The next Genius Solutions First Friday of the Month Conference Call is scheduled for February 5, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time.
Planned topics for the conference call (so far) are:
BCBSM Record is online
NPI List of referring physicians by name at http://tinyurl.com/ykygzpx
Version 8 eTHOMAS people should be updating to v9 eTHOMAS
Genius is calling Chiro and Podiatry dTHOMAS clients to explain eTHOMAS options
THOMAS Exchange for HL7 EMR connections
BCBSM dropping Non-NPI compliant commercial payors
Genius is getting new phone lines in March
Genius is on Twitter and Facebook
Are you not getting paid by Michigan Medicaid anymore?
General interest questions and answers from the listeners
Final comments
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A few minutes before 10:00 on Friday you may call the FreeConference main number at 1-712-432-3100 and use Conference Bridge Number: 478288. Please note, it sometimes takes up to a minute to ring through and get prompted for the bridge number.
If at the time of the Conference Call you can't possibly get in on the main number, then you should check this news page to see if we have an alternate number.
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We plan to also host a "Webinar" at the same time, so if you have high speed Internet you may also be able to watch Genius' computer screen while you listen to the phone call.
To join the webinar you will need to register at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/613508411 as soon as possible.
After you register, a link will be emailed to you. This link is used to join the webinar at 10:00 a.m. We recommend trying to join the webinar about 10 minutes before the webinar is scheduled.
We hope you find the Webinar Web Site easy to use. We may talk about connecting to the webinar at the beginning of the Conference Call to see how you did and possibly have some last minute tips for those having difficulty connecting. The webinar does not play the audio, you still need to dial into the conference call phone number from your phone.
Even if you do not have high speed internet, or can't get the webinar to work on your computer, you can still hear the audio portion with the Dial-In Conference Number, just as all the previous conference calls have worked.
As usual, we will try to record the conference for those who can not attend in person and make it available on our News Page a couple of days later.
The next scheduled Genius Solutions First Friday of the Month Conference Call will probably be March 5, 2010.
CMS CONSULTATION CHANGES FOR 2010 TELECONFERENCE
A hot topic at some of the Genius Solutions First Friday of the Month Conference Call was what is Medicare doing with Consultation procedures on claims in 2010.
This is from the Medicare ListServ. Remember the times stated are CENTRAL TIMEZONE (10am and 2pm):
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued Change Request (CR) 6740 on December 14, 2009. This publication shows substantial changes in billing for consultation services provided in both facility and non-facility settings. This change does not affect telehealth services.
Per the CR, effective January 1, 2010, Medicare will no longer recognize consultation procedure codes. Instead, consulting physicians will submit an initial or subsequent visit procedure code.
WPS Medicare Part B will hold teleconferences to discuss and answer questions on the new changes. We are not asking for reservations for these calls. Please dial in at least 15 minutes prior to the call. Please help us control costs by only using one phone line per office. Below are the dates, times, and telephone information.
January 12, 2010
9:00 am - 11:00 am CT
1-866-685-4589
Passcode: 47131014
January 14, 2010
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm CT
1-866-685-4589
Passcode: 47132909
Y2K2010 for dTHOMAS and THOMAS Lite - Error starting THOMAS with year 2010
If you are dTHOMAS or THOMAS-Lite, and you are getting a date error message when starting THOMAS, you can run your THOMAS AutoUpdate to correct the problem.
Please make sure you have a recent backup, and make sure everyone is out of the program first.
BCBSM Medicare Advantage 835 Electronic Remittance Advice problems
BCBSM has posted this message on their Broadcast Bulletin:
BCBSM has been advised that Professional and Institutional Medicare Advantage 835 transactions for check date 12/4/09 contain erroneous information. These transactions were distributed on 12/4/09. Corrected files will be available on Wednesday, 12/09/09.
December 2009 First Friday Conference Call Recording Available
For those of you that did not make the First Friday of the Month Conference Call on 12/4/2007, you can listen to the recording here
The next call is scheduled for February 5th, 2010 at 10:00 Eastern Time.
End of Year Care for THOMAS
Some ideas for you before you post any charges for 2010:
Complete all posting of payments and charges that you have received up until 12/31/08. Do not post 2010 information until this is completed.
Run all the reports your Accountant wants for year end. Ask the CPA now if they have all the documentation they need BEFORE you post next years stuff.
Reconcile all accounts. (This re-adds the transaction ledger. If items are changed/removed in the transaction the patient/insurance balance may be off. Reconciling corrects any of those balances.)
Do all patient statements.
Check other claim status from the Paper Claim Billing Menu. All open/hold/rebill/inquiry claims should be reviewed. Verify that all claims that can be billed are changed to the appropriate status and available to be billed. Only claims in an unbilled/rebilled/inquiry status will be prepared.
Work all Edit Reports and rejections from 2009.
Run Delinquent claims Report – Work all non-paid claims. Especially those that will reach filing limits early next year.
Run an Aging by Patient Report. Review all balances including credit balances for patient account that need corrections. If your office writes off balance under a certain amount (ex: any patient balance under a $1.00) do so at this time.
Prepare and send all electronic files. (including inquiry claims)
Prepare and send all paper claims.
During the following steps everyone needs to be out of the system. All computers need to be completely out of THOMAS. Depending on the size of your system the time of these functions can vary.
Do a back up that you can store off site. (Backing up is extremely important on a daily basis, however, at year-end it is extremely important. If for any reason you need to pull the data that was in your system when you sent data to the accountant you may have that ability. (but you should have run them before next year's postings) You will also have a back up that is off site in case something happens in your office, it really does happen!)
After you do your backup run a Pack databases. (When you delete information from THOMAS it is not necessarily removed right away. When you pack it deletes any information that you have deleted that is being held in you databases.)
December 4th Genius Solutions First Friday of the Month Conference Call
The next Genius Solutions First Friday of the Month Conference Call is scheduled for December 4, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time.
Planned topics for the conference call (so far) are:
What should THOMAS users do for the end of the year?
Red Flag enforcement delayed until June 1, 2010
Medicare delays Ordering/Referring Providers requirement until 4/5/2010
eTHOMAS 9.1 in 2010
General interest questions and answers from the listeners
Final comments
*********************************************************************
A few minutes before 10:00 on Friday you may call the FreeConference main number at 1-712-432-3100 and use Conference Bridge Number: 478288. Please note, it sometimes takes up to a minute to ring through and get prompted for the bridge number.
If at the time of the Conference Call you can't possibly get in on the main number, then you should check the http://www.geniussolutions.com/news page to see if we have an alternate number.
*********************************************************************
We plan to also host a "Webinar" at the same time, so if you have high speed Internet you may also be able to watch Genius' computer screen while you listen to the phone call.
To join the webinar you will need to register at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/666918770 as soon as possible.
After you register, a link will be emailed to you. This link is used to join the webinar at 10:00 a.m. We recommend trying to join the webinar about 10 minutes before the webinar is scheduled.
We hope you find the Webinar Web Site easy to use. We may talk about connecting to the webinar at the beginning of the Conference Call to see how you did and possibly have some last minute tips for those having difficulty connecting. The webinar does not play the audio, you still need to dial into the conference call phone number from your phone.
Even if you do not have high speed internet, or can't get the webinar to work on your computer, you can still hear the audio portion with the Dial-In Conference Number, just as all the previous conference calls have worked.
As usual, we will try to record the conference for those who can not attend in person and make it available on our News Page a couple of days later.
We don't plan a call for this January, instead the next scheduled Genius Solutions First Friday of the Month Conference Call will probably be February 5, 2010.
Medicare delays Ordering/Referring Providers requirement until 4/5/2010
On of the hot topics at last month's Genius Solutions First Friday of the Month Conference call was that Ordering/Referring Providers not properly enrolled in PECOS could cause billing provider to not get paid starting next year.
We have seen a couple of sites reporting CMS has extended the deadline to April 5, 2010. Hopefully this will give THOMAS clients time to check their EDI reports for warnings for invalid Ordering/Referring Providers and get them fixed.
https://www.noridianmedicare.com/dme/news/docs/2009/11_nov/delay_implementing_phase2_cr_6417_6421.html and http://homecaremag.com/special_alert/cms-delays-pecos-20091123
November 2009 First Friday Conference Call Recording Available
For those of you that did not make the First Friday of the Month Conference Call on 11/6/2007, you can listen to the recording here
The article about CMS eliminating all consultation CPT/HCPC codes January 1, 2010 can be read here.
The next call is scheduled for December 4, 2009 at 10:00 Eastern Time.
November 6th Genius Solutions First Friday of the Month Conference Call
The next Genius Solutions First Friday of the Month Conference Call is scheduled for November 6, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time.
Planned topics for the conference call (so far) are:
Upcoming Genius Events
Michigan Podiatric Medical Association, Somerset Inn, Troy, MI 11/12/09-14
eTHOMAS version 7 and 8 should update to v9 now.
Update available for MICR VF code for H1N1
BCBSM u277 Warnings turned to rejections 10/1/2009
BCBSM Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) mandatory 10/1
BCBSM The Record should be electronic January 2010
ANSI 5010 and ICD-10 plans
CMS Warnings and Rejections for Ordering/Referring Provider starting
1/1/2010 CMS no longer paying for consultations
General interest questions and answers from the listeners
Final comments
*********************************************************************
A few minutes before 10:00 on Friday you may call the FreeConference main number at 1-712-432-3100 and use Conference Bridge Number: 478288. Please note, it sometimes takes up to a minute to ring through and get prompted for the bridge number.
If at the time of the Conference Call you can't possibly get in on the main number, then you should check the http://www.geniussolutions.com/news page to see if we have an alternate number.
*********************************************************************
We plan to also host a "Webinar" at the same time, so if you have high speed Internet you may also be able to watch Genius' computer screen while you listen to the phone call.
To join the webinar you will need to register at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/878948507 as soon as possible.
After you register, a link will be emailed to you. This link is used to join the webinar at 10:00 a.m. We recommend trying to join the webinar about 10 minutes before the webinar is scheduled.
We hope you find the Webinar Web Site easy to use. We may talk about connecting to the webinar at the beginning of the Conference Call to see how you did and possibly have some last minute tips for those having difficulty connecting. The webinar does not play the audio, you still need to dial into the conference call phone number from your phone.
Even if you do not have high speed internet, or can't get the webinar to work on your computer, you can still hear the audio portion with the Dial-In Conference Number, just as all the previous conference calls have worked.
As usual, we will try to record the conference for those who can not attend in person and make it available on our News Page a couple of days later.
The next scheduled Genius Solutions First Friday of the Month Conference Call will probably be December 4, 2009.
