Chiropractic Audits | The Strategic Chiropractor

Replay of Toughest Chiropractic Billing, Coding, Documentation & Collections Questions EVER!

Written by Tom Necela, DC, CPC, CPMA, CCP-P on December 10th, 2010

Topics: Chiropractic Audits, chiropractic billing, chiropractic business, chiropractic coding, chiropractic collections, chiropractic documentation, chiropractic webinars

SORRY, THIS REPLAY IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE!

We exceeded capacity of our host for our 3rd Annual webinar, “The Toughest Chiropractic Billing,Coding, Documentation, Collections Questions Ever!” This “maxed out” webinar features Dr. Tom Necela answering questions “live” from chiropractors around the country on a variety of billing, coding, documentation, collections issues!

While we certainly are happy that so many doctors wanted to attend, we want to make this information available to all those who registered and were not able to get to the presentation, so we are making a replay of the broadcast available for a limited time only.

(Click above to listen and watch this 1 hr presentation)

Tom

P.S. This replay will only be available until Dec 31, 2010, so listen while it’s here
and tell your friends before it’s gone!

“The Toughest Chiropractic Billing, Coding, Documentation Questions Ever!” FREE Webinar!

Written by Tom Necela, DC, CPC, CPMA, CCP-P on December 1st, 2010

Topics: Chiropractic Audits, chiropractic billing, chiropractic business, chiropractic coding, chiropractic collections, chiropractic documentation, chiropractic EHR, chiropractic EMR, chiropractic practice management, Chiropractic Seminars, chiropractic webinars

It’s time for the 3rd annual installment of “The Toughest Billing, Coding, Documentation and Collections Questions Ever!”

In this FREE webinar you will have a chance to get your most frustrating or confusing questions answered by Dr. Tom Necela – chiropractor, certified professional coder, certified professional medical auditor and certified compliance professional. Read More

How to Interpret Your Chiropractic Comparative Billing Report

Written by Tom Necela, DC, CPC, CPMA, CCP-P on November 2nd, 2010

Topics: Audits, Billing, Business, Chiropractic Audits, chiropractic billing, chiropractic business, chiropractic documentation, compliance, Documentation, Medicare

This past week or so, 5000 chiropractors nationwide received a “present” in the mail in the form of a Chiropractic Comparative Billing Report (CBR). Even though I had previously reported that this would happen (see my previous post “Medicare Releases Chiropractic’s Comparative Billing Report Pilot”), my email inbox now knows what it must feel like to be a postal carrier during the holiday season.

Although, the CBR is not punitive or an audit per se, the report has certainly stirred up strong feelings in our profession and got a whole lot of people suddenly worried about their billing practices and level of audit risk.

At this point, it is not humanly possible for me to respond to all the emails that I have received on the CBR from the profession at large.

However, I will offer the following blog post to address many of the common concerns and questions I have received from chiropractors wondering what to do about their CBR. Read More

Medicare Releases Chiropractic’s Comparative Billing Report Pilot

Written by Tom Necela, DC, CPC, CPMA, CCP-P on October 14th, 2010

Topics: Audits, Chiropractic Audits, Medicare

Doctors, your “report card” is now available.

This past week (10/4/2010), chiropractors in the state of Wisconsin were the “pilot” program subjects who began receiving a “Comparative Billing Report” (CBR) produced by SafeGuard Services who is under contract by Medicare (CMS).

Don’t worry Wisconsin DC’s, they’re not just picking on you — the national release of the CBR is anticipated to be be sent three weeks later to 5000 chiropractors nationwide. Read More

Medicare Issues Chiropractic Software and Documentation Alert

Written by Tom Necela, DC, CPC, CPMA, CCP-P on September 21st, 2010

Topics: Audits, Billing, Chiropractic Audits, chiropractic billing, chiropractic documentation, chiropractic EHR, chiropractic EMR, Coding, Documentation, EHR / EMR, Medicare

Medicare carrier Noridian Administrative Services (which administers Part B claims in Alaska, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming) recently updated and reprinted a notice on Chiropractic Software-Generated Documentation that I think can serve to educate us as a profession.

Incidentally, although your specific carrier may not be Noridian, you should take note that most Medicare carriers generate the exact same news releases, alerts and notices each week so I wouldn’t be surprised if you don’t receive a similar “reminder” from your carrier. Even if you don’t the information contained and summarized below can be crititical towards getting claims paid as well as avoiding denials and postpayment audits.

Apparently, the piece was generated because Noridian has seen an increase in the use of software-generated documentation for chiropractic services. In and of itself, there is certainly nothing wrong with using EMR or even any form of computerized notes. So what’s their beef? Read More

Medicare Audit Letters Hit Chiropractors Starting August 2010

Written by Tom Necela on August 17th, 2010

Topics: Billing, Business, Chiropractic Audits, chiropractic billing, chiropractic business, chiropractic coding, chiropractic documentation, Coding, compliance, Documentation, Medicare

Every Medicare carrier in the country has been assaulting my inbox recently with “ALERT” emails designed to make chiropractors aware of studies being conducted by the Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) program. I am not sure if we are at the equivalent of Code Orange or Code Red at this point, but the profession is definitely on Medicare’s “elevated risk” alert system in some fashion. So, in case you haven’t heard, may this post serve to Paul Revere the chiropractic community to be on guard — Medicare is coming, Medicare is coming! Read More

Are Your Chiropractic Revenues Tied to Emotions or Logic?

Written by Tom Necela, DC, CPC, CPMA, CCP-P on August 3rd, 2010

Topics: Audits, Billing, Business, Chiropractic Audits, chiropractic billing, chiropractic business, chiropractic coding, chiropractic collections, chiropractic documentation, Coding, Collections, compliance, Documentation

When faced with decisions on major life purchases – house, car, building purchase, even expensive remodels or repairs – most of us responsible adult chiropractors tend to do some comparison shopping. We may go out and get three or four quotes, make a list of the pros and cons and then pick the best choice, right? Read More

Random Thoughts Episode #136: Chiropractic Audits, Business Building & Success

Written by Tom Necela, DC, CPC, CPMA, CCP-P on July 20th, 2010

I’m on the road for the next couple weeks traveling for a number of on-site consultations with clients so this blog post will be a summary of random thoughts on the most common questions that repeatedly brought to my e-mail inbox. Read More

Still Free? The Word on Co-pays, Coupons & Discounts

Written by Tom Necela, DC, CPC, CPMA, CCP-P on July 6th, 2010

Topics: Audits, Billing, Business, Chiropractic Audits, chiropractic billing, chiropractic business, chiropractic collections, Collections, compliance, Medicare

Last year, I posted an article on co-pays, coupons, and discounts – essentially what to do and what not to do.

This subject remains one of the most popular questions I still get asked.

As we recently have celebrated the freedom of the USA with Independence Day, I thought it fitting to re-visit the “freedoms” (or lack thereof) that we are challenged with inside our chiropractic practices.

Unfortunately, when freedoms are abused, trouble sets in. Keep your nose clean and re-visit the post

Chiropractic Co-Pays, Coupons and Discounts – When Free Isn’t

(click the link above to see the post)

The Best of…Strategic Chiropractor Blog Flashbacks

Written by Tom Necela, DC, CPC, CPMA, CCP-P on May 10th, 2010

flashback

In business and in life, it is helpful to go back and review the basics, to take a look at where you’ve been and where you want to go.

Today’s blog post feature’s 3 links to our most popular columns of the past – in case you missed them – or in case you need “a refresher course.” (pardon the Fletch reference)

Here they are (in no apparent order):