Welcome 2011

[Steve Verno]

In TWO, yes, TWO (2) days, a new year will be upon us. Our tummies may still be full of Christmas goodies and egg nog, our stockings are probably now empty, and our turboman is in many pieces, but with a new year we have work to get to.

1. Make sure you have the current 2011 CPT and ICD-9-CM manuals. Use these to update your practice superbills, and software.

2. Run an insurance aging report and follow up on any claim that hasnt been paid or denied and that are at least 60 days old

3. Contact your clearinghouse and insurance companies to find out when they plan on doing an ANSI 5010 test. Also, contact your software company to find out when they have an upgrade to accommodate ANSI 5010 and ICD-10-CM.

4. Check your contracted insurance company claims. Make sure they have paid all claims sent to them and paid them correctly.

5. Check your collection agency and make sure they arent cherry picking and that they are collecting per your requirement.

6. If you feel you have a health insurance contract that is not working, start contacting them to work on renegotiation of the contract.

7. Conduct regular internal claims coding and billing audits to ensure you are in compliance with laws, regulations, and policies.

8. If you use cookie cutter appeals, check them to ensure they are still current and if not, update them.

9. Review and update your policies on time payments, financial hardship, uninsured discounts, and coordination of benefits just to name a few.
 

Well, this is a start, even though we have a new year, our work is never done. Welcome to 2011 and all the good things it may bring all of us.