General Surgery Coding Alert - 2015 Issue 20
Error Rates: Questionable Billing Seems to Have A Geographic Pattern
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Article Overview
This premium article discusses an HHS Office of Inspector General review of Medicare ophthalmology claims and the broad billing patterns identified in the study. It is aimed at ophthalmology practices, billing staff, auditors, and compliance professionals who want to understand where the government saw elevated concern, how the findings were framed, and why CMS was advised to monitor ophthalmology services more closely. The article covers general audit findings, service categories examined, and geographic trends in questionable billing without providing the underlying report text.
Why This Topic Matters
Ophthalmology practices and compliance teams need to know how federal auditors are evaluating billing patterns so they can assess internal controls and prepare for increased oversight. The article signals which areas of ophthalmology claims drew attention in the OIG review and why those patterns may attract follow-up review.
Article Sections
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Background
Introduces the federal review, the scope of the billing analysis, and the general context for the audit of ophthalmology services.
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The findings
Summarizes the overall audit results and the portion of practices identified as having questionable billing patterns.
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Watch Lucentis Frequency
Discusses the audit focus on one ophthalmology treatment area and the billing patterns that drew attention in the report.
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Check Out Geographic Trends
Describes the regional variation identified in the audit and the metropolitan-area pattern noted by investigators.
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Expect Further Scrutiny
Explains the report’s forward-looking compliance implications and the recommendation for closer monitoring by CMS.
What You Will Learn
- What the OIG reviewed in its ophthalmology claims study
- Which broad service areas were highlighted in the audit findings
- How the report described geographic differences in billing patterns
- Why the findings may lead to increased CMS monitoring
- What compliance teams should pay attention to in ophthalmology billing oversight
Who Should Read This
- Ophthalmology practices
- Medical coders
- Billing staff
- Compliance officers
- Auditors
- Practice managers
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