RE: EKG

[Guest guest]

,

I am interested in a PC based EKG as

well. Are there any others in the Rochester

area interested? Perhaps we could convince someone to give us a better deal by

buying multiple units.

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Leeclan

Sent: Friday, January 13, 2006

7:30 AM

To:

Subject:

EKG

Hi everyone,

i was wondering for those of you who have an EKG

machine, what diagnoses do insurances reimburse for an EKG? Can you get

reimbursed for your hypertensives, diabetics, chest pain? annual

physical after a certain age?

I am thinking about getting a PC based EKG made by

Burdick. Anyone have this? Any regrets? any cautions?

Thanks

Lee

[Guest guest]

,

I am interested in a PC based EKG as

well. Are there any others in the Rochester

area interested? Perhaps we could convince someone to give us a better deal by

buying multiple units.

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Leeclan

Sent: Friday, January 13, 2006

7:30 AM

To:

Subject:

EKG

Hi everyone,

i was wondering for those of you who have an EKG

machine, what diagnoses do insurances reimburse for an EKG? Can you get

reimbursed for your hypertensives, diabetics, chest pain? annual

physical after a certain age?

I am thinking about getting a PC based EKG made by

Burdick. Anyone have this? Any regrets? any cautions?

Thanks

Lee

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I have my EKG from Midmark

and have never had payment for an EKG denied (unless the entire visit was

denied due to preexisting condition or lapse of insurance or whatever.) Even Medicare has paid for every

one. Most commonly the diagnosis

has been hypertension, but diabetes works too. Also chest pain,

palpitations, syncope, malaise & fatigue, or arrhythmia. For private insurance I have never

linked an EKG to V70.0, but now under Medicare, if you do the “welcome to

MCR” exam you can use Dx V70.0 linked to the

G0366 (ekg in that context) along with the G0344 (the

preventive visit itself). And since those folks all

have refills due for their chronic conditions, be sure to also submit the 99214

with -25 modifier. With the welcome to medicare visit, where in the past I would’ve been

paid only about $76 for the OV and $23 for the EKG (assuming there was an

appropriate dx for the EKG), NOW, for that exam I get the $76 for the 99214-25, plus the $23 for the

EKG, AND the G0344 gets me an additional $91. Not too bad for doing what I would’ve

done anyway. The only thing I have

to do extra is a bit more documentation (paper and pencil depression screen,

fall risk assessment, functional ability noted and give the patient a written

list of preventive recommendations).

And if you do the breast/pap or prostate exams, be sure to add the G

codes for those too and that adds a few more bucks. Anyway, I would not hesitate to get

an EKG. It won’t make you

rich, but it will pay for itself before too long, and it is a good service to

patients.

Annie

EKG

Hi everyone,

i was wondering for those of

you who have an EKG machine, what diagnoses do insurances reimburse for an

EKG? Can you get reimbursed for your hypertensives, diabetics,

chest pain? annual physical after a certain age?

I am thinking about getting a PC

based EKG made by Burdick. Anyone have this? Any regrets? any

cautions?

Thanks

Lee

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I have my EKG from Midmark

and have never had payment for an EKG denied (unless the entire visit was

denied due to preexisting condition or lapse of insurance or whatever.) Even Medicare has paid for every

one. Most commonly the diagnosis

has been hypertension, but diabetes works too. Also chest pain,

palpitations, syncope, malaise & fatigue, or arrhythmia. For private insurance I have never

linked an EKG to V70.0, but now under Medicare, if you do the “welcome to

MCR” exam you can use Dx V70.0 linked to the

G0366 (ekg in that context) along with the G0344 (the

preventive visit itself). And since those folks all

have refills due for their chronic conditions, be sure to also submit the 99214

with -25 modifier. With the welcome to medicare visit, where in the past I would’ve been

paid only about $76 for the OV and $23 for the EKG (assuming there was an

appropriate dx for the EKG), NOW, for that exam I get the $76 for the 99214-25, plus the $23 for the

EKG, AND the G0344 gets me an additional $91. Not too bad for doing what I would’ve

done anyway. The only thing I have

to do extra is a bit more documentation (paper and pencil depression screen,

fall risk assessment, functional ability noted and give the patient a written

list of preventive recommendations).

And if you do the breast/pap or prostate exams, be sure to add the G

codes for those too and that adds a few more bucks. Anyway, I would not hesitate to get

an EKG. It won’t make you

rich, but it will pay for itself before too long, and it is a good service to

patients.

Annie

EKG

Hi everyone,

i was wondering for those of

you who have an EKG machine, what diagnoses do insurances reimburse for an

EKG? Can you get reimbursed for your hypertensives, diabetics,

chest pain? annual physical after a certain age?

I am thinking about getting a PC

based EKG made by Burdick. Anyone have this? Any regrets? any

cautions?

Thanks

Lee

[Guest guest]

I’m just curious with the lower

volume practices that most of us have here, how often does someone really show

up in your office that just turned 65 yrs & is there within 6 months to be

eligible for the Welcome to Medicare Physical? I think that has only

occurred twice in 20 months of being open for me. Sometimes things seem a

little contradictory on this list. Most here say that they have capped

their practice at say 500 pt’s or so and are running a very small volume practice

but on the other hand are doing “tons” of things like EKG’s,

paps, skin procedures, Welcome to Medicare exams, etc, etc. I have already

seen ~ 1400 new pt’s in my practice ( & still take new ones) & I

rarely have an opportunity to do “tons” of anything in particular

(ie, a FEW of all of those things, but not a LOT of anything). I must be

missing something.

EKG

Hi everyone,

i was wondering for those of

you who have an EKG machine, what diagnoses do insurances reimburse for an

EKG? Can you get reimbursed for your hypertensives, diabetics,

chest pain? annual physical after a certain age?

I am thinking about getting a PC

based EKG made by Burdick. Anyone have this? Any regrets? any

cautions?

Thanks

Lee

[Guest guest]

I’m just curious with the lower

volume practices that most of us have here, how often does someone really show

up in your office that just turned 65 yrs & is there within 6 months to be

eligible for the Welcome to Medicare Physical? I think that has only

occurred twice in 20 months of being open for me. Sometimes things seem a

little contradictory on this list. Most here say that they have capped

their practice at say 500 pt’s or so and are running a very small volume practice

but on the other hand are doing “tons” of things like EKG’s,

paps, skin procedures, Welcome to Medicare exams, etc, etc. I have already

seen ~ 1400 new pt’s in my practice ( & still take new ones) & I

rarely have an opportunity to do “tons” of anything in particular

(ie, a FEW of all of those things, but not a LOT of anything). I must be

missing something.

EKG

Hi everyone,

i was wondering for those of

you who have an EKG machine, what diagnoses do insurances reimburse for an

EKG? Can you get reimbursed for your hypertensives, diabetics,

chest pain? annual physical after a certain age?

I am thinking about getting a PC

based EKG made by Burdick. Anyone have this? Any regrets? any

cautions?

Thanks

Lee

[Guest guest]

Yes, the meaning of " tons " .

> I’m just curious with the lower volume practices that most of us have

> here, how often does someone really show up in your office that just

> turned 65 yrs & is there within 6 months to be eligible for the

> Welcome to Medicare Physical?  I think that has only occurred twice in

> 20 months of being open for me.  Sometimes things seem a little

> contradictory on this list.  Most here say that they have capped their

> practice at say 500 pt’s or so and are running a very small volume

> practice but on the other hand are doing “tons†of things like EKG’s,

> paps, skin procedures, Welcome to Medicare exams, etc, etc.  I have

> already seen ~ 1400 new pt’s in my practice ( & still take new ones) &

> I rarely have an opportunity to do “tons†of anything in particular

> (ie, a FEW of all of those things, but not a LOT of anything).  I must

> be missing something.

>  

>

>  

> EKG

>  

> Hi everyone,

>   i was wondering for those of you who have an EKG machine, what

> diagnoses do insurances reimburse for an EKG?  Can you get reimbursed

> for your  hypertensives, diabetics, chest pain?  annual physical after

> a certain age?

>  

> I am thinking about getting a PC based EKG made by Burdick.  Anyone

> have this?  Any regrets?  any cautions?

>  

>  

> Thanks

>  

> Lee

>  

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Yes, the meaning of " tons " .

> I’m just curious with the lower volume practices that most of us have

> here, how often does someone really show up in your office that just

> turned 65 yrs & is there within 6 months to be eligible for the

> Welcome to Medicare Physical?  I think that has only occurred twice in

> 20 months of being open for me.  Sometimes things seem a little

> contradictory on this list.  Most here say that they have capped their

> practice at say 500 pt’s or so and are running a very small volume

> practice but on the other hand are doing “tons†of things like EKG’s,

> paps, skin procedures, Welcome to Medicare exams, etc, etc.  I have

> already seen ~ 1400 new pt’s in my practice ( & still take new ones) &

> I rarely have an opportunity to do “tons†of anything in particular

> (ie, a FEW of all of those things, but not a LOT of anything).  I must

> be missing something.

>  

>

>  

> EKG

>  

> Hi everyone,

>   i was wondering for those of you who have an EKG machine, what

> diagnoses do insurances reimburse for an EKG?  Can you get reimbursed

> for your  hypertensives, diabetics, chest pain?  annual physical after

> a certain age?

>  

> I am thinking about getting a PC based EKG made by Burdick.  Anyone

> have this?  Any regrets?  any cautions?

>  

>  

> Thanks

>  

> Lee

>  

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

That is the word people have used here.

When I say a few EKG’s, etc I mean maybe 1 or two a month. When I

say skin lesion removal I mean a few a month. When I say Medicare

physical I mean 2 in almost two years. I assume someone that says “I

do a lot” or similar language means something like daily or every couple

of days they are doing a certain procedure/test. I am baffled as to how

someone that has a super low volume practice could have a large amount of any

one procedure or test. Yes, a few of many things but not a lot of

anything. For example, just how many people with diabetes or chest pain

could you have during any given week if you only have 500 total pt’s?

EKG

Hi

everyone,

i was wondering for those of you who have an EKG machine, what diagnoses do

insurances reimburse for an EKG? Can you get reimbursed for your

hypertensives, diabetics, chest pain? annual physical after a certain age?

I am

thinking about getting a PC based EKG made by Burdick. Anyone have

this? Any regrets? any cautions?

Thanks

Lee

[Guest guest]

That is the word people have used here.

When I say a few EKG’s, etc I mean maybe 1 or two a month. When I

say skin lesion removal I mean a few a month. When I say Medicare

physical I mean 2 in almost two years. I assume someone that says “I

do a lot” or similar language means something like daily or every couple

of days they are doing a certain procedure/test. I am baffled as to how

someone that has a super low volume practice could have a large amount of any

one procedure or test. Yes, a few of many things but not a lot of

anything. For example, just how many people with diabetes or chest pain

could you have during any given week if you only have 500 total pt’s?

EKG

Hi

everyone,

i was wondering for those of you who have an EKG machine, what diagnoses do

insurances reimburse for an EKG? Can you get reimbursed for your

hypertensives, diabetics, chest pain? annual physical after a certain age?

I am

thinking about getting a PC based EKG made by Burdick. Anyone have

this? Any regrets? any cautions?

Thanks

Lee

[Guest guest]

I have now done 8 “welcome to

Medicare” visits. I didn’t

really know about them back at the first of the year, but once I learned what

was involved, I wanted to try them, so I started looking up birthdays when I

saw any 64 year olds. I told them about he benefit and that they had to avail

themselves of it within 6 months of their 65th birthday. The first one I got to try was in June,

and then I waited to see what it paid.

Once that payment came and was good, I encouraged others. All 8 have been on folks who just “aged

into “ Medicare, and were already my patients. My panel is just shy of 900 and is closed

to new patients.

annie

EKG

Hi everyone,

i was wondering for those of

you who have an EKG machine, what diagnoses do insurances reimburse for an

EKG? Can you get reimbursed for your hypertensives, diabetics,

chest pain? annual physical after a certain age?

I am thinking about getting a PC

based EKG made by Burdick. Anyone have this? Any regrets? any

cautions?

Thanks

Lee

[Guest guest]

I still don’t really understand this

concept of “panel size” as if it is a fixed number. I have

seen ~ 1200 - 1400 new patients here since I opened 20 months ago.

However, I do not consider my “panel size” to be 1200 – 1400 patients.

Many of these were one time only visits, some are teens/young adults & may

only come in once every couple of years, a few were discharged for

non-compliance, etc. It is interesting that I continue to have at least a

couple new patients each day but my daily schedule is still averaging ~ 12 –

15 patients & has for quite a while. I still have some days when I

only see 7 or 8 patients. As far as I know, very few have left the

practice voluntarily. I still think the way to do it is not to say “I

have X number of patients, so now I’m closed to all” but rather

start paring down the lowest payors & truncate right down to the best payor.

By then the daily schedule may start to open back up again & you may once again

seek more new patients. I think I am still a long ways from closing to

all new patients & if I did reach that point I don’t think it would

last long before I would open back up again. Maybe I’ll reach a

point where I feel saturated but I am certainly not feeling that yet, maybe

because I no longer take Medicaid & have never taken Anthem BCBS.

EKG

Hi everyone,

i was wondering for those of

you who have an EKG machine, what diagnoses do insurances reimburse for an

EKG? Can you get reimbursed for your hypertensives, diabetics,

chest pain? annual physical after a certain age?

I am thinking about getting a PC

based EKG made by Burdick. Anyone have this? Any regrets? any

cautions?

Thanks

Lee

[Guest guest]

Hi Annie,

Do you like the EKG from Midmark? Did you look at any other brands ? Do you remember how much it cost ( and is it interpretive? or do you need it to be interpretive?). Did you also get the spirometer that can go with it?

RE: EKG

Hi ,

I have my EKG from Midmark and have never had payment for an EKG denied (unless the entire visit was denied due to preexisting condition or lapse of insurance or whatever.) Even Medicare has paid for every one. Most commonly the diagnosis has been hypertension, but diabetes works too. Also chest pain, palpitations, syncope, malaise & fatigue, or arrhythmia. For private insurance I have never linked an EKG to V70.0, but now under Medicare, if you do the “welcome to MCR” exam you can use Dx V70.0 linked to the G0366 (ekg in that context) along with the G0344 (the preventive visit itself). And since those folks all have refills due for their chronic conditions, be sure to also submit the 99214 with -25 modifier. With the welcome to medicare visit, where in the past I would’ve been paid only about $76 for the OV and $23 for the EKG (assuming there was an appropriate dx for the EKG), NOW, for that exam I get the $76 for the 99214-25, plus the $23 for the EKG, AND the G0344 gets me an additional $91. Not too bad for doing what I would’ve done anyway. The only thing I have to do extra is a bit more documentation (paper and pencil depression screen, fall risk assessment, functional ability noted and give the patient a written list of preventive recommendations). And if you do the breast/pap or prostate exams, be sure to add the G codes for those too and that adds a few more bucks. Anyway, I would not hesitate to get an EKG. It won’t make you rich, but it will pay for itself before too long, and it is a good service to patients.

Annie

-----Original Message-----From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of LeeclanSent: Friday, January 13, 2006 7:30 AMTo: Subject: EKG

Hi everyone,

i was wondering for those of you who have an EKG machine, what diagnoses do insurances reimburse for an EKG? Can you get reimbursed for your hypertensives, diabetics, chest pain? annual physical after a certain age?

I am thinking about getting a PC based EKG made by Burdick. Anyone have this? Any regrets? any cautions?

Thanks

Lee

[Guest guest]

Of course you are correct,

“panel size” is a pretty artificial construct. But it is still a somewhat useful

idea. I make a commitment to my

patients that I will be available to them the same day they call, and that

means that if too many call any given day, I will be seeing people til

God-knows-when. The only way I know

to keep a lid on that is to stop accepting new patients because once they are

established I have no way to put on the brakes. Maybe I just attract neurosis, but I

have a lot of patients who come in VERY frequently, sometimes 2 or 3 times per

week. I turn away 3-5 new patients

almost every day. In 2005 I opened to new patients only 3 times. Once I have taken care of someone, I am

very reluctant to “abandon” them by telling them I no longer take their

insurance. That’s where I

have problems with eliminating the low payers. Also, around here the insurers are very

quick to attack if you selectively close. I can be closed, but only if I am closed

to ALL plans. If I close only

to Anthem, I’d better just stop seeing my established Anthem patients,

because Anthem can hold my payments if I don’t keep taking their members

when I DO take new CIGNA members, or whatever.

I try to keep a count that is more or less

accurate on patients who are likely to return… If someone has not been in

since 2003 I mark them inactive.. I will still see

them if they call, but I don’t count them as part of my “panel”,

so their spot gets freed up for a new patient.

Annie

EKG

Hi everyone,

i was wondering for those of

you who have an EKG machine, what diagnoses do insurances reimburse for an

EKG? Can you get reimbursed for your hypertensives, diabetics,

chest pain? annual physical after a certain age?

I am thinking about getting a PC

based EKG made by Burdick. Anyone have this? Any regrets? any

cautions?

Thanks

Lee

[Guest guest]

That is interesting. I’ve

never heard of an insurance company saying that you have to be closed to all

plans & not just theirs. Somehow that does not sound legal, but I’m

not a lawyer. Also, it does sound like (for whatever reason) that your pt’s

come in a lot more frequently than mine. Sure, I have a few frequent foiers

but none that would come in 2 – 3 times a week. Wow, I think I

would have to gently deter that type of thing in my own practice. Also, I

did not mean to abandon a pt after you take them on; rather, I meant just stop

taking new pt’s from the lowest payors at a certain point, but you say

you are not allowed to do that. Have you seen that in writing somewhere

about either closing to all or none? I’m skeptical about that one.

EKG

Hi everyone,

i was wondering for those of

you who have an EKG machine, what diagnoses do insurances reimburse for an

EKG? Can you get reimbursed for your hypertensives, diabetics,

chest pain? annual physical after a certain age?

I am thinking about getting a PC

based EKG made by Burdick. Anyone have this? Any regrets? any

cautions?

Thanks

Lee

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I DO like my EKG. I use it regularly and find it easy to

use. It does have an interpretation

function, but you can edit it easily. I did look at a couple others, but I don’t

remember which ones they were now-that was in early 2002. I went with this one because they were

developing an interface with my emr (now complete). At the time I got it my then-next-door-neighbor

got the spirometer also, but they decided they didn’t

like it so they returned it, and I don’t have enough call for those to

spend the money at this point. When

we bought all this stuff we also bought a nice Fujitsu laptop to run it on

(which I use for a lot of other stuff too) and spent a total of about $5000 for

all: EKG, laptop, PDA and spirometer (for which the

neighbor paid).

The only problem I have with the EKG is

that the little nursing student who works for me part time can’t use it

without breaking it. It quits

working every time she tries to use it on her own, but I never have any trouble

with it. I just can’t figure

out what she is doing wrong because it doesn’t happen if I am standing

there, and if I turn her loose, by the time she comes to tell me it won’t

work, it is completely locked up and I can’t tell what she did. But once she leaves it alone, all I

usually have to do is turn everything off and restart and it is fine

again. The few times I have needed help , their tech support

was very quick and very good.

Annie

Re:

EKG

Hi Annie,

Do you like the EKG from

Midmark? Did you look at any other brands ? Do you remember how

much it cost ( and is it interpretive? or do you need it to be

interpretive?). Did you also get the spirometer that can go with it?

EKG

Hi everyone,

i was wondering for those of

you who have an EKG machine, what diagnoses do insurances reimburse for an

EKG? Can you get reimbursed for your hypertensives, diabetics,

chest pain? annual physical after a certain age?

I am thinking about getting a PC

based EKG made by Burdick. Anyone have this? Any regrets? any

cautions?

Thanks

Lee

[Guest guest]

All my major contracts include provisions

that I am not allowed to close to new members. If I want to “officially”

close, they require that I terminate the contract. Apparently that is the standard around

here, but all the plans ignore it if you close to all new patients, unless

someone fusses. I have had to take

a few REALLY insistent new patients who called their carriers to complain that

I wouldn’t take them. Then I

get a call from the ins co where they point out that I

am in violation of my contract by closing to new patients, but “we

understand that you are closed across the board, so we’ll ignore it if

you will go ahead and take Mr. SoAndSo as he is

making such a stink.”….yada yada yada Great way to

start out on a good therapeutic relationship with a new doc, huh?

As for the frequent fliers, I agree and DO

try to defer it, but because I have “open access” scheduling and

everybody knows it, it’s pretty hard to say “No , you can’t

come in today because you were just here yesterday.” She knows I have openings because I

ALWAYS have openings. My only

recourse is if her insurance refuses to pay, and if she has an unpaid balance I

can slow her down by saying she has to pay that before I see her again. Unfortunately, these folks’

insurance never seems to balk. I am

thinking in particular about one patient, because at dinner the other night the

plant doctor where she works hunted me down to say she goes to see HER 2 or 3

times PER DAY. And now we’re

in big trouble because her psychiatrist stopped taking her insurance! Anyway, she might be the most egregious

example, but I have a bunch of these.

On the plus side, they are not difficult visits and I do get paid to

provide them. If I am keeping them

out of the bars and off the streets, it may not exactly be medical care, but maybe it

is a small contribution to the good of all….and I do try to keep costs

down by spending time with them rather than just ordering expensive tests,

referrals, or whatever to get them to leave, which is what most of their

previous docs have tended to do. Maybe that is why I have attracted this

particular population. If you know

a better answer, please do tell me.

Annie

EKG

Hi everyone,

i was wondering for those of

you who have an EKG machine, what diagnoses do insurances reimburse for an

EKG? Can you get reimbursed for your hypertensives, diabetics, chest

pain? annual physical after a certain age?

I am thinking about getting a PC

based EKG made by Burdick. Anyone have this? Any regrets? any

cautions?

Thanks

Lee

[Guest guest]

All my major contracts include provisions

that I am not allowed to close to new members. If I want to “officially”

close, they require that I terminate the contract. Apparently that is the standard around

here, but all the plans ignore it if you close to all new patients, unless

someone fusses. I have had to take

a few REALLY insistent new patients who called their carriers to complain that

I wouldn’t take them. Then I

get a call from the ins co where they point out that I

am in violation of my contract by closing to new patients, but “we

understand that you are closed across the board, so we’ll ignore it if

you will go ahead and take Mr. SoAndSo as he is

making such a stink.”….yada yada yada Great way to

start out on a good therapeutic relationship with a new doc, huh?

As for the frequent fliers, I agree and DO

try to defer it, but because I have “open access” scheduling and

everybody knows it, it’s pretty hard to say “No , you can’t

come in today because you were just here yesterday.” She knows I have openings because I

ALWAYS have openings. My only

recourse is if her insurance refuses to pay, and if she has an unpaid balance I

can slow her down by saying she has to pay that before I see her again. Unfortunately, these folks’

insurance never seems to balk. I am

thinking in particular about one patient, because at dinner the other night the

plant doctor where she works hunted me down to say she goes to see HER 2 or 3

times PER DAY. And now we’re

in big trouble because her psychiatrist stopped taking her insurance! Anyway, she might be the most egregious

example, but I have a bunch of these.

On the plus side, they are not difficult visits and I do get paid to

provide them. If I am keeping them

out of the bars and off the streets, it may not exactly be medical care, but maybe it

is a small contribution to the good of all….and I do try to keep costs

down by spending time with them rather than just ordering expensive tests,

referrals, or whatever to get them to leave, which is what most of their

previous docs have tended to do. Maybe that is why I have attracted this

particular population. If you know

a better answer, please do tell me.

Annie

EKG

Hi everyone,

i was wondering for those of

you who have an EKG machine, what diagnoses do insurances reimburse for an

EKG? Can you get reimbursed for your hypertensives, diabetics, chest

pain? annual physical after a certain age?

I am thinking about getting a PC

based EKG made by Burdick. Anyone have this? Any regrets? any

cautions?

Thanks

Lee

[Guest guest]

I got the Midmark (formerly Brentwood) IQMark EKG and

Spirometry combo. I already had the laptop (a small

Dell Inspiron 500m - about 2-3 years old) and the cost

was about $4,500 for the IQMark software and USB

connectors (the leads for the EKG and the cable for

the PFT sensor plug in to USB port). I also bought

the Soapware module that allowed me to connect

directly to my EMR - that was another $300.00. It

prints out right from my regular HP printer, so I

don't have to buy EKG paper. It also has the cool

overlay comparison feature - you can compare any

number of prior EKG's and they display on the computer

one on top of the other - so it is easy to see any

changes. It is interpretive, and I have been happy

with it so far. The PFT works well and it has a

couple of different incentive videos for patients to

watch as they blow out.

I do house calls and I love the portability - I did an

EKG on a patient at his house while he was laying on

his bed! It is bit pricey and I probably could have

gotten a better deal on a traditional (maybe used)

EKG, but I wanted the PFT's as well, and I would have

paid $2,500 for a new stand alone PFT machine anyway

(by the time you add up the machine, connectors,

paper, disposable flow sensors, and calibration

syringe). The FP next door paid $3 grand just for a

new stand alone EKG (a nice Welch-Allyn). So I guess

I could have spent a lot more as well.

Good luck!

, MD

Rancho Mirage, CA

--- Leeclan wrote:

> Hi Annie,

> Do you like the EKG from Midmark? Did you look at

> any other brands ? Do you remember how much it cost

> ( and is it interpretive? or do you need it to be

> interpretive?). Did you also get the spirometer

> that can go with it?

>

>

>

> EKG

>

>

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> i was wondering for those of you who have an EKG

> machine, what diagnoses do insurances reimburse for

> an EKG? Can you get reimbursed for your

> hypertensives, diabetics, chest pain? annual

> physical after a certain age?

>

>

>

> I am thinking about getting a PC based EKG made by

> Burdick. Anyone have this? Any regrets? any

> cautions?

>

>

>

>

>

> Thanks

>

>

>

> Lee

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I have both the EKG & PFT from MidMark as well. In general they function

well. However, I think you might find that the PFT's can be very, very

difficult for the patients to complete effectively. It is a tough test,

especially for the one's that actually need it. Yes, coaching helps but I

have had a few that just could not get it. I did it myself & it is tough.

Re: EKG

I got the Midmark (formerly Brentwood) IQMark EKG and

Spirometry combo. I already had the laptop (a small

Dell Inspiron 500m - about 2-3 years old) and the cost

was about $4,500 for the IQMark software and USB

connectors (the leads for the EKG and the cable for

the PFT sensor plug in to USB port). I also bought

the Soapware module that allowed me to connect

directly to my EMR - that was another $300.00. It

prints out right from my regular HP printer, so I

don't have to buy EKG paper. It also has the cool

overlay comparison feature - you can compare any

number of prior EKG's and they display on the computer

one on top of the other - so it is easy to see any

changes. It is interpretive, and I have been happy

with it so far. The PFT works well and it has a

couple of different incentive videos for patients to

watch as they blow out.

I do house calls and I love the portability - I did an

EKG on a patient at his house while he was laying on

his bed! It is bit pricey and I probably could have

gotten a better deal on a traditional (maybe used)

EKG, but I wanted the PFT's as well, and I would have

paid $2,500 for a new stand alone PFT machine anyway

(by the time you add up the machine, connectors,

paper, disposable flow sensors, and calibration

syringe). The FP next door paid $3 grand just for a

new stand alone EKG (a nice Welch-Allyn). So I guess

I could have spent a lot more as well.

Good luck!

, MD

Rancho Mirage, CA

--- Leeclan wrote:

> Hi Annie,

> Do you like the EKG from Midmark? Did you look at

> any other brands ? Do you remember how much it cost

> ( and is it interpretive? or do you need it to be

> interpretive?). Did you also get the spirometer

> that can go with it?

>

>

>

> EKG

>

>

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> i was wondering for those of you who have an EKG

> machine, what diagnoses do insurances reimburse for

> an EKG? Can you get reimbursed for your

> hypertensives, diabetics, chest pain? annual

> physical after a certain age?

>

>

>

> I am thinking about getting a PC based EKG made by

> Burdick. Anyone have this? Any regrets? any

> cautions?

>

>

>

>

>

> Thanks

>

>

>

> Lee

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I have both the EKG & PFT from MidMark as well. In general they function

well. However, I think you might find that the PFT's can be very, very

difficult for the patients to complete effectively. It is a tough test,

especially for the one's that actually need it. Yes, coaching helps but I

have had a few that just could not get it. I did it myself & it is tough.

Re: EKG

I got the Midmark (formerly Brentwood) IQMark EKG and

Spirometry combo. I already had the laptop (a small

Dell Inspiron 500m - about 2-3 years old) and the cost

was about $4,500 for the IQMark software and USB

connectors (the leads for the EKG and the cable for

the PFT sensor plug in to USB port). I also bought

the Soapware module that allowed me to connect

directly to my EMR - that was another $300.00. It

prints out right from my regular HP printer, so I

don't have to buy EKG paper. It also has the cool

overlay comparison feature - you can compare any

number of prior EKG's and they display on the computer

one on top of the other - so it is easy to see any

changes. It is interpretive, and I have been happy

with it so far. The PFT works well and it has a

couple of different incentive videos for patients to

watch as they blow out.

I do house calls and I love the portability - I did an

EKG on a patient at his house while he was laying on

his bed! It is bit pricey and I probably could have

gotten a better deal on a traditional (maybe used)

EKG, but I wanted the PFT's as well, and I would have

paid $2,500 for a new stand alone PFT machine anyway

(by the time you add up the machine, connectors,

paper, disposable flow sensors, and calibration

syringe). The FP next door paid $3 grand just for a

new stand alone EKG (a nice Welch-Allyn). So I guess

I could have spent a lot more as well.

Good luck!

, MD

Rancho Mirage, CA

--- Leeclan wrote:

> Hi Annie,

> Do you like the EKG from Midmark? Did you look at

> any other brands ? Do you remember how much it cost

> ( and is it interpretive? or do you need it to be

> interpretive?). Did you also get the spirometer

> that can go with it?

>

>

>

> EKG

>

>

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> i was wondering for those of you who have an EKG

> machine, what diagnoses do insurances reimburse for

> an EKG? Can you get reimbursed for your

> hypertensives, diabetics, chest pain? annual

> physical after a certain age?

>

>

>

> I am thinking about getting a PC based EKG made by

> Burdick. Anyone have this? Any regrets? any

> cautions?

>

>

>

>

>

> Thanks

>

>

>

> Lee

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I have both the EKG & PFT from MidMark as well. In general they function

well. However, I think you might find that the PFT's can be very, very

difficult for the patients to complete effectively. It is a tough test,

especially for the one's that actually need it. Yes, coaching helps but I

have had a few that just could not get it. I did it myself & it is tough.

Re: EKG

I got the Midmark (formerly Brentwood) IQMark EKG and

Spirometry combo. I already had the laptop (a small

Dell Inspiron 500m - about 2-3 years old) and the cost

was about $4,500 for the IQMark software and USB

connectors (the leads for the EKG and the cable for

the PFT sensor plug in to USB port). I also bought

the Soapware module that allowed me to connect

directly to my EMR - that was another $300.00. It

prints out right from my regular HP printer, so I

don't have to buy EKG paper. It also has the cool

overlay comparison feature - you can compare any

number of prior EKG's and they display on the computer

one on top of the other - so it is easy to see any

changes. It is interpretive, and I have been happy

with it so far. The PFT works well and it has a

couple of different incentive videos for patients to

watch as they blow out.

I do house calls and I love the portability - I did an

EKG on a patient at his house while he was laying on

his bed! It is bit pricey and I probably could have

gotten a better deal on a traditional (maybe used)

EKG, but I wanted the PFT's as well, and I would have

paid $2,500 for a new stand alone PFT machine anyway

(by the time you add up the machine, connectors,

paper, disposable flow sensors, and calibration

syringe). The FP next door paid $3 grand just for a

new stand alone EKG (a nice Welch-Allyn). So I guess

I could have spent a lot more as well.

Good luck!

, MD

Rancho Mirage, CA

--- Leeclan wrote:

> Hi Annie,

> Do you like the EKG from Midmark? Did you look at

> any other brands ? Do you remember how much it cost

> ( and is it interpretive? or do you need it to be

> interpretive?). Did you also get the spirometer

> that can go with it?

>

>

>

> EKG

>

>

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> i was wondering for those of you who have an EKG

> machine, what diagnoses do insurances reimburse for

> an EKG? Can you get reimbursed for your

> hypertensives, diabetics, chest pain? annual

> physical after a certain age?

>

>

>

> I am thinking about getting a PC based EKG made by

> Burdick. Anyone have this? Any regrets? any

> cautions?

>

>

>

>

>

> Thanks

>

>

>

> Lee

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

a comment on the nursing student-- i have found that there are those who do not wish to use certain equipment or do certain procedures, and wind up persistently "breaking" the equipment or fouling up the procedure, to our detriment. that's a giant red flag. get rid of her. LLAnnie Skaggs wrote: Hi , I DO like my EKG. I use it regularly and find it easy to use. It does have an interpretation function, but you can edit it easily. I did look at a couple others, but I don’t remember which ones they were now-that was in early 2002. I went with this one because they were developing an interface with my emr (now complete). At the time I got it my then-next-door-neighbor got the spirometer also, but they decided they

didn’t like it so they returned it, and I don’t have enough call for those to spend the money at this point. When we bought all this stuff we also bought a nice Fujitsu laptop to run it on (which I use for a lot of other stuff too) and spent a total of about $5000 for all: EKG, laptop, PDA and spirometer (for which the neighbor paid). The only problem I have with the EKG is that the little nursing student who works for me part time can’t use it without breaking it. It quits working every time she tries to use it on her own, but I never have any trouble with it. I just can’t figure out what she is doing wrong because it doesn’t happen if I am standing there, and if I turn her loose, by the time she comes to tell me it won’t work, it is completely locked up and I can’t tell what she did. But once she leaves it alone, all I usually have to do is turn everything off and restart and it is fine again. The few times I have needed help , their tech support was very quick and very good. Annie -----Original Message-----From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of LeeclanSent: Monday, January 16, 2006 7:58 PMTo: Subject: Re: EKG Hi Annie, Do you like the EKG from Midmark? Did you look at any other brands ? Do you remember how much it cost ( and is it interpretive? or do you need it to be interpretive?). Did you also get the spirometer that can go with it? RE: EKG Hi , I have my EKG from Midmark and have never had payment for an EKG denied (unless the entire visit was denied due to preexisting condition or lapse of insurance or whatever.) Even Medicare has paid for every one. Most commonly the diagnosis has been hypertension, but diabetes works too. Also chest pain, palpitations, syncope, malaise & fatigue, or arrhythmia. For private insurance I have never linked an EKG to V70.0, but now under Medicare, if you do the “welcome to MCR” exam you can use Dx V70.0 linked to the G0366 (ekg in that context) along with the G0344

(the preventive visit itself). And since those folks all have refills due for their chronic conditions, be sure to also submit the 99214 with -25 modifier. With the welcome to medicare visit, where in the past I would’ve been paid only about $76 for the OV and $23 for the EKG (assuming there was an appropriate dx for the EKG), NOW, for that exam I get the $76 for the 99214-25, plus the $23 for the EKG, AND the G0344 gets me an additional $91. Not too bad for doing what I would’ve done anyway. The only thing I have to do extra is a bit more documentation (paper and pencil depression screen, fall risk assessment, functional ability noted and give the patient a written list of preventive recommendations). And if you do the breast/pap or prostate exams, be sure to add the G codes for those too and that adds a few more bucks. Anyway, I would not hesitate to get an EKG. It won’t make you rich, but it will pay for itself before too long, and it is a good service to patients. Annie -----Original Message-----From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of LeeclanSent: Friday, January 13, 2006 7:30 AMTo: Subject: EKG Hi everyone, i was wondering for those of you who have an EKG machine, what diagnoses do insurances reimburse for an EKG? Can you get reimbursed for your hypertensives,

diabetics, chest pain? annual physical after a certain age? I am thinking about getting a PC based EKG made by Burdick. Anyone have this? Any regrets? any cautions? Thanks Lee

Yahoo! Photos Ring in the New Year with Photo Calendars. Add photos, events, holidays, whatever.

[Guest guest]

a comment on the nursing student-- i have found that there are those who do not wish to use certain equipment or do certain procedures, and wind up persistently "breaking" the equipment or fouling up the procedure, to our detriment. that's a giant red flag. get rid of her. LLAnnie Skaggs wrote: Hi , I DO like my EKG. I use it regularly and find it easy to use. It does have an interpretation function, but you can edit it easily. I did look at a couple others, but I don’t remember which ones they were now-that was in early 2002. I went with this one because they were developing an interface with my emr (now complete). At the time I got it my then-next-door-neighbor got the spirometer also, but they decided they

didn’t like it so they returned it, and I don’t have enough call for those to spend the money at this point. When we bought all this stuff we also bought a nice Fujitsu laptop to run it on (which I use for a lot of other stuff too) and spent a total of about $5000 for all: EKG, laptop, PDA and spirometer (for which the neighbor paid). The only problem I have with the EKG is that the little nursing student who works for me part time can’t use it without breaking it. It quits working every time she tries to use it on her own, but I never have any trouble with it. I just can’t figure out what she is doing wrong because it doesn’t happen if I am standing there, and if I turn her loose, by the time she comes to tell me it won’t work, it is completely locked up and I can’t tell what she did. But once she leaves it alone, all I usually have to do is turn everything off and restart and it is fine again. The few times I have needed help , their tech support was very quick and very good. Annie -----Original Message-----From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of LeeclanSent: Monday, January 16, 2006 7:58 PMTo: Subject: Re: EKG Hi Annie, Do you like the EKG from Midmark? Did you look at any other brands ? Do you remember how much it cost ( and is it interpretive? or do you need it to be interpretive?). Did you also get the spirometer that can go with it? RE: EKG Hi , I have my EKG from Midmark and have never had payment for an EKG denied (unless the entire visit was denied due to preexisting condition or lapse of insurance or whatever.) Even Medicare has paid for every one. Most commonly the diagnosis has been hypertension, but diabetes works too. Also chest pain, palpitations, syncope, malaise & fatigue, or arrhythmia. For private insurance I have never linked an EKG to V70.0, but now under Medicare, if you do the “welcome to MCR” exam you can use Dx V70.0 linked to the G0366 (ekg in that context) along with the G0344

(the preventive visit itself). And since those folks all have refills due for their chronic conditions, be sure to also submit the 99214 with -25 modifier. With the welcome to medicare visit, where in the past I would’ve been paid only about $76 for the OV and $23 for the EKG (assuming there was an appropriate dx for the EKG), NOW, for that exam I get the $76 for the 99214-25, plus the $23 for the EKG, AND the G0344 gets me an additional $91. Not too bad for doing what I would’ve done anyway. The only thing I have to do extra is a bit more documentation (paper and pencil depression screen, fall risk assessment, functional ability noted and give the patient a written list of preventive recommendations). And if you do the breast/pap or prostate exams, be sure to add the G codes for those too and that adds a few more bucks. Anyway, I would not hesitate to get an EKG. It won’t make you rich, but it will pay for itself before too long, and it is a good service to patients. Annie -----Original Message-----From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of LeeclanSent: Friday, January 13, 2006 7:30 AMTo: Subject: EKG Hi everyone, i was wondering for those of you who have an EKG machine, what diagnoses do insurances reimburse for an EKG? Can you get reimbursed for your hypertensives,

diabetics, chest pain? annual physical after a certain age? I am thinking about getting a PC based EKG made by Burdick. Anyone have this? Any regrets? any cautions? Thanks Lee

Yahoo! Photos Ring in the New Year with Photo Calendars. Add photos, events, holidays, whatever.

[Guest guest]

My contracts might say the same thing,

though I don’t think they do. Besides, I’m not sure that I

will ever be so busy that I close to all payors. I am not going to take

any Medicaid after this year & then may close to Medicare too.

As for the frequent fliers, why can’t

you just say that there is nothing more I’m going to have to offer today

that I did not have 2 days ago, assuming of course that the second visit is for

basically the same thing (not worsened, etc)? A private office is not an

ER where you are forced to see all comers. True, you do have to be

careful about putting someone off as they may one day really be sick, but at

least a little bit of screening by phone is OK. For example, if someone

was in 2 days ago for a cold of 5 days duration & then wants in again 2

days later because it is “no better” I would give them a 15 second

phone explanation that a standard uri/cough can last 3 – 4 wks, etc, etc,

BUT to call again if not better in a few days or if any worse. If you are

not doing ANY screening/triage whatsoever before scheduling then I can

definitely see why you would have to close to all new pt’s with only 900

in your panel. I don’t do much medicine by phone, but I also do not

want to see someone that clearly just does not need to be seen again so soon as

my schedule will eventually clog up & open access will fail. However,

I guess your patient example is a good one & if I had a similar patient I

might see them more often as well. I do have a few exceptions as well.

The pt’s I see quite a lot are those that come back every week or so

wanting an extension of their work excuse. A lot of people must really

hate their jobs out there!

EKG

Hi everyone,

i was wondering for those of

you who have an EKG machine, what diagnoses do insurances reimburse for an

EKG? Can you get reimbursed for your hypertensives, diabetics,

chest pain? annual physical after a certain age?

I am thinking about getting a PC

based EKG made by Burdick. Anyone have this? Any regrets? any

cautions?

Thanks

Lee