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How difficult is it?
As Many of us over the years know we are always being asked by our supervisors to change the way we do things. I, as I am sure you have thought when is enough enough? Why do you always make us change the way we do things just for billing?
Well as I sit and think about this you may take great care of your patients but what is missing? Here may be the answer: While your medical judgments may be sound and the patients needs are met, are you taking care of the patients pocket book? Medicare and insurances want to make sure that the services provided to a patient are medically necessary before they pay.
What does that mean to you? Here is your answer: If your poorly document the patients condition or the treatment you provided Medicare and insurances will not pay the bill ( if you are like me your raises are based on the profitability of your company) so the patient then becomes responsible.
Many people that are elderly live on fixed incomes and cannot afford to have an extra expense of an ambulance bill to the hospital that their insurance wont pay because we didn't take the time to document properly. I know that we are always being asked to do more with less resources at times but don't let your patients suffer because of the little things that we are asked to do. I know I need every penny I can get so do your patients.
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New
CMS Signature Requirements for Emergency Ambulance Transports
Although signature requirements have been in place for several years for non-emergency transports, ambulance services will be required to obtain a signature following emergency transports from a representative of the receiving facility on behalf of incapacitated Medicare patients that do not have another authorized individual capable of signing a claim form documenting the name of the beneficiary and the date and time they were received. The proposed rule, which becomes effective January 1, 2008, had been opposed by ambulance provider organizations based on the belief that it would increase the burden to ambulance personnel and decrease their respons