Early Registration

Nuts & Bolts of Pain Management Coding & Documentation Requirements

This will be a pre-conference session on the “Nuts & Bolts of Pain Management Coding & Documentation Requirements” with an emphasis on the common procedures performed in a Pain Management practice. This session would be great for those new to the specialty or as a refresher course for those who want a review of the basics.

Presenter: Marvel J. Hammer, RN, CPC, CCS-P, PCS, ACS-PM, CHCO

Nuts & Bolts of Anesthesia Coding & Documentation Requirements

This four hour workshop is designed to help both those who are both new to anesthesia as well as those who need a brush up course for their everyday work situations … such as anesthesia time, qualifying circumstances, medical direction and invasive lines. Joanne and Kelly will discuss the many aspects of coding and documentation requirements for anesthesia billing.

Presenter: Joanne Mehmert, CPC, ACS-PM and Kelly Dennis, MBA, CPC, ACS-AP

Back to Basics: Everything You Wanted to Know About Coding But Were Afraid to Ask

Unlock the hidden treasures hiding in your CPT book that will make you a better, more accurate coder. Map codes to punctuation guides, insurer guidelines, relative values, CCI edits and more. You'll come away with a wealth of knowledge you only heard, but didn't comprehend.

Presenter: Leslie Johnson, CPC

Expanding Your Practice: Leading Advice For Winning Results

If Medicare cuts and insurer denials have your physicians searching for better horizons, there's hope. This session will have you exploring new ways of boosting your bottm line from expanding your A/R methodologies to adding a second location or brining ancillaries in-house.

Presenter: Jerrie K. Weith, FHFMA

Registration, Continental Breakfast & Exhibits

Can’t Miss: 2009 Coding and Billing Updates For Anesthesia & Pain Management

It’s that time of the year! In this one-hour session we will discuss CPT, HCPCS, OIG work plan and Fee schedule changes that will affect your anesthesia and/or pain management practice.

Presenter: Kelly Dennis, MBA, CPC, ACS-AP

Option #1:
Flight Or Fight: Coding For Pain Management Sympathetic Nervous System Procedures

You no longer have to be fearful of coding your provider’s procedures in the sympathetic nervous system. This session will review the pain management procedures that the CPT book separates out into its own sections for injections and destructive procedures.

Presenter: Marvel J. Hammer, RN, CPC, CCS-P, PCS, ACS-PM, CHCO

Option #2:
In-house Anesthesia Auditing: Tips For Success

Have you ever wondered how to begin an internal auditing process? If your practice has a compliance plan, it may already outline the expectations – are you fulfilling them? This one-hour session will teach you to conduct your own internal audit and how to fix the problems you will find.

Presenter: Kelly Dennis, MBA, CPC, ACS-AP

Option #1:
Incorporating PQRI Into Your Practice: How To Get Your Medicare Bonus

Take the plunge in 2009 and get added money for reporting work your physicians already do. With P4P around the corner, there's no better time to join. Quickly spot the qualifiers you should report on and make sense of the modifier indicators.

Presenter: Alice Marie Reybitz, RN, BA, CPC, CPC-H

Option #2:
Resource Based Relative Value Scale (RBRVS) Coding

The Resource Based Relative Value Scale is a system that determines what providers will be paid for the medical services they render to patients. This system is mandated by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). This session will explain the fee schedule status indicators and various payment policy indicators that CMS publishes.

Presenter: Joanne Mehmert, CPC, ACS-PM

Must-Attend 2009 ICD-9 Updates For Anesthesia & Pain Management

Have you already started to get denials for your claims by reporting ICD-9 codes that have been deleted for 2009? But it isn’t even 2009 yet? Join us for a review of new, modified and deleted diagnosis codes, including the new big sections that can have an impact on your claims. There were 408 ICD-9-CM code changes in October but did you remember to catch all of the changes to update your provider’s reference sheet?

Presenter: Marvel J. Hammer, RN, CPC, CCS-P, PCS, ACS-PM, CHCO

Refreshment Break

Knowledge Is Your Best Defense: Expert Advice For RAC, CERT And Private Payer Audits

Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) , Recovery Audit Contractors (RAC), Medicare Contractor audits and the Office of the Inspector General are CMS’ initiatives to identify inappropriate billing. This session will provide an explanation of the different methods and how to handle requests for information. You will walkaway knowing the audit process and have keys to effectively handle if and when your records get requested.

Presenter: Joanne Mehmert, CPC

Continental Breakfast & Exhibits

Eliminate Acute Pain Coding Dilemmas With These Fast-Acting Expert Tips

Billing for acute pain management in conjunction with anesthesia requires an “acute” understanding of the rules. Much confusion exists over when to bill and when not to bill and how to expect your physicians to document their services. These fast acting tips will help your practice get on the right road to billing.

Presenter: Kelly Dennis, MBA, CPC, ACS-AP

Refreshment Break

Option #1:
Surefire Pain Management Coding Tactics For NCDs/LCDs

National Coverage Decision (NCD) and Local Coverage Decisions (LCD) are terms that apply to Medicare and they are not synonyms. It is important that the physicians and billing staff understand these terms and keep the providers informed. Providers can play an active role in CMS’ decision making process. This session will provide staff and health care providers important information about NCDs and LCDs.

Presenter: Joanne Mehmert, CPC

Option #2:
Reach Your Reimbursement Peak For Incident-To Billing

These incident-to musts will let your physician use ancillary staff to free up his valuable time while still allowing the encounter to capture 100 percent payment. This look inside the intricies of this billing method will keep you CMS compliant and offer alternative strategies.

Presenter: Sharlene A. Scott, CPC, CPC-H, CCS-P, CCP-P, CPC-I

Option #1:
How To Correct The Top Ten Anesthesia & Pain Management Coding & Billing Errors

Did you know that duplicate claims have been the top anesthesia specialty denial for Medicare for the past two years? Having a handle on common denials and learning to correct on the front end can save your practice extra work and delayed reimbursement. In this session, we’ll discuss the top ten anesthesia coding and billing errors and quick resolutions.

Presenter: Kelly Dennis, MBA, CPC, ACS-AP

Option #2:
Are Consultations Slowing Down Your Performance? Gain Full Speed Again With Road-Tested Expert Tips

Transfer of care sends a shiver down every coders and physicians' spine. Stop living in fear and start recouping the added money your due with these tips on distinguishing a consult from an office or hospital visit. Bonus: Get the signs you need to spot to code these higher-paying services.

Presenter: Betty A. Johnson, CPC-I, CCS-P, RMC, CCP, CIC, CPC-H

Anesthesia Coding and Billing for the Advanced Professional

This four-hour session is an in-depth discussion of anesthesia services and is designed to appeal to coders with more than just a basic understanding of anesthesia billing. We’ll discuss solutions to difficult scenarios and billing situations that often cause confusion. We will also discuss ways to stay in the “advanced” professional category.

Presenter: Kelly Dennis, MBA, CPC, ACS-AP

New Twists on Key Fundamentals for a Successful Practice

People are your most important asset for business. Without them, your A/R can sulk, negotiations will fail and costs will soar. Get your staff on-board to minimize costs, stay on budget and satisfy patients smile. Come with questions in this interactive practice perfecting session.

Presenter: Jerrie K. Weith, FHFMA

Teach Your Doctor How To Properly Document And Avoid Under Coding Once And For All!

Think residents’ services are not billable? Think again! Under the correct supervision and with the necessary tools, you can teach your provider how to turn some of this work into billable events. Go in-depth with attestations, actual presence, and the work itself.

Presenter: Suzan Berman-Hvizdash, CPC, CPC-EDS, CPC-EMS