| A simple, but crucial medical billing change has | | | | and updated on current medical billing/coding |
| recently occurred. Beginning on October 1, 2005, | | | | practices. By hiring these companies you are |
| the Medicare durable medical equipment regional | | | | relieving your practice from the responsibility of |
| carrier (DMERC) will no longer accept the diagnosis | | | | training and updating your own medical billing |
| code 585.0. Instead of using ICD-9 585.0, medical | | | | personnel on changes.Another advantage to using |
| billing should be done with the ICD-9 code 585.6 | | | | a medical billing firm is the time they free up for |
| for home dialysis charges.The code 585.0 means | | | | your personnel to work one-on-one with patients. |
| chronic renal failure. This code has now been | | | | The less time your staff spends on medical billing, |
| discontinued and the DMERC will no longer be | | | | the more time you can focus on customer |
| lenient on the code. The more descriptive code, | | | | service. This is an added bonus because the |
| 585.6 (end stage renal disease) much more | | | | essence of medical care is centered around trust. |
| accurately describes the diagnosis for home | | | | In order for your patients to trust you, you must |
| dialysis. It is important that your medical billing | | | | build up a rapport.The change to the home dialysis |
| staff note this change. Failure to do so will result in | | | | medical billing code may be simple, however, there |
| unpaid future claims.Situations like this depict the | | | | are many other medical billing changes that are |
| necessity to hire an outside medical billing firm. | | | | not so simple. It is very important to keep up |
| Many mistakes can be avoided by hiring one of | | | | with all medical billing changes to ensure proper |
| these companies. Medical billing companies employ | | | | reimbursement for the future of your practice. |
| highly skilled individuals who are trained, certified, | | | | |