended Assessment and Management of the patient 2 composite APC’s have been created.  

Is Your Charge Description Master Current?  (4/9/2007)
Bulletin and reminder to keep your charge description master current to avoid billing problems.  

New Radiology Screening Codes in 2007  (1/18/2007)
Bulletin on several CPT coding changes in the Radiology Chapter of the 2007 CPT Coding Book.  

LOCM, MRI Contrast, HOCM Coding Changes for 2006  (2/8/2006)
Coding changes for low osmolar contrast material, MRI contrast agents and high osmolar contrast material were made effective January 1, 2006.  

Condition Code 44, to be Implemented October 12, 2004  (9/1/2004)
Bulletin on Condition Code 44 to be implemented October 12, 2004.