Medicare fraud is big business, but while only a few profit from intentional malfeasance, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is now taking a closer look at everyone. The Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor Program, already infamously known as the RAC, swings into full operation in 2010 and every healthcare provider that receives payment under any of the Medicare fee-for-service payment systems will be subject to RAC scrutiny. And scrutinize, they will… . Instead of developing another bureaucracy, the government has turned the job of auditing over to outside firms whose payment will be based exclusively on finder fees for recouping improper payments. There will be little tolerance for poor record keeping or gray areas of coding. Written by medical billing guru and Lean accounting expert, Duane Abbey, The Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor Program: A Survival Guide for Healthcare Providers explains all that is required to prepare and successfully defend against inappropriate RAC audit recoveries. Using the same succinct style that always makes his writing so accessible, Abbey illustrates his lessons with simple case studies placed in the context of a fictitious community whose population is served by a hospital, clinics, a nursing facility, and other providers all seeking to maintain compliance and profitability. In discussing RAC guidelines, this resource — Shows how to identify overpayment areas and associated compliance issues Details a systematic problem-solving process relative to RAC processes Addresses resource requirements including new personnel, such as RAC specialists Includes planning models for developing compliance departments Provides an extensive glossary to make sense of medical billing’s alphabet soup of acronyms While the book works well as a stand-alone reference for those seeking advice on RAC audits, readers will also discover that this volume extends the lesson of Abbey’s classic Compliance for Coding, Billing & Reimbursement, Second Edition , making this book a natural companion for those wanting to fully explore the role of compliance and Lean accounting in medical billing.

Medical Arts Press 20049 Message Minder V Updated to include alternate phone number space and pharmacy phone/email Healthcare-specific content, such as patient info, Rx data and follow-up notes 4 questions for verification of caller, recommended by Medicare and consistent with privacy provisions Voice mail application for greater flexibility and document management Spiral binding lets books lay flat and secures duplicate copies Shaded box has check-offs for purpose of call Create original messa

firstchoiceoffice store Medical Arts Press Message Minder ll Jumbo 20042 4/pk Updated to include a space for alternate phone number and pharmacy phone/e-mail address Healthcare-specific content, such as patient info, Rx data and follow-up notes 4 questions for verification of caller, recommended by Medicare and consistent with privacy provisions Voice mail application for greater flexibility and document management Document the medical record immediately with adhesive-back message forms Spiral

Prevent unauthorized copies and safeguard confidential business, legal, healthcare and personal documents. Designed to meet and exceed federal and state guidelines for tamper-resistant security paper set by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Colored background with erasure protection. Artificial watermark is coin reactive. Prevent unauthorized copies and safeguard confidential business, legal, healthcare and personal documents. Meets and exceeds federal and state guidelines for tamper-resistant security paper. Colored background with erasure protection. 10 security features. Premier features: all Standard and Advanced features plus chemical reactivity, toner grip and embedded invisible fibers. Specifications: Global Product Type: Paper-Specialty Paper Paper Color(s): Blue Paper Weight: 24 lbs. Sheets Per Unit [Nom]: 500 Machine Compatibility: Inkjet Printers, Laser Printers Size: 8 1/2 x 11 Paper Special Features: Premier Medical Paper Pre-Consumer Recycled Content Percent [Nom]: Post-Consumer Re

DocuGard 04543 [ PRB04543 ]: DocuGard Security Paper, 8-1/2 x 11, Blue, 500 / Ream. Prevent unauthorized copies & safeguard confidential business, legal, healthcare & personal documents. Designed to meet & exceed federal & state guidelines for tamper-resistant security paper set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Colored background with erasure protection. Artificial watermark is coin reactive. 10 security features. Premier features: all Standard & Advanced features plus chemical reactivity, toner grip & embedded invisible fibers. Paper Color(s): Blue; Paper Weight: 24 lbs.; Sheets Per Unit: 500; Rolls Per Unit: n/a. .. PRB04543 or PRB-04543

What would real healthcare reform look like? And how can everyday Americans trump big money and put healthcare back on track? Howard Dean speaks out."The success of healthcare reform legislation rises and falls on whether the American public is allowed to opt into a universally available public healthcare program, like Medicare, or not. If Congress issues a bill that gives Americans a public option, then there will be real healthcare reform. If not, we could be back fighting about it for another 20 years before anybody tries again."--Howard DeanAmericans have pondered how to reform healthcare since the days of Harry Truman. But, for most Americans, little has changed--except that healthcare costs have soared, health insurance companies have grown richer, and, today, even those Americans who pay dearly for health insurance frequently find that their policies don't adequately cover them when they need their coverage most.Something has got to give. In his bold, new book, Howard Dean-the physician and former governor widely credited for reviving the Democratic Party after the 2004 elections-tells Americans what needs to be done to successfully reform healthcare. One key, he writes, is to offer Americans the option to participate in a public healthcare program, much like Medicare. "America has had 'socialized' medicine since 1964," says Dean. "It's called Medicare; it covers every American over 65, and the majority of them are happy with the program. The rest of America deserves a similar option."In this straight-talking guide to rising above today's healthcare crisis, Dean spells out:What Obama's healthcare plan is all aboutHow other countries handle healthcareWhich special interests are standing in the way of progress and whyHow healthcare reform will help American businesses prosperWhy Americans need choice--between private or public health coverageMillions of Americans lack health insurance; millions more pay for coverage that doesn't protect them from serious illness; and the status quo leaves Americans at the mercy of corporate interests. In this persuasive argument from a passionate political strategist, Americans learn how to take back the healthcare reins.

DocuGard 04541 [ PRB04541 ]: DocuGard Security Paper, Blue, 8-1/2 x 11, 500 / Ream. Prevent unauthorized copies & safeguard confidential business, legal, healthcare & personal documents. Designed to meet & exceed federal & state guidelines for tamper-resistant security paper set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Colored background with erasure protection. Artificial watermark is coin reactive. 6 security features. Standard features: Void pantograph, ensure-resistant background, watermark, coin reaction, microtext print & security features listing. Paper Color(s): Blue; Paper Weight: 24 lbs.; Sheets Per Unit: 500; Rolls Per Unit: n/a. .. PRB04541 or PRB-04541

Choose the right doctor and make the most of your health insurance to avoid big medical bills.In the ever-changing world of healthcare in America, it's not a bad idea to know the basics. Healthcare for Less outlines the basic steps to choose the right healthcare plan and provider, take advantage of government programs like Medicare, and avoid paying unnecessary healthcare costs. Though insurance policies, Medicare forms, and doctor bills can be complicated and difficult to understand, this book is not.Healthcare for Less explains the value of knowing your family's medical needs, relating these needs to your insurance company and/or medical provider, and knowing what options exist—before making costly healthcare decisions. The book is separated into easy-to-follow sections, so readers can jump right to what they need and refer to diagrams, tables, and websites to answer more specific questions. Healthcare is essential to everyone, and it is important to understand how you can take advantage of your options to receive the best care at the most affordable price.Healthcare for Less is a wealth of information, including: • the differences between the HMO and the PPO• the intricacies of your medical bill• the importance of a deductible, and much moreFilled with real-life examples Healthcare for Less describes a practical approach to today's healthcare system to help you and your family get the care you need for less.

Medical Arts Press 20072 Message Minder V with Adhesive Tabs 100 messages per book - 2 large message sets per page Updated to include space for alternate phone number and pharmacy phone/email. Healthcare-specific content, such as patient info, Rx data and follow-up notes. 4 questions for verification of caller, recommended by Medicare and consistent with privacy provisions. Voice mail application for greater flexibility and document management. Document the medical record immediately with adhes

The skill levels of financial workers can vary as much as those of medical personnel, and the impact that these workers have on the viability, let alone profitability and efficient running, of any hospital, medical practice or facility is quite profound. The common belief now is that the multitude of payment systems that every medical practitioner must access, with their diverse procedures and hundreds if not thousands of medical codes, are scarcely manageable. However, with the right knowledge and the right approach, you can turn a system that controls you into one that you control. Healthcare Payment Systems: An Introduction provides a complete introduction to healthcare payment systems. Written by Duane Abbey, one of the nation’s leading experts and most sought out consultants in payment systems, this volume makes the monumental task of medical reimbursement approachable and manageable. Covering all the fundamentals and terminology needed to understand this discipline, and the insight and strategies needed to master it, Dr. Abbey — Provides a detailed understanding of the differences among healthcare payment systems Shows you the best ways to categorize specific third-party payer requirements Explains what you need to know about Medicare’s use of different payment systems Gives you the understanding needed to negotiate better contractual arrangements This self-contained guide is more than a reference. It provides an overview and discussion of topics that one must understand to optimize usage of various systems. Ultimately, it will help you begin to develop the solid core of skills and knowledge needed to confidently approach payment systems as tools to use rather than hazards to avoid -- tools that will lead to improved revenue cycles and higher levels of profitability. This book is the first in Dr. Abbey’s Healthcare Payment System Series from Productivity Press. Look for future books in the series covering a variety of service-specific payment systems for physicians, hospitals, and specialized programs.

DocuGard 04542 [ PRB04542 ]: DocuGard Security Paper, 8-1/2 x 11, Green, 500 / Ream. Prevent unauthorized copies & safeguard confidential business, legal, healthcare & personal documents. Designed to meet & exceed federal & state guidelines for tamper-resistant security paper set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Colored background with erasure protection. Artificial watermark is coin reactive. 7 security features. Advanced features: all Standard features plus heat-sensitive ink. Paper Color(s): Green; Paper Weight: 24 lbs.; Sheets Per Unit: 500; Rolls Per Unit: n/a. .. PRB04542 or PRB-04542

The 2010 Medicare Handbook is the indispensable resource you need to clearly understand, and be able to advise on, Medicare's confusing rules and regulations. It has been prepared by an outstanding team of experts from the Center for Medicare Advocacy, Inc., a private, non-profit organization devoted to helping elders and people with disabilities obtain necessary healthcare. These experienced attorneys and healthcare professionals address, from the beneficiary's perspective, issues you need to master to provide effective planning advice or advocacy services, including: - Medicare eligibility rules and enrollment requirements; - Medicare covered services, deductibles, and co-payments; - Co-insurance, premiums, penalties; - Coverage criteria for each of the programs; - Problem areas of concern for the advocate; - Grievance and appeals procedures. For each topic, you'll find an extensive selection of case citations, checklists, worksheets, and other practice tools designed to assist in obtaining coverage for clients, while minimizing research and drafting time. The 2010 Medicare Handbook has been updated to include coverage of: - Re-bidding under the competitive bidding for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) as re-introduced in the fall of 2009; - Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of the variety of SNPs available under the Medicare Advantage program (Medicare Part C); - Continued efforts on educating beneficiaries about their rights, particularly with respect to moving from one care setting to another; - Developments in the Medicare Hospice Care Benefit, including in-the-home hospice care as opposed to hospice in a skilled nursing facility; - Ongoing problems with the implementation of the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit, including providing good information about how to appeal the denial of coverage of drugs not on a plan's formulary.

Karman Healthcare has been a leading innovator in the manufacture and distribution of home medical products since 1994. Karman provides a full line of wheelchairs walkers rollators power wheelchairs & scooters stand-up wheelchairs oxygen regulators bathroom safety and other home care products. Standard lightweight detachable arm wheelchairs. Medicare code K0003. Detachable-Padded desk length armrest with alloy side guard. Swing-away-Length adjustable footrest with heel loop footplate. Push to lock wheel brakes. High-grade-Padded flame retardant nylon upholstery. Dual-Axle-Seat height adjustable. 24'' x 1'' Mag wheels with polyurethane tires. Extra-durable forks. 8'' x 1'' Caster wheel. Carry pocket on backrest. Seat width: 16'' 18''. Frame color: Silver vein. Weight capacity: 250 lbs.

DocuGard 04544 [ PRB04544 ]: DocuGard Security Paper, 32lbs, 8-1/2 x 11, Blue / Canary, 500 / Ream. Prevent unauthorized copies & safeguard confidential business, legal, healthcare & personal documents. Designed to meet & exceed federal & state guidelines for tamper-resistant security paper set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Colored background with erasure protection. Artificial watermark is coin reactive. 6 security features. Standard features: Void pantograph, ensure-resistant background, watermark, coin reaction, microtext print & security features listing. Paper Color(s): Blue; Canary; Paper Weight: 32 lbs.; Sheets Per Unit: 500; Rolls Per Unit: n/a. .. PRB04544 or PRB-04544

Karman Healthcare has been a leading innovator in the manufacture and distribution of home medical products since 1994. Karman provides a full line of wheelchairs walkers rollators power wheelchairs scooters stand-up wheelchairs oxygen regulators bathroom safety and other home care products. LT-800T. Standard lightweight fixed armrest wheelchairs. Medicare code K0003. Fixed-Padded full armrests with alloy side guard. Swing-away-Height adjustable footrests with heel loop footplates. Push to lock wheel brakes. 24'' Flat free polyurethane rear tires. Extra-durable forks. 8'' Flat free front casters. High-grade-Padded nylon flame retardant upholstery. Seat width: 16'' 18''. Frame color: silver vein. Weight capacity: 250 lbs.

DocuGard 04545 [ PRB04545 ]: DocuGard Security Paper, 24lbs, 8-1/2 x 11, Blue, 500 / Ream. Prevent unauthorized copies & safeguard confidential business, legal, healthcare & personal documents. Designed to meet & exceed federal & state guidelines for tamper-resistant security paper set by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Colored background with erasure protection. Artificial watermark is coin reactive. 6 security features. Standard features: Void pantograph, ensure-resistant background, watermark, coin reaction, microtext print & security features listing. Paper Color(s): Blue; Paper Weight: 24 lbs.; Sheets Per Unit: 500; Rolls Per Unit: n/a. .. PRB04545 or PRB-04545

Karman Healthcare has been a leading innovator in the manufacture and distribution of home medical products since 1994. Karman provides a full line of wheelchairs walkers rollators power wheelchairs scooters stand-up wheelchairs oxygen regulators bathroom safety and other home care products. Standard fixed-arm wheelchairs. Medicare Code K0001. Fixed-Padded full sized armrests with alloy side guard. Swing-away-Height adjustable footrests with heel loop. 24'' Mag wheels with flat free tires. Steel extra-durable front caster forks. 8'' Flat free front caster. Push to lock wheel brakes. High-grade-Padded flame retardant vinyl upholstery. Carry pocket on backrest. Frame color: Silver vein. Seat width: 16'' 18''. Weight capacity: 250 lbs.

There is wide consensus that our current healthcare system is, to put it mildly, broken. In this time of HMOs, mismanaged care, and a failing Medicare system, patients and doctors alike are dissatisfied with the status quo. But Knope explains that there is a solution - Concierge Medicine. This new system, sweeping the nation yet still the subject of some controversy, allows consumers to contract directly with a doctor to get individualized care. It's a return to Marcus Welby-style medicine, says Knope, and it provides what he calls a critical element for the best care - time. Ample time for doctors to care for their patients, and to restore the doctor-patient relationship that has fallen into the past with our current assembly-line, fast food medicine. The first book published giving in-depth explanation of Concierge Medicine, this work also provides concrete advice on how to find, interview, and budget for a concierge doctor, using changes in tax law that allow patients to open Health Savings Accounts. Patient vignettes provide personal insights from consumers of Concierge Medicine, and further description of what is involved to use this new approach for optimal health.Knope clearly explains the pressures that led to our current assembly-line healthcare system, allowing the reader to see also why the fact that a typical doctor's visit these days lasts just seven minutes works against any attempt to get, or for doctors to give, the best of care. Health is our most precious asset, says Knope, and like financial wealth, what he sees as health wealth also takes time, effort, and money to nurture. The three critical components of optimal health discussed are: a good relationship with a qualified doctor, regular exercise, and good nutrition. Concierge doctors customize a nutrition and exercise program unique to the needs of each individual. Yet there are detractors who argue Concierge Medicine is unfair, because it allows just those who can afford it unlimited access to a doctor. Knope confronts that question of medical ethics also. This book will doubtless stimulate not only ideas and action, but wide discussion and debate.

This outstanding book was chosen Book of the Year Award Winner for HIMSS (Healthcare Information Management and Systems Society) because it comprehensively covers the selection and implementation of electronic medical records for the physician practice. The book contains solid advice, worklists, and other tools to help physicians and office administrators succeed in leveraging EMRs to improve patient services and practice performance. The book is a guide to sorting out myriad options for the practice, including vendor choice, contacting, and establishing a framework in the practice to ensure successful implementation. Topics include defining requirements, product selection, negotiating contracts to avoid tricky situations with warranties and termination clauses, upfront fees and staff training and motivation. Publisher has sold 1300 copies of this book in the first 6 months of publication! As a nationally recognized expert on practice-based computer systems, Ron Sterling has helped many medical practices evaluate whether an EMR investment makes sense (and for some practices, it doesn t!). From there, he helps them define requirements, choose the right system, get physician and staff buy-in, and take the system live as smoothly as possible. There is no question that the selection and implementation of an EMR is a bet-the-practice proposition. If you fail, you end up with more costs and greater frustration. On the other hand, few practices will be able to avoid implementing EMRs as these tools become necessary to meet patient expectations, payer quality requirements and pay-for-performance demands. Keys to EMR Success is particularly valuable because it explores more than just the technology considerations. From common care standards and disease management initiatives, to the HIPAA Transaction Set and Continuity of Care Record, Sterling offers bottom-line perspective on how current industry issues affect EMR decisions. For example, in looking at Pay for Performance, he points out how an EMR can help practices answer Medicare/Medicaid pay-for-performance initiatives. Another thing that s unique about this book is that medical practices aren t squeezed into a one size fits all approach. Selected Table of Contents: Chapter 1: Should I Invest in an EMR? Who should and shouldn t make the leap. Chapter 2: Evaluating an EMR Investment How to compare the system s cost to potential ROI in patient care, document management, compliance, and other key practice areas. Chapter 3: Your Practice Management System and an EMR Best practices for getting these systems to work together and with your practice management team. Chapter 4: Compiling a Practice-Focused Evaluation List How to define requirements and anticipate features you ll need in the future. Chapter 5: Selecting Products to Review Narrowing the field of 400 EMR products to find the best candidates for your practice. Chapter 6: Reviewing Products for Your Practice How to complete due diligence in two months, including what to look in demos. Chapter 7: Making a Final Decision Using a weighted score system ... and asking the right questions about server support, hardware specs, and other potential hidden costs. Chapter 8: Negotiating a Contract How to avoid tricky situations with warranties, termination clauses, upfront fees, and more. Chapter 9: Implementing an EMR. From clinical standards and policies, to data conversion and training: who does what, when. Chapter 10: Activating an EMR How to keep personnel and logistics issues from sabotaging your success with the EMR system. Chapter 11: Supporting an EMR Maintaining standards (e.g., clinical charting), motivating proficiency, training new employees, and regularly refreshing staff EMR skills. BONUS!...an EMR glossary and a list of vendors with company names, contact, certification status, and specialty

At some time, most families will need to provide home care for an aging family member who is ill or disabled. While home caregiving provides many benefits, it takes careful planning, support, and patience.The American Medical Association Guide to Home Caregiving provides the information you need to take the best possible care of an elderly, ill, or disabled person in a home setting. Written by experts from the American Medical Association, the book explains such essentials as how to:* Plan and arrange a room to adapt to a loved one's needs* Give medications, maintain hygiene, monitor symptoms, deal with incontinence, provide emotional support, and relieve boredom* Choose a home healthcare provider* Pay for home healthcare, including Medicare and Medicaid, and long-term care insurance* Care for a person with Alzheimer's disease or a terminal illness* Choose between alternative living arrangements such as assisted living facilities or nursing homes* Take care of yourself, the caregiverWith advice that touches both the physical and the emotional aspects of caregiving, this supportive, practical handbook will help make the experience as successful and rewarding as possible for you and your loved one.For more than 150 years, the American Medical Association has been the leading group of medical experts in the nation and one of the most respected health-related organizations in the world. The AMA continues to work to advance the art and science of medicine and to be an advocate for patients and the voice of physicians in the United States.

The shocking statistic is that forty-seven million Americans have no health insurance. When uninsured Americans go to the emergency room for treatment, however, they do receive care ;and a bill. Many hospitals now require uninsured patients to put their treatment on a credit card ;which can saddle a low-income household with unpayably high balances that can lead to personal bankruptcy. Why don't these people just buy health insurance? Because the cost of coverage that doesn't come through an employer is more than many low- and middle-income households make in a year. Meanwhile, rising healthcare costs for employees are driving many businesses under. As for government-supplied health care, ever higher costs and added benefits (for example, Part D, Medicare's new prescription drug coverage) make both Medicare and Medicaid impossible to sustain fiscally; benefits grow faster than the national per-capita income. It's obvious the system is broken. What can we do?In The Healthcare Fix, economist Laurence Kotlikoff proposes a simple, straightforward approach to the problem that would create one system that works for everyone ;and secure America's fiscal and economic future. Kotlikoff's proposed Medical Security System is not the "socialized medicine" so feared by Republicans and libertarians; it's a plan for universal health insurance. Because everyone would be insured, it's also a plan for universal healthcare.Participants ;including all who are currently uninsured, all Medicaid and Medicare recipients, and all with private or employer-supplied insurance ;would receive annual vouchers for health insurance, the amount of which would be based on their current medical condition. Insurance companies would willingly accept people with health problems because their vouchers would be higher. And the government could control costs by establishing the values of the vouchers so that benefit growth no longer outstrips growth of the nation's per capita income. It's a "single-payer" plan ;but a single payer for insurance. The American healthcare industry would remain competitive, innovative, strong, and private.Kotlikoff's plan is strong medicine for America's healthcare crisis, but brilliant in its simplicity. Its provisions can fit on a postcard ;and Kotlikoff provides one, ready to be copied and mailed to your representative in Congress. We're electing a new president in 2008; let's choose a new healthcare system, too ;one that works.