Novitas Draft Policy
Our friends in Novitas have again come out with a policy that makes little clinical sense. This policy DL37796 – Sclerotherapy and Endovenous Non-Thermal Treatment of Varicose Veins tries to accomplish two goals. The first is to detail the covered… Read More
Back To Basics – Insurance Cards
We have received a number of calls regarding confusion on policies, plans, and products put out by the various payers. The confusion stems, in part, to the large number of plans that are being developed by the various payers. It… Read More
Can I Bill The Patient For That?
This is a question commonly asked by many practices, and it is a loaded question! The answer is: It Depends. Depends on what? There are as many rules surrounding what you can and cannot bill a patient for as… Read More
New Medicare Cards
Every time I go to my primary care physician, the receptionist re-validates my insurance information as well as my insurance quote. Perhaps because phlebology services tend to be intensive and over a shorter period of time, very few vein practices… Read More
Chart Audits A to Z
The following article is taken from a presentation given at the Colorado Phlebology Conference in Telluride this past January. My apologies for the length. Medicare along with Blues and other commercial plans are ever more vigilant in regards to… Read More
New Year And New Codes
Everyone is excited for the 2018 coding changes. Some of the hottest new technologies have been assigned codes by the AMA and these will be effective on 01/01/18. Just in time for the New Year, APFS is providing coding clarification… Read More
Honduras Vein Week Mission Trip, March 16-24, 2018
Each year, a group of physicians, nurses, ultrasonographers and volunteers travel to Honduras on a medical service mission sponsored by the Hackett Hemwall Foundation. The week is more than just treating hundreds of Hondurans suffering from severe venous disease; it’s a life… Read More
Six And A Half Steps For January
A new year! Which brings many of the same old issues back to the table. Below are some thoughts on how to navigate through January and beyond. 1. Verify Patient Information – Some patients may have changes to their… Read More
Secret Shop Your Practice
Once the December crush is over, you may want to consider having a friend or colleague pretend to be a new patient. I call a lot of phlebology practices. I am constantly struck by the difficulties I face in reaching… Read More
Templates Can Confuse The Issue
Templates. They are a standard of practice, a requirement for your EHR, a time saver, and the bane of the medical reviewer’s existence. Errors are common. Designated templates are used from case to case. This requires key elements of… Read More