CARDIOLOGY: Medicare Dashes Coumadin Clinics' Hope For Reimbursement

Why This Topic Matters

It highlights a reimbursement policy change that directly affects how cardiology practices document and bill anticoagulation management visits, especially for Medicare beneficiaries.

Article Sections

1. CPT anticoagulant management codes introduced for 2007

   Introduces the outpatient anticoagulant management topic and the CPT coding changes discussed in the article. The section frames the service type and the Medicare reimbursement concern.

2. Medicare coverage and reimbursement impact

   Summarizes the Medicare coverage status described in the article and the effect on expected payment for the newly introduced codes. It also presents the practical implications for Coumadin clinics.

3. Clinic billing approach discussed by experts

   Covers the alternative billing approach described by the quoted cardiology and reimbursement sources. The section focuses on the general documentation and service-billing context for anticoagulation management visits.

4. Nurse-performed visit considerations

   Addresses the discussion of nurse involvement in anticoagulation management and the circumstances described for reporting an office visit separately. It stays at a high level and does not provide coding instructions.