AMA Wire

Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2013

Practice News

How to avoid eligibility verification woes

An AMA webinar at 1 p.m. Eastern time Jan. 8 will help physicians identify contractual language that could leave them financially responsible for services insurers mistakenly say patients are eligible to receive. Register today.

Part of an ongoing series on managed care contracting, this webinar will help physicians understand steps they can take to reduce the risk when a health insurer erroneously verifies a patient's eligibility for medical services. An experienced health law attorney also will explain physician protections that are available under various state laws.

Visit the AMA Practice Management Center to access resources that can help physicians negotiate fair contracts and navigate relationships with health insurers.

Get guidance on preventive care coding, documenting

A new online training module from the AMA can help physicians ensure their patients receive the preventive care they need to lead healthy lives.

The module offers guidance on coding and documenting the preventive services health plans must cover without cost-sharing for the patient, as required under the Affordable Care Act.

A companion to the AMA's pocket guide for preventive services, the module explains how to identify services that are recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, describes when to use CPT® modifier 33 in conjunction with preventive care, and provides examples of clinical scenarios and codes. It takes just 10–15 minutes to complete.

Making sure patients receive recommended preventive services, including vaccines and screenings, can lead to numerous benefits for individual patients and the health care system as a whole. As chronic diseases and other health conditions related to unhealthy lifestyle behaviors continue to rise, preventive services can help reduce the burden of preventable disease, decrease health care costs and help patients lead healthier lives.