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Physician Training by CardiologyCoder.com “Jim presented a seminar to the physicians that was very effective. As a result of this seminar we have seen improvement in the physician’s coding practices and therefore in compliance… we found that Jim has a wealth of information to share.” Karen L. Jones RNC, MSN, Director of Clinical Operations, Ohio Valey Heartcare. “Less than 10 minutes into the presentation, I knew that we had a winner. Not only did he give our attendees tons of great content, his style and rapport with the audience won them over… What more can I say? I highly recommend Jim Collins as a speaker.” Judi Scott, Part B News Group. CardiologyCoder.com provides truly effective, physician level training and education in each of the sub-specialty areas of cardiology. We convey the most critical coverage, documentation, and coding rules in a very physician-friendly manner. Our approach facilitates understanding and prompt adoption of optimal documentation and coding practices. We also provide attendees with great reference material and tools that help facilitate compliance with the topics discussed. Many groups have realized additional revenues in excess of $50,000 per physician, per year simply by having us educate physicians on how to comply with the complex documentation and coding rules. These training initiatives also identify areas of regulatory exposure that can be eliminated with minor adjustments to current protocols. Offering this opportunity to your physicians is one of best investments you can make in your organization: it increases revenue, satisfies the extremely important training requirement of an effective compliance program, and it reduces the likelihood of your organization submitting false claims. Each presentation is specific to issues that impact revenue and regulatory compliance. Each of the presentations has been designed to fit into a one hour time slot. However, these slots can be modified if necessary: shorter presentations may help to increase physician availability, longer ones will accommodate more question and answer time. Currently, these presentations are available in a convenient web-conference format. This is the optimal way to facilitate these training initiatives because of many factors: Physician Convenience: Getting all of your physicians together in the same place for a coding meeting is similar to herding cats. Physicians within the same practice are frequently geographically separated due to: staffing of satellite offices, providing coverage at multiple hospitals, continuing medical education commitments, and vacation time. Remote presentations allow physicians to log into the training program from multiple locations. Rather than finding a block of time in which it is possible to get all of your physicians into the same room, web conferencing only requires a one hour block of time where the physicians can each be in front of a computer from anywhere in the world. Cost Effectiveness: On-site training programs are frequently cost-prohibitive for physician groups. When travel expenses and on-site speaking fees are taken into account, on-site programs typically are three to four times more expensive than web conferences. Availability: With travel time factored in, on site programs typically require at least a two-day commitment; this presents a significant barrier to scheduling. It is not uncommon for on-site programs to require several months of lead-time due to travel requirements. However, web conferences can often be facilitated with less than a week of lead time. Remote Presentation Mastery: Jim Collins has been conducting national and individualized web conferences and teleconferences for well over ten years. He is extremely professional, he keeps the training program moving at an effective pace, and he makes sure to connect with the audience by offering opportunities for questions at appropriate times during the presentations. "This presentation was excellent. The program was very helpful and beneficial. I would like to see more programs done via computer and telephone as it saves travel time and is very convenient. Excellent!! Very educational, the handouts are great." Gloria Cipriani, Sewickley Valley Medical Group-Cardiology “I was involved in two teleconferences – they were somewhat helpful. This conference was excellent, a lot easier to understand and very helpful.” Rachel Greger “You can explain things in a way that anyone can understand. A couple of us have heard you in an audio-conference and think you are wonderful.” Janice LowmanCardiology Center at Sparks Shortly after scheduling your web conference, we will provide you with a web link via e-mail that will take you to the web site where the presentation material can be viewed. You will be able to view the presentation on a personal computer screen or on an LCD projector in a conference room. I’ll also provide a call-in number where you’ll be connected to me via teleconference. The call will be highly interactive and physicians can ask as many questions as they want at any point during the conference. Finally, I’ll forward hard copies of the presentation material for attendees to make notes on and additional take-away material that will help implement the guidance provided during the training program. Following is a summary of our most popular presentation topics:  Coronary Assessment & Interventions: This training program explains the billing guidelines for the most common diagnostic tests focused on the coronary arteries: echocardiography, myocardial perfusion imaging, and diagnostic heart catheterizations. Many groups are unaware of the documentation and coding guidelines for these common tests: there is a national documentation standard for echocardiogram reports, one of the most common errors found by Medicare auditors is over priced radiopharmaceuticals, and every left heart catheterization should not be reported in the same manner.
We will also discuss the applicable coding and documentation requirements for coronary interventions: planned interventions, urgent interventions, applicable global periods, commonly missed “add-on” services that substantial increase revenue, and the latest update regarding our advocacy efforts specific to these grossly underpaid services.  Peripheral Vascular Angiography and Interventions: This presentation will take someone with little, or no, understanding of this vast and complex set of rules to the level of understanding necessary to accurately document and code the majority of peripheral vascular procedures. At the conclusion of this training initiative, physicians will be able to achieve accurate and optimal reimbursement in this very lucrative service arena.
We’ll cover the applicable documentation and coding rules in a very easy to follow format. Diagrams will be used to illustrate the differences between procedures, case studies will be reviewed to show how documentation impacts reimbursement, and the most common, money-loosing, peripheral vascular billing errors will be discussed. Accurate peripheral vascular coding requires mastery of the most complex set of coding guidelines in existence; this program will make a mole hill out of the PV coding mountain. We will cover the appropriate coding rules for catheter placement, diagnostic imaging, and peripheral vascular interventions. Failure to master these rules will cause physicians to loose 50 – 60% of the revenue to which they are entitled.  Electrophysiology and Cardiac Rhythm Management: This program will cover the proper way to document and bill for electrophysiology procedures: diagnostic electrophysiology tests, mapping, Isuprel infusion, and ablations (including atrial fibrillation). We’ll cover the fine lines that differentiate “diagnostic” testing from “confirmatory” testing and explain why one is billable while the other is not. We’ll illustrate how electrophysiologists sometimes are paid more money for doing less work and how some very common EP procedures will not be reimbursed unless other procedures are performed at the same time. We’ll also provide a highly beneficial charge capture/audit tool that will help to facilitate accurate coding of these complex procedures.
We will also cover the applicable rules for cardiac rhythm management related procedures (pacemakers and defibrillators). Indications, global periods, initial implantation, device change-outs, and interrogations (including remote interrogations) will be addressed. We’ll tackle the most common stumbling blocks for implanting cardiologists and electrophysiologists: when it is and is not appropriate to bill for pocket revisions, why subclavian and coronary sinus venography is a regulatory lightening rod, and why it is not appropriate to bill for a dual chamber implant every time a dual chamber device is implanted. We’ll also cover the most commonly missed CRM procedures: fluoroscopy during generator change outs, generator extraction, and services during the post-operative period. Cardiology Specific Evaluation & Management Documentation & Billing: The most frequently audited services are those in which physicians evaluate and manage patient healthcare: consultations, follow-up care, admissions, etc. This presentation will provide cardiologists with an easy to apply understanding of the documentation guidelines and illustrate best practice documentation protocols that can make a huge difference in a “by the book” audit. This is a highly pertinent presentation for cardiologists of all sub-specialties and the “presentation of choice” for mixed sub-specialty audiences. Attendees will receive beneficial pocket reference cards, implementation tools, and handout material during this meeting. This program will educate physicians on the proper way to document these extremely common services and how to safely secure the appropriate level of reimbursement. We’ll illustrate how many cardiologists forfeit $400+ each week by not understanding the billing rules specific to pre-operative cardiovascular clearance. We’ll also explain the current profiling tactics of Medicare auditors and provide attendees with insight specific to avoiding the audit radar. In short, this is a blockbuster presentation that will help increase revenue and dramatically decrease regulatory exposure. Reserve your Training Program Now ! |
Jim Collins, CPC-CARDIO, ACS-CA, CHCC is a graduate of the State University of New York at Brockport with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He has engaged in physician practice consulting since 1993. He has earned and maintained the designations of Certified Professional Coder, Certified Healthcare Compliance Consultant, and Advanced Coding Specialist in Cardiology. He was chosen by the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) to independently write the study guide and certification test for their cardiology specialty coding designation (CPC-CARDIO). Mr. Collins is President of CardiologyCoder.Com, Inc. and directs the firms auditing, training, editing, and advocacy efforts. Mr. Collins is a nationally respected educator in the field of cardiology documentation and billing who has had the distinct privilege of conducting educational programs for The Heart Rhythm Society, local chapters of The American College of Cardiology, The Coding Institute, HC Pro, Decision Health, and The American Academy of Professional Coders. Mr. Collins writes the highly acclaimed Cardiology Coalition Newsletter, develops each of the organization’s proficiency tests, and serves as the Consulting Editor of Cardiology Coding Alert. Mr. Collins has extensive cardiovascular billing experience and provides in-depth consulting, auditing, and training services in the areas of: evaluation and management service documentation, echocardiography, nuclear imaging, ambulatory monitoring, coronary angiography, coronary interventions, peripheral vascular services, electrophysiology (EP), cardiac rhythm management (CRM), and clinic based services (lipid/congestive heart failure/Coumadin). Jim@CardiologyCoder.com Here is what our members have to say about our newsletter. "How wonderful it is to be able to "tap" into the well of cardiology coding knowledge that Jim Collins has. I feel that the Cardiology Coalition is very easy to understand and the publication gives great references. I anxiously await my next issue" - Deena Wojtkowski, CPC CCP, Cardiovascular Associates of Wisconsin, LLP "I really enjoy your publication. Our entire coding staff was determined to finish the issue the day it came. I have rarely seen such enthusiasm for a learning tool. Most of the people in our health information department are reading it as well as the coders. Everyone feels it is a good way to learn about cardiology as well as coding. This was an excellent idea to improve general coding knowledge within the office without the expense of seminars. We use it as a teaching tool and a testing tool. Keep up the good work.” - Sandy Fuller of Cardiovascular Associates of East Texas.
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