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Congress postpones 10% pay cut for six months
By Maxine Inman Collins, MBA, CPA, CMC, CMIS, CMOM

By now you've probably heard about Congress' decision to delay the 10% cut in the 2008 Physician Fee Schedule, but don't throw a party just yet. Texas Medical Association calls the last minute actions by Congress a "lump of coal." The American Medical Association states that Congressional failure to address the SGR and find permanent resolutions for the physician payment system leaves "uncertainty and concern for the future of physician reimbursement under the Medicare system."

• Provides for a 0.5 per cent increase in the conversion factor effective Jan. 1, 2008



• Continues the transition to the revised practice expense relative value units (These changes, which began in 2007, are being phased in over 4 years)



• Revises relative value units for physician work for a number of services - these particularly affect anesthesiology, home health and eye exam services and provides a significant increase for these services



• The budget neutrality adjustment, which was created in 2007 to adjust for changes in the 5 year review of work values, will see an increase in 2008. This increase in the adjustment will cause a decrease in payments for most services by about 1%.



• The GPCI's will be updated as they are every three years. This is a generally small change but it does affect many payment localities. In addition, Congress did not remove the floor of 1.00 on the work GPCI. This will remain as it is for the next six months.



• In addition, the Physician Scarcity Area bonuses will remain in effect until June, 2008



• Certain services have been added to those that are subject to the imaging cuts initiated in 2007 where many imaging services were limited to no more than allowed under the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment system.



• The PQRI program will continue in 2008 giving those physicians who choose to participate the opportunity to earn a 1.5% incentive bonus -based on the total allowed charges billed to Medicare in 2008- provided that they meet the reporting requirements of the program. The bonus on 2008 reporting will be paid in 2009.

The combined impact of these payment changes on your practice will depend on your specialty, your location and your services. For most practices it will provide a slight average increase. However, many physicians will see net decreases in payments. For all physicians, the changes will not meet or cover the increases in costs that we continue to experience in providing patient care. The AMA hopes that all members of our industry will utilize the upcoming months to continue to pressure Congress to come up with a viable solution to provide physicians a fair, stable reimbursement methodology. Please visit the American Medical Association's Website to find resources for action.

Don't miss out on these services along with other allowed Medicare preventive services. By picking up on these additional items, your Dr. may be able to be paid for services that they have been providing for years but not getting any additional reimbursement. Check each commercial carrier for their payment policies.

Upgrading Front Desk Personnel
By Rose B. Moore, CMC, CMOM, CPC, CCP

Q: My practice can't seem to keep good front desk personnel. Why is this happening and what can I do about it?

A: The role of the front desk professional requires that person to wear a variety of hats during the course of the work day. Among these are gatekeeper, communications expert, phone whiz, mediator, troubleshooter, and secretary. As the first person patients, drug reps, delivery people have contact with, your front desk professional are the eyes and ears of your organization but most importantly, a reflection of the practice as a whole. Whether it is on the phone or in person, you never get a second chance to make a first impression. High turnover rates are usually the result of frustrated employees who are not properly trained and/or do not have a full understanding of what their job duties, responsibilities and obligations are. Skill and knowledge training is the responsibility of the Practice Manager. Practice Management Institute offers a workshop which will assist employees recognize the importance of the receptionist's role in the organization, create the right first impression, improve communication skills, handle incoming and outgoing calls, act assertively, develop strong time management skills. Learn more about PMI's How To Be The Best Receptionist class here.

PMI's 2008 National Conference features expanded topics and renowned presenters

Join Practice Management Institute^® (PMI) May 7-9 in San Antonio as we present our biggest and best ever 2008 National Conference for Medical Office Professionals. Three years ago, PMI debuted our National Conference. In this short period, it has grown to the point that for 2008, it must be held at the convention center in downtown San Antonio.

This year, PMI has an expanded lineup of topics, organized into three tracks. Two pre-conference workshops will present advanced, interactive learning experience focused on either chart auditing or office management.

PMI has brought some tremendously talented speakers on board this year. Nancy Maguire, who has spent more than 20 years leading coding workshops, writing for publications, and doing consulting, will do a keynote presentation on the past, present, and future of documentation and reimbursement.

Jerry Bridge an author, coach, and nationally-known motivational speaker will also join us at this year's conference. He specializes in billing, collections, customer service, communication and management. Delivering a powerful message for all, you won't want to miss Jerry's unforgettable presentations.

We'll also have an interactive panel of experts answering your questions about fraud and abuse. For the first time, you'll meet face-to-face with a federal prosecutor, an FBI special agent, a renowned fraud attorney from Washington D.C. and a compliance officer.

You'll see many of your favorite PMI faculty members and a whole lot more. We asked our presenters to share some of their favorite tools, templates and forms with attendees. The result is a bonus toolkit assembled for all conference attendees.

More conference plans will be revealed in future Link issues. Tip: Make plans early. Some hotels in the area are reasonably priced, but only if you get in early. Plus, early registrants can save up to $100 off their registration fee (plus an additional 10% for certified professionals!) For full details including hotel links, visit the PMI Conference Web site.

NetworkPMI is taking off in communities across the country
By Doug Bugher

The concept of networking is certainly not a new one. While some of our youngest generation may think the term came about in with the advent of the Internet, the need to interact, exchange ideas, make contacts and meet people is timeless.

A few years ago, Practice Management Institute^® (PMI) saw a growing need for networking and exchange of information among local healthcare professionals. Most groups were clinical in nature or limited by job type or specialty. The idea for NetworkPMI grew from conversations with health care organizations and ambitious leaders in coding, billing and office management. So PMI began putting together meetings throughout the country to discuss the latest trends in the healthcare industry. Officers were soon elected and these groups started to take on a life of their own.

"Nationwide and locally, our goal is to offer topics of interest to medical office administrators, billing office personnel, physicians and their staff, and facilitate the camaraderie of networking with fellow healthcare professionals," says Marguerite Nelson, founder/coordinator of five networks throughout the Dallas/Ft.Worth Metroplex states. Presently, there are 30 networks in 15 states. This network will grow exponentially in 2008 as more and more medical office professionals across the country take the initiative to establish NetworkPMI groups in their own communities. These meetings offer a grassroots environment for education and dialogue.

PMI began experimenting with technology and linking people and groups together via the Internet. The website (www.network.pmiMD.com) was created to supplement networks in local markets, as well as those areas where a NetworkPMI group has not yet formed. Members can browse through postings from more than 30 networks currently online. Benefits include news alerts, personalized blogs and discussion forums, plus a Job Bank. These features are just a few reasons why NetworkPMI online is fast becoming a major resource for content, tools, and a support network to expand skills and perform better on the job.

"The results from the NetworkPMI job placement link are tremendous," says Angie Brown, founder of Greenville, South Carolina's NetworkPMI. "Networking, education, and certification are abundantly available through NetworkPMI, as well as the opportunity for lifelong learning."

PMI continues its efforts to provide the resources necessary for medical office personnel to excel in their practices. Whether you attend the meetings in your area or access tools on-line, NetworkPMI exists to help you build your knowledge and enjoy a fulfilling career in healthcare. For more details, visit www.network.pmiMD.com or call PMI at 800-259-5562.

Save Billing Staff Time
By Mike Martin

Check with your health care plans to see if they have a website that you can retrieve information that assists you in daily operations. Some plans have features on their site that will save your billing staff time. Such features to assist you may include:

1. Coverage & eligibility of patient enrollment in the plan
2. Pre-authorizations
3. Listing of participating physicians
4. Verification of date a claim was received by plan
5. If claim rejection involved, the reason is given with explanations on code rejections
6. Information on a member's co-payment

If you have a pending claim and more information is needed, this may be listed.

This month's quick tip provided by Practice Support Resources, a leading provider of information and educational tools for medical practice management, physician relations and physician recruitment.