Summary

In this conversation, Sean and Terry discuss the critical importance of conducting audits in healthcare practices, emphasizing the need for both internal and external reviews to ensure compliance and accuracy in coding and billing. They highlight real-world examples of practices that have suffered due to a lack of audits and the biases that can occur in internal reviews. The discussion also touches on the role of compliance in healthcare and the upcoming topic of prior authorizations.

Takeaways

• Many practices have never conducted an audit of their coding and billing.
• Internal audits can be biased and may not capture all issues.
• External audits provide an objective perspective on compliance.
• Providers often make assumptions about documentation that can lead to errors.
• The Department of Justice emphasizes independence in auditing practices.
• Training and education are crucial for coding staff.
• Practices can lose significant revenue due to improper billing.
• Compliance plans should include prior authorization processes.
• Auditing is essential for identifying fraud and ensuring compliance.
• Investing in audits can save practices money in the long run.

Summary

In this episode, Sean and Terry discuss various topics related to healthcare compliance. They start by sharing their recent experiences, including Sean's trip to Alaska. Then, they dive into the theme of the episode, which is when things are as clear as mud in the healthcare community. They discuss the challenges of finding clear guidelines and regulations for certain situations, such as timely completion of medical records and coding for patient visits without symptoms. They emphasize the importance of creating internal policies and best practices to navigate these ambiguous situations.

Takeaways

• Finding clear guidelines and regulations in the healthcare community can be challenging.
• Creating internal policies and best practices is crucial to navigate ambiguous situations.
• Timely completion of medical records is important for credibility and believability.
• Referring a patient to a specialist is considered minimal to low risk, not moderate.
• Prescription drug management is only a part of the overall medical decision-making process.
• Coding for patient visits without symptoms requires careful documentation and consideration of the appropriate codes.
• Having internal policies can help mitigate fines and refunds during audits.
• Being proactive and compliant is essential in the ever-changing healthcare landscape.

Summary

The conversation revolves around the topic of padding medical bills and the importance of clear communication with patients regarding their financial responsibilities. The speakers discuss instances where unnecessary charges are added to the bill, such as billing for lifestyle medicine codes during a visit for a finger fracture or adding charges for services that were not provided. They emphasize the need for providers to stay in their lane and let the billing office handle financial matters. The conversation also touches on the No Surprise Act and the importance of notifying patients about potential changes in billing during procedures. Overall, the speakers stress the importance of running a compliant practice and ensuring patients are not surprised by their financial responsibilities. The conversation covers various topics related to compliance and healthcare, including personal anecdotes, the importance of commenting on proposals, the need for a collective voice in healthcare, the impact of fee schedule reductions, the complexities of telehealth, the role of contracts in telehealth, and the significance of having an effective compliance program. The main takeaways include the importance of staying informed and engaged in healthcare policy, the need for healthcare professionals to advocate for themselves and their patients, the value of having a strong compliance program, and the potential consequences of non-compliance.

Program Takeaways

• Providers should avoid adding unnecessary charges to medical bills, such as billing for services that were not provided or adding charges for unrelated conditions.
• Clear communication with patients regarding their financial responsibilities is crucial to avoid surprises and maintain a good patient-provider relationship.
• Providers should let the billing office handle financial matters and stay focused on providing medical care.
• Understanding and adhering to the rules and regulations set by insurance companies and government programs is essential to avoid compliance issues.
• Providers should have a waiver of liability or an advanced beneficiary notification in place for procedures that may convert from preventive to therapeutic or diagnostic services.
• Running a compliant practice includes educating providers on coding guidelines and ensuring proper documentation to support billed services. Stay informed and engaged in healthcare policy
• Advocate for yourself and your patients
• Have a strong compliance program
• Understand the potential consequences of non-compliance