Podcasts

The CodeCast Podcast | Medical Billing & Coding Insights

The Business Side of Medicine ~ Coding, Reimbursement and Compliance for Physician Practices

National Speaker and Healthcare Consultant, Auditor and Educator, Terry Fletcher CPC, CCC, CEMC, CCS, CCS-P, CMC, CMSCS, CMCS, ACS-CA, SCP-CA, knows from over 25 years medical reimbursement industry experience that Coding, Billing and Compliance for physician practices and hospitals can be tough to navigate. Her CodeCast® Podcast series will share insights to current rules and regulations the Medicare payer requires, along with Commercial insurance plans’ rules and reimbursement challenges. Discover revenue opportunities to maximize reimbursement in your medical practice, focusing on different medical specialties and platforms each episode.

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If you’d like to become a sponsor of the CodeCast podcast please contact us directly for pricing: https://www.terryfletcher.net/contact/

Top 10 Tuesday Q&A – March 25th, 2019

Terry gets creative with her Top 10 Tuesday this week, and brings to you “The Coder’s Top 10 Pet Peeves”. Pet peeves are minor annoyances that can cause major irritation, and she has a list specific to healthcare professionals!

However, pet peeves aren’t just “complaining”: they are an “out-of-the-box” form of communication. Rather than treat pet peeves as irritants that we cannot address, we should think of them as problems that can be solved.

As you’ll hear on this episode, Terry’s list, gathered from her years of experience as well as coders around the world, will, provide ways to improve productivity and employee satisfaction… even with a little humor added!

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If you’d like to become a sponsor of the CodeCast podcast please contact us directly for pricing: https://www.terryfletcher.net/contact/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:01 — 34.5MB)

MACRA and Patient Satisfaction Surveys

To achieved the highest bonus threshold using the 2019 rule for the Quality Payment Program (QPP – also known as MACRA) there are eight objectives physicians need to know.

In this episode of the CodeCast podcast Terry Fletcher talks about these eight guidelines as well as why patient satisfaction surveys should be implemented into your practice so you can learn what patients are saying. You can then get your staff on board with the results!

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You can subscribe to our podcasts via:

If you’d like to become a sponsor of the CodeCast podcast please contact us directly for pricing: https://www.terryfletcher.net/contact/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:16 — 37.6MB)

Solving POS errors: inpatient or outpatient service?

Medicare does not treat all surgeries the same. An inpatient-only surgery list is released every year by CMS. These procedures are automatically approved for Part A coverage and must be performed in a hospital. All other surgeries, as long as there are no complications, are covered by Part B.

CMS also releases an annual Addendum AA that specifies what outpatient (i.e. not inpatient-only) procedures can be performed in Ambulatory Surgery Centers. All remaining outpatient surgeries must be performed in a hospital for anyone on Medicare.

Find out which group your procedure falls into ahead of time so that you can better plan for it and avoid additional stress. Today’s episode will help us tackle error resolutions together.

Also, Terry will review X-Modifier information for revenue integrity!

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You can subscribe to our podcasts via:

If you’d like to become a sponsor of the CodeCast podcast please contact us directly for pricing: https://www.terryfletcher.net/contact/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:56 — 37.1MB)

Waiving deductibles and copays – is it legal?

A hot button topic that needs to be discussed is the the waiving of deductibles, copays, and any patient share of cost. It is becoming a problem in medical practices and leading us back into that legal blackhole of the 80’s.

Terry is opting to take the heat and have a heart-to-heart with you on this show about standing up to your physicians, practice administrators, and anyone who is in charge of revenue integrity: and have them listen to this podcast… today!

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You can subscribe to our podcasts via:

If you’d like to become a sponsor of the CodeCast podcast please contact us directly for pricing: https://www.terryfletcher.net/contact/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:31 — 46.2MB)

Top 10 Tuesday Q&A – February 26th, 2019

Terry returns with February’s top ten coding, billing, and reimbursement questions.

In this a mixed bag of coding questions and answers, Terry discusses the MIPS bonus incentive payments, how to make sure your skin lesion diagnoses are accurate, and when to capture moderate vs. monitored sedation with procedures.

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You can subscribe to our podcasts via:

If you’d like to become a sponsor of the CodeCast podcast please contact us directly for pricing: https://www.terryfletcher.net/contact/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:49 — 41.1MB)

More and more EHRs are falsely claiming HIPAA certified: are you protected?

Is your EHR claiming they are certified? You need to check!

Current claims settlements are growing. Therefore, you must check to make sure your software is representing the capabilities of your EHR product correctly… or you could find yourself in hot water.

Terry will also address mystery services that have you saying: “I can code for that?” Yes, you can!

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You can subscribe to our podcasts via:

If you’d like to become a sponsor of the CodeCast podcast please contact us directly for pricing: https://www.terryfletcher.net/contact/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:53 — 39.8MB)

Be the expert!

This episode of the CodeCast podcast focuses on YOU!

Terry combines clinical definitions along with the coding aspect of medical billing in a unique way which will help you increase your credibility while positioning you as an expert healthcare professional.

Stick around as Terry also covers migraine headaches, heart cath with PCI’s, and unused drugs in this episode.

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You can subscribe to our podcasts via:

If you’d like to become a sponsor of the CodeCast podcast please contact us directly for pricing: https://www.terryfletcher.net/contact/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:06 — 38.7MB)

You can never make a first impression twice

First impressions are key to any medical facility. Setting the tone for the practice with the patient’s first impression. Every detail counts! The quality of your website to that of your location, outside areas, and even your reception area (waiting room), can reduce patient anxiety… and give them a good impression of your practice.

What first impression is your practice giving?

Remember the physician in the exam room is the last person the patient sees. Today’s episode focuses on how to make the best first impression to your patient before they meet with the physician, and how to embrace your community with a quality referral base.

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You can subscribe to our podcasts via:

If you’d like to become a sponsor of the CodeCast podcast please contact us directly for pricing: https://www.terryfletcher.net/contact/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:47 — 43.8MB)

Top 10 Tuesday Q&A – January 29th, 2019

Terry returns with January’s top ten coding and billing questions ranging from HCC’s, to assistant surgery documentation and submitting claims when documentation is not completed, to ICD-10-CM clarifications for fractures, and 25 and 53 modifier usage.

Subscribe and Listen

You can subscribe to our podcasts via:

If you’d like to become a sponsor of the CodeCast podcast please contact us directly for pricing: https://www.terryfletcher.net/contact/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:47 — 36.9MB)

Remote Coders: Are you equipped to work from home?

Remote medical coders are medical coders who work from home or locations outside of healthcare facilities. Remote medical coders may be self-employed or work for large coding firms that contract with hospitals or healthcare facilities. Self-discipline and accountability are key for working remotely.

If you fall into this category, Terry asks “Are you equipped?” in today’s episode, which also covers the new “Virtual Visit” from Medicare and what you need to know to bill for it.

Subscribe and Listen

You can subscribe to our podcasts via:

If you’d like to become a sponsor of the CodeCast podcast please contact us directly for pricing: https://www.terryfletcher.net/contact/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:20 — 45.9MB)