Part B Revenue Booster: Avoid These Common Errors to Increase Pay in 2013's Hardest-Hit Specialties

Why This Topic Matters

Providers and coders in high-impact specialties need to recognize where documentation, code pairing, and required claim reporting can affect payment. The article is useful for teams trying to protect revenue during a period of reimbursement cuts and changing coding guidance.

Article Sections

1. Background on 2013 Medicare Part B payment pressures

   Introduces the specialties affected by proposed Medicare payment changes and explains why avoiding billing errors matters in this context.

2. Mistake 1: Ophthalmologists writing off eye exam when patient refuses dilation

   Reviews ophthalmology exam reporting considerations, carrier guidance, and timing issues related to completing a comprehensive service across visits.

3. Mistake 2: Cardiologists listing the wrong primary codes for biventricular upgrade cases

   Summarizes corrected CPT parenthetical guidance affecting pacemaker and device upgrade scenarios, including reporting relationships between primary and add-on codes.

4. Mistake 3: Oncologists improperly billing J0881 and J0885

   Covers oncology ESA billing requirements, Medicare reporting expectations, applicable modifier use, and claim submission details referenced by CMS guidance.