News Brief: HHS OIG Targets Critical Care Codes in 2001 Work Plan

Why This Topic Matters

It helps coding and billing professionals identify compliance areas that were being emphasized by HHS OIG so they can review internal documentation, billing workflows, and Medicare-related practices at a general level.

Article Sections

1. Critical care codes and documentation focus

   Introduces the work plan’s attention to emergency department critical care billing and the documentation concerns associated with this area.

2. Role of nonphysician practitioners

   Summarizes the work plan’s interest in services furnished by nonphysician practitioners and the related Medicare oversight concerns.

3. Services and supplies incident to physicians services

   Reviews the article’s discussion of incident-to billing in relation to different care settings and the need for awareness of billing practices.

4. Additional areas continued from the prior work plan

   Notes two other compliance areas carried forward from the previous year’s work plan, both involving physician billing oversight in institutional and reassignment contexts.