Billing & Coding

DOCUMENTATION AND CODING UPDATE (2021)

This lecture was presented by Judith O’Connell, DO, MHA, FAAO, AAO Secretary-Treasurer, during the AAO's 2021 Virtual Convocation. This lecture provides an overview of the recent history of evaluation and management revisions, reviews the updates on policy changes for Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Medicare payments under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS), and other Medicare Part B issues, effective on or after January 1, 2021, and outlines practice cases to demonstrate how to choose the level of service. View presentation slides.

AAO ASSISTS IN PRACTICE MANAGEMENT ISSUES

The AAO understands the difficulties members face with practice management issues (e.g., claims denial, documentation, coding, etc.). A new AAO member benefit will provide you with support in navigating these issues. Our staff has partnered with Physician Revenue Management Inc. (PRM) to answer your questions, provide useful information and find effective solutions. PRM has more than 20 years of experience in the clinical, practice management, payment resolution and revenue cycle arenas.

They have expertise in Medicare and commercial payers’ reimbursement policies and in developing Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes through the American Medical Association’s CPT Editorial Panel and the subsequent valuation of physician services and procedures the Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC) processes. Additionally, PRM has experience working with osteopathic physicians and has extensive knowledge of reporting osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT).

Contact the AAO for help finding solutions to your CPT and ICD-10 coding questions, examining Explanations of Benefits to understand claims denials, or drafting first- or second-level appeal letters. Fees may apply. The AAO will continue to analyze changes to existing payment policies to determine the impact on AAO members. For additional information, email the AAO at [email protected] or call the office at 317-879-1881.