The Industrial-strength Imaging Executive
by Curtis Kauffman-Pickelle
Today’s medical-imaging profession is definitely not for the fragile and weak-kneed among our colleagues. It is becoming increasingly clear that navigating the constant changes and challenges that face the practice of radiology today will be the ultimate test of tenacity, perseverance, and creativity. We’re in the playoffs now, and the game is moving to the big-time arena—where the margin for error is nil.
Finger in the Wind
by Cheryl Proval
Physicians are in a real bind as fee-for-service reimbursement falls under attack and alternative payment methods (such as bundling and capitation) gain traction in Washington, DC. As of June 18, Medicare Part B claims were being processed with the 21.3% cut mandated by the sustainable growth rate’s formula, and House Democrats demanded legislation on jobs before they would pass the Senate bill to reverse the cut.
Consulting and Marketing Services
We provide strategic business and marketing expertise to assist in the growth of your medical imaging enterprise.
Our clients include radiology practices, imaging centers, and hospitals in large and small markets across the country.
Save the Date:
July 20, 2010 11am ESTTopic
Keep Your Hospital Relationships Healthy: Strategies for Every Practice
Presenters:
Randy Roat, CHBME, VP of Radiology, MMP, and George Ehrhardt, CPA, Director, Practice Management, MMP
Medical Management Professionals, Inc.
Topic
RIS to the Rescue | Strategies for Driving Revenue, Productivity and Profitability
Sectra
Topic
Advanced Visualization | Next-generation Architectures
Visage Imaging
Price Transparency Gains Traction
Owing to a confluence of market forces, industry innovation, and government action, consumers in more than half of US states now have at least some ability to see procedure charges in advance.
Lost in Transcription
Charge reconciliation—the practice of identifying procedures that have slipped through the cracks at some point in the charge process and billing for them to optimize revenue—is important for any medical group, but particularly critical for imaging.
Preventing a MAC Attack: The Importance of Radiology Charge-capture Audits
The advent of Medicare administrative contractors has emphasized the importance of ensuring that charge capture is consistent and accurate for the professional and technical components of care.
Strategies for Accommodating Self-pay Patients
As the ranks of the uninsured continue to grow, it is increasingly important for radiology practices to implement strategies for dealing with self-pay patients.
Taking Advantage of the Radiology Audit
A radiology provider should look at an audit as a strategic opportunity
RBMA Attendees Debate Outsourced Billing
It is a question often pondered by practice managers and others overseeing the financial aspects of an imaging enterprise:
Managing Errors in Demographic/Clinical Information: Using Tracking Mechanisms
All insurance accounts fall into one of two groups: full resolution (at negotiated fees, where the credits only consist of cash, contract adjustment, and probable bad debt, if any patient balance cannot be collected) or full write-off (where the practice did not comply with a payor-based rule).
Advisory Opinion Muddies the Waters on Preauthorization
After reviewing a proposed arrangement pursuant to which a company would handle the processing and submission of insurance preauthorizations for various imaging services for the benefit of multiple imaging centers.
Using Adjustment Coding to Manage Practice Compliance
The October 2008 ImagingBiz.com article Keep Payors Honest With the Practice Receivable System concentrated on advanced techniques for monitoring the insurance companies that compensate radiologists for their clinical services.
ICD-10 Mandate to Break Physicians’ Bank
The typical 10-physician practice will spend $285,240 to comply the new federal mandate to adopt the ICD-10 code set by 2011.
Keep Payors Honest With the Practice Receivable System
It is not a completely fair analogy, but the differing agendas of payors and providers place receivable processing in something of a battle zone.
ICD-10 Deadline Brings on IT Headaches
No sooner did CMS call for an October 1, 2011, compliance date for the switch from ICD-9 to ICD-10 codes than a hue and cry arose from the health care industry, claiming that the change comes too soon.
Collecting Self-pay Balances: Cash Is King
You cannot pick up a newspaper today without reading about the 47 million uninsured US residents. Well, that is only the tip of the iceberg.
Contract Negotiations: Not Just About the Dollars
Contract negotiations with payors formerly were a lengthy process. Not any more; they are concluded now in half the time because payors have stopped telling radiology groups to take it or leave it and, instead, are simply saying, “Take it.”
Proper Coding Delivers Big Results
Correct procedure coding is a primary, and pivotal, activity among providers and payors alike.
Radiology Coding and Compliance for 2008
Every year, radiology professionals who are responsible for ensuring the accuracy and compliance of coding and billing practices must do an internal assessment to ensure that their practices/organizations would withstand external scrutiny.
Process Automation: The Key to Improved Financial Performance
The high procedural volumes associated with radiology provide both a challenge and an opportunity.
ARA Floats an Automated Billing Process… And Inhales
The 65-radiologist Austin Radiological Association is well known for its robust information technology deployment throughout central Texas.
