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November - December 2010 •
Volume 15, Issue 6
A Year of Heartfelt Gratitude
Letter from the President
By Scott Everson, CHBME, HBMA President
Many, many years ago as a young Boy Scout, I dutifully memorized the Scout Law (…A scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent). I remember thinking this seemed like a daunting and comprehensive list of virtues to strive for. After all, God only gave us 10 commandments, and the scouts had just given me 12! Surely this list encompassed all of the most important qualities I would need to develop…or so I thought. Click for more

Tribute to Tim Maher
Long-time Champion of HBMA
Billing Editors
It is with deep regret that HBMA announces the passing of one of its foremost industry pioneers, Tim Maher. Click for more

From Beautician to Biller to Business Owner... Who Knew?
Member Profile
By Cindy Groux, CHBME
When I first applied for a position as support staff for an ophthalmologist 27 years ago, I did not expect the position, which primarily entailed filing paperwork, to be the career move that would ultimately lead to becoming the owner of Health Care Practice Management, Inc., a third party billing firm with 36 clients and 31 employees. At the time, I was looking for a change from my job as a beautician and needed to earn money while I attended college to pursue a degree in data processing. Click for more

Q&A with Connie Leonard
Q&A
Billing Editors
For this issue of Billing, Don Rodden, HBMA's Publication Chair, interviewed Connie Leonard, Director, Division of Recovery Audit Operations, to ascertain the goals, progress and impact of the RAC audit program. Click for more

eBilling & ePayment: Improves Cash Flow, Reduces Bad Debt
Feature Story
By Mark Snow, Chief Marketing Officer, PSC Info Group
The passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in March marked another milestone in a list of trends and events that are pushing healthcare providers to find better ways to improve the self-pay revenue cycle. Click for more

Sales Rep Agreement: Are You Protected?
Necessary Provisions That Can Provide Both a Shield and a Sword
By James J. Giszczak and Timothy Lowe
The threshold information that you must know when preparing a contract is whether your agreements with your sales representatives are even legal and enforceable. Click for more

CMS Issues New Rules for Physician Signatures
Compliance Issues
By Peggy Gunning, CPC, and Jackie Willett, CHBME
What happens if the provider's signature is not legible to an auditor? A missing or illegible signature on the medical record, including diagnostic orders, can result in a first line of denial by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) or other auditor. If reviewed and the signature is missing or illegible, the claim would likely be denied. Click for more

Another Year, More Coding Changes
Coding Corner
By Melody W. Mulaik, MSHS, CPC, CPC-H, RCC, PCS, FCS
Another year has quickly flown by, and it is already time to prepare for 2011. In today's environment, it is impossible to predict exactly what is going to happen in the world of physician reimbursement. However, one thing seems to be certain – change is constant. Click for more

Latest Proposed Fix Can Make Your Head Spin
From the Road
By Dave Jakielo, CHBME
This has been a roller coaster year in the wild and wacky world of Healthcare. Let's examine the highlights and low points of 2010. Click for more

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