The ACR/ARP’s practice management division actively works to offer rheumatologists and their staff valuable, accessible resources to address practice issues. Our trained professionals provide the most up-to-date tools and resources to help improve practice efficiency and meet the myriad compliance obligations of the ever-changing healthcare landscape.
The Practice Management Resource Center can assist with such issues as coding and billing guidelines; office compliance; documentation and denials management; and working with Medicare, private insurers and self-pay patients; as well as offering up-to-date information on clinical data registry and EHR data use to assess quality of care.
Practices can receive assistance and gain solutions to practice management, coding and billing issues via the ACR website at https://www.rheumatology.org/Practice-Quality. Key resources include:
Advanced Rheumatology Coding & CDI Boot Camp
The Advanced Rheumatology Coding and CDI Boot Camp provides physicians, coders, billers and practice managers with in-depth education on new and changing documentation requirements for clinical criteria to appropriately code the quality patient care a practice delivers. The ACR’s certified coders and CDI specialists conduct this eight-hour course and provide an overview of key coding guidelines and physician documentation requirements by body system. The course will enhance your understanding of the ICD-10 and procedural coding structure, and changes to the ICD-10-CM guidelines for frequently reported diagnoses will be discussed. Participants leave class ready to maximize documentation efforts for diagnoses and E/M and procedural codes commonly targeted for audits by third-party and government payers.
The rheumatology-specific Coding and CDI Boot Camps are offered nationwide at various locations. For a list of upcoming courses, contact the practice management division at [email protected]. Additional coding and billing resources can be found at https://www.rheumatology.org/Practice-Quality/Administrative-Support/Coding.
Evaluation & Management Chart Auditing—Avoid Audit Risks
As required by the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006, the CMS implemented Medicare recovery auditing in all states. This, along with the OIG’s 2018 semiannual report on recovering more than $2 billion in overpayment, means the claims auditing movement is now moving forward at full speed. This hands-on training program is designed to assist rheumatology practices with recognizing the essential steps for documentation improvement and coding risk areas before a third-party or government audit.
For more information on self-auditing or to schedule an on-site meeting, contact the ACR’s certified healthcare auditors at [email protected]. In-depth information on CMS auditing and program integrity can be found at https://www.rheumatology.org/Practice-Quality/Administrative-Support/Practice-Resources/Audit-Programs.
Certified Rheumatology Coder Review Course & Exam
The CRHC exam is designed to provide information and thoroughly test the coding knowledge of professionals in rheumatology, including physicians, coders/billers, office managers, administrators, consultants and other health professionals. The ACR’s practice management division will send its Professional Medical Coding Curriculum (PMCC) coding instructor to conduct a daylong review course and administer the three-and-a-half hour exam at several U.S. locations. To review the certification guidelines or register for a course, visit the ACR website at https://www.rheumatology.org/Learning-Center/Educational-Activities/Details?meetingId={C818A218-D658-E611-8F1A-005056987EFD}.
