|
Greetings,
We’ve had some great input on issues you want
us to address in our newsletters. One suggestion is
to include information on our recent updates. Be
sure to check out the article on “Updates to the
Current System”. If you see an update that your
practice needs, call us to arrange installation.
If you have not already signed up to receive our
newsletter by e-mail, it’s easy to do. Simply go to
our website:
www.systemsdesignnw.com and
put
your e-mail address in the “Join
our mailing list” field and click on “Go”. Uncheck the
EMS billing issues and check the Practice
Management Software. Fill in the fields and click
on “Submit”.
| NPI and New CMS 1500 (HCFA) |
 |
|
Over the next 8 months all providers will transition
from using UPINs and provider numbers to using only
NPI numbers. Moving to the NPI has made it
necessary to update the 1500 claim form. The
transition period does not start until October, but
you should take these 2 steps now:
1. Apply for your NPI number at:
https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov/NPPES/Welcome.do
2. Check your supply of 1500’s and don’t order too
many. By April 1st, 2007 all insurances will be
requiring the new form. Our goal is to have our
clients using NPIs and the new form by January 30,
2007.
Informational documents
about the NPI can be found at
Read more...
|
| Medicare Holding Payments |
|
|
Medicare will be holding payments for the last 9 days
of September. They will resume making payments on
October 2nd. During this period you could receive
payment from secondary insurers before the
Medicare payment arrives.
|
| THIN merges with Availity |
|
|
Our clearinghouse (THIN) has been purchased by
another company called Availity. You will probably
start to see a gradual name change from THIN to
Availity in their reports and paperwork. Providers
who had just recently signed up with THIN have had
to fill out new enrollment forms. There is a possibility
that all currently enrolled providers will also need to
re-enroll, but there is nothing official yet—we’ll keep
you posted.
|
| Updates to Current Software |
|
|
Here are the updates to the current MMS and POMS
software since the end of June:
MMS
- Allow for billing place of service 20 for urgent
care procedures.
- Update to correct issues in the referring doctor
fields.
- Suppress address information in box 32 when
place of service is 12 (home visit)
POMS
- Remove information from accident fields
that is no longer needed
MMS & POMS
- Add area code to provider’s phone number
for electronic claims
|
| New Practice Management System Update |
|
|
Several of you have stopped by to look at the new
system and we have enjoyed giving you a small
demonstration. Progress is going well. In the last
few weeks, we have been printing private
statements and 1500’s in our parallel test
environment.
|
| On a lighter note... |
|
|
A priest walked into a barber shop in Washington,
D.C. After he got his haircut, he asked how much it
would be. The barber said, "No charge. I consider it a
service to the Lord." The next morning, the barber
came to work and there were 12 prayer books and a
thank you note from the priest in front of the door.
Later that day, a police officer came in and got his
hair cut. He then asked how much it was. The barber
said, "No charge. I consider it a service to the
community." The next morning, he came to work and
there were a dozen donuts and a thank you note
from the police officer.
Then, a Senator came in and got a haircut. When he
was done he asked how much it was. The barber
said, "No charge. I consider it a service to the
country." The next morning, the barber came to work
and there were 12 Senators in front of the door.
|
|
Welcome |
|
|
|
Greetings!
It’s hard to believe that summer is coming to an
end. The back-to-school sales make it official—fall is
just around the corner. We hope you have had a
chance to enjoy the sunny weather.
|
|
