Only three weeks! The
April 14 HIPAA deadline will probably overshadow even Tax Day in a
lot of offices. If you are uncertain about the preparations
you're making, there are many resources available to you.
The APMA HIPAA Compliance Manual (which APMA members can download
at no charge from the members-only area of the APMA web site) is a
logical place to start. FootZine's
"Links" page has links to take you directly to APMA; or
CMS (the HIPAA people); or NJHIPAA, a great web site that can link
you to informative articles or to other HIPAA resources.
Start here: http://www.footzine.com/FZ_3.htm
FootZine's web site also has a substantial archive of HIPAA
articles and FAQs provided by Raymond F. Posa, MBA. Here's
the link to start reviewing all of Ray's information:
http://www.footzine.com/FZ_H.htm
~ Gayle
*_* Letters
*_*
From: Heather Schafer,
PMAC
re: Office Morale
Gayle -
As our office continues to grow I have a question to throw out to
the subscribers. We have three doctors and three separate offices.
Our offices are all about 20-40 miles apart from each other.
I have eleven employees and spend a majority of my time in only
one of the offices....the office that the billing is done out of
(which is also my job in addition to being the clinic manager).
The other two offices (since we do not yet have a computer system
that links us together) seem to always get the impression that
they are "only the satellite offices" and they are for
some reason "less important". Despite weeding out
some negative employees, it still always gravitates back to them
feeling less "loved" than our other office. We
have a wonderful team of employees now, however one is
"starting" to portray that "negative
vibe"......and I want to nip this in the bud before the
entire crew is infected....
We have monthly staff meetings with all three offices to
troubleshoot and share ideas, we fax and phone with questions,
ideas, policy's and complaints, etc. All staff are
recognized and noticed when a good job is done and they are
definitely appreciated.
My question to you is, is anyone else out there in a similar
situation? Is anyone else left with the feeling like you
can't always be in three places at once and how can you possibly
make everyone feel equally as important and still get your own job
done..... How do you handle the "neglected" office as a
manager? Please give me some input/ideas etc.
Thanks!
Heather
Heather Schafer, PMAC
Anacortes, WA
*_* *_* *_*
From: Heather Schafer, PMAC
re: Electronic Billing Systems
Also.....Just wondering what types of computer systems everyone
are using....We currently have Vital Works - Wisdom and are very
unhappy with the support (or lack thereof) that they have provided
to us. We have looked at Horizon and MediSoft. Anyone
else have any ideas or leads I could check out ?! Thanks,
Gayle, for a WONDERFUL service that you provide for us! :-)
Heather
*_* "If you have knowledge, let others light
their candles at it." - Margaret Fuller
(1810 - 1850) *_*
*_* Calendar
*_*
April 25-27, 2003
WSPMA/WSPMAA Annual State Meeting
Quinault Beach Resort & Casino in Ocean Shores, WA.
ASPMA Certification Exam will be offered.
*_* *_* *_*
Region Three Assistants' Program
* May 14, 15, 2003 (Wednesday and Thursday)
* Taj Mahal Resort and Casino, Atlantic City, NJ
Two days and eleven speakers for podiatric assistants, with the
final speaker being - -You! See the full schedule via the
link on the FootZine Calendar page.
The FootZine Calendar is posted on http://www.footzine.com/FZ_4.htm
*_* FootZine Feeture
Article *_*
Coding Made Crystal
Clear
By Phillip E.Ward, DPM
Often in podiatric surgery it
is necessary to release a contracture at a metatarsophalangeal
joint. This procedure should be coded as a 28270 (capsulotomy,
MTPJ with or without tenorrhapathy, RVU office 14.13). If
this procedure is done in conjunction with a hammertoe repair
(28285, RVU office 13.99) the MTPJ release can be separately
coded, as these two procedures are not bundled together in the
Correct Coding Initiative. Most insurance companies will
attempt to bundle them together so you should appeal this decision
with the CCI as your factual base that they are not bundled
together. The correct way to code the procedures would
be as follows:
28270-59 diagnosis of contracted joint 718.47
28285-Tmodifier-59 diagnosis of hammertoe 735.4
This type of improper bundling by insurance companies should
always be appealed, as you will win this appeal most of the time.
Crystal-Clear Coding tips are posted on the FootZine web
site on this page:
http://www.footzine.com/FZ_C.htm
*_* *_*
*_*
Now that we're into the
spring meeting season, I hope to get some new photos to share on
the FootZine site's "Picture Page".
Please keep us in mind if you're taking photos of interesting or
special happenings at podiatry meetings around the country.
Email them to me and let's try to give you all a look at each
other!
http://home.attbi.com/~gaylepmac/GSJ-web_8.htm
A wise woman has told me: "I try not to worry
about things I can't change. If it really can't be changed,
worry won't accomplish anything. If it's something I can
change, instead of worrying about it, I try to just go ahead and
take care of it. So there's no need to worry."
Don't forget to write!
~ Gayle
