I can say how many times Ive seen the following:
Help!!! I just got a (specialty type here) physician and I know nothing about (specialty). Can someone tell me everything I need to know about (specialty)
This person posts about 100 posts all over the internet, all saying the same thing.
Next comes:
I need help! I need a code immediately for a cranial rectalectomy
What is the code for diabetes mellitus?
patient seen for color blindness, how do I code this?
What modifiers are used for (specialty?)
Can I use modifier 59 for my claims denials?
The patient came in 15 times today, can I use 99203 and 99204 on the same claim? My Om says you can.
Is it legal to bill a 99215 and 78650?
When someone comes along with no training and they ask questions of these types, are we helping them by giving them the answers or are we exacerbating the problem?
Lets say we give them the answers and now we start seeing (Note, using Vax D as an example only):
What is the code for Vax D Therapy, will insurance companies pay for this, if so how much?
How much should my doctor charge for Vax D Therapy
Is there a website I can go to for insurance company policies for Vax D Therapy?
MY doctor performed Vax D therapy, He was told by the salesperson to use code 97532, it was denied, is there another code I can use?
BY giving the answers are we helping or harming. BY harming, i mean, the person with NO training does not become trained and self sufficient. They rely on the help of the forums to get by.
Training allows a person to become self sufficient. The trained person knows the answers or where to find the answers. Inside our home, we want our two year old (age given as an example) child to go to the bathroom. What do we do as a parent? We teach our child to stand and walk to the bathroom, We also teach our child how to use the toilet (Potty train). What happens if we carry our child everywhere in the house and we keep our child in diapers? The child sits and cries and cries and cries waiting to be picked up and the child cries when their diaper is soiled. The child does not become self sufficient and doesnt develop. The child knows you will pick them up when they cry and the child knows they dont need to use the toilet when they have to urinate or deficate.
So, do we carry those without training or do we have them go through the training necessary to do their job for their provider? Do we have them become dependent on us who underwent training, or do we have them become self sufficient and an asset to their provider?
