Re: Medicare Physician fee schedule inequality

[Guest guest]

Good for you to find the new modifier. And good for you that you receive a 10% bonus in an underserved area. But I still cannot understand how I am reimbursed 30% less in Sandwich, Illinios than Chicago. What I do for patients isn't 30% less valuable and my overhead is surely not 30% less than Chicago. So if Doctors in Chicago want to know how to make money with cuts of 26% over the next 5 years, they can come visit my practice. But I am really concerned that in 5 years,I will only be paid 40% of what the Chicago physicians are currently paying. I think I need to talk to my Congressman and Senator about this. Mintek wrote: For those of you who qualify for the extra 10% quarterly

payments fromMedicare for working in a physician shortage area, the modifier requiredchanged on January 1st. It used to be QB (and QU for an urban area of need)but now physicians from both qualified areas need to use AQ. (howCONVENIENT)I do all of our billing now but I'm not reading Medicare updates daily (oreven weekly) so I found out after getting the first week of January Medicareclaims denied (and asked to be refiled) for having the wrong modifier.This only applies to those in a physician shortage area who NEED to use amodifier. A lot of the zipcodes in such areas are loaded into the Medicaresystem to automatically get those payments quarterly so those physiciansdon't have to use a modifier to get the extra payments. Many zipcodes,however, DO need to add a modifier.For more information to see what you need to do if you aren't doing italready, go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/HPSAPSAPhysicianBonuses/but remember: even though they describe the program in that section andtell you how to check to see if your zipcode qualifies, the modifierinformation has not been updated there (of course!) I learned of the updateby speaking with someone from Medicare when my claims were denied due to"invalid modifier".Trust me. Use AQ now in 2006 if you used to have to use QB or QU.I am now getting Medicare payments this week without being rejected for"invalid modifier". Of course I'll have to see if I actually get the bonuspayments in three months or so, as I used to. At least the claims are notbeing denied!a MintekOffice Managerfor Rian Mintek MDPS Maybe you all already know this stuff. It's all pretty new to me!

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

[Guest guest]

Good for you to find the new modifier. And good for you that you receive a 10% bonus in an underserved area. But I still cannot understand how I am reimbursed 30% less in Sandwich, Illinios than Chicago. What I do for patients isn't 30% less valuable and my overhead is surely not 30% less than Chicago. So if Doctors in Chicago want to know how to make money with cuts of 26% over the next 5 years, they can come visit my practice. But I am really concerned that in 5 years,I will only be paid 40% of what the Chicago physicians are currently paying. I think I need to talk to my Congressman and Senator about this. Mintek wrote: For those of you who qualify for the extra 10% quarterly

payments fromMedicare for working in a physician shortage area, the modifier requiredchanged on January 1st. It used to be QB (and QU for an urban area of need)but now physicians from both qualified areas need to use AQ. (howCONVENIENT)I do all of our billing now but I'm not reading Medicare updates daily (oreven weekly) so I found out after getting the first week of January Medicareclaims denied (and asked to be refiled) for having the wrong modifier.This only applies to those in a physician shortage area who NEED to use amodifier. A lot of the zipcodes in such areas are loaded into the Medicaresystem to automatically get those payments quarterly so those physiciansdon't have to use a modifier to get the extra payments. Many zipcodes,however, DO need to add a modifier.For more information to see what you need to do if you aren't doing italready, go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/HPSAPSAPhysicianBonuses/but remember: even though they describe the program in that section andtell you how to check to see if your zipcode qualifies, the modifierinformation has not been updated there (of course!) I learned of the updateby speaking with someone from Medicare when my claims were denied due to"invalid modifier".Trust me. Use AQ now in 2006 if you used to have to use QB or QU.I am now getting Medicare payments this week without being rejected for"invalid modifier". Of course I'll have to see if I actually get the bonuspayments in three months or so, as I used to. At least the claims are notbeing denied!a MintekOffice Managerfor Rian Mintek MDPS Maybe you all already know this stuff. It's all pretty new to me!

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

[Guest guest]

Good for you to find the new modifier. And good for you that you receive a 10% bonus in an underserved area. But I still cannot understand how I am reimbursed 30% less in Sandwich, Illinios than Chicago. What I do for patients isn't 30% less valuable and my overhead is surely not 30% less than Chicago. So if Doctors in Chicago want to know how to make money with cuts of 26% over the next 5 years, they can come visit my practice. But I am really concerned that in 5 years,I will only be paid 40% of what the Chicago physicians are currently paying. I think I need to talk to my Congressman and Senator about this. Mintek wrote: For those of you who qualify for the extra 10% quarterly

payments fromMedicare for working in a physician shortage area, the modifier requiredchanged on January 1st. It used to be QB (and QU for an urban area of need)but now physicians from both qualified areas need to use AQ. (howCONVENIENT)I do all of our billing now but I'm not reading Medicare updates daily (oreven weekly) so I found out after getting the first week of January Medicareclaims denied (and asked to be refiled) for having the wrong modifier.This only applies to those in a physician shortage area who NEED to use amodifier. A lot of the zipcodes in such areas are loaded into the Medicaresystem to automatically get those payments quarterly so those physiciansdon't have to use a modifier to get the extra payments. Many zipcodes,however, DO need to add a modifier.For more information to see what you need to do if you aren't doing italready, go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/HPSAPSAPhysicianBonuses/but remember: even though they describe the program in that section andtell you how to check to see if your zipcode qualifies, the modifierinformation has not been updated there (of course!) I learned of the updateby speaking with someone from Medicare when my claims were denied due to"invalid modifier".Trust me. Use AQ now in 2006 if you used to have to use QB or QU.I am now getting Medicare payments this week without being rejected for"invalid modifier". Of course I'll have to see if I actually get the bonuspayments in three months or so, as I used to. At least the claims are notbeing denied!a MintekOffice Managerfor Rian Mintek MDPS Maybe you all already know this stuff. It's all pretty new to me!

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

[Guest guest]

As an outsider I would have presumed the

30% difference in rates was due to the cost of living (ie, overhead) being 30%

more in Chicago. But you say that is not the case? I wonder how else they

justify the differences?

Re:

Medicare Physician fee schedule inequality

Good for you to find the new modifier. And good for

you that you receive a 10% bonus in an underserved area.

But I still cannot understand how I am reimbursed 30%

less in Sandwich, Illinios than Chicago. What I do for patients isn't 30%

less valuable and my overhead is surely not 30% less than Chicago. So if

Doctors in Chicago want to know how to make money with cuts of 26% over the

next 5 years, they can come visit my practice. But I am really

concerned that in 5 years,I will only be paid 40% of what the Chicago

physicians are currently paying. I think I need to talk to my

Congressman and Senator about this.

Mintek

wrote:

For those of you who qualify for the extra 10%

quarter! ly payments from

Medicare for working in a physician shortage area,

the modifier required

changed on January 1st. It used to be QB (and QU

for an urban area of need)

but now physicians from both qualified areas need

to use AQ. (how

CONVENIENT)

I do all of our billing now but I'm not reading

Medicare updates daily (or

even weekly) so I found out after getting the

first week of January Medicare

claims denied (and asked to be refiled) for having

the wrong modifier.

This only applies to those in a physician shortage

area who NEED to use a

modifier. A lot of the zipcodes in such areas are

loaded into the Medicare

system to automatically get those payments

quarterly so those physicians

don't have to use a modifier to get the extra

payments. Many zipcodes,

however, DO need to add a modifier.

For more information to see what you need to do if

you aren't doing it

already, go to

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/HPSAPSAPhysicianBonuses/

but remember: even though they describe the

program in that section and

tell you how to check to see if your zipcode

qualifies, the modifier

information has not been updated there (of

course!) I learned of the update

by speaking with someone from Medicare when my

claims were denied due to

" invalid modifier " .

Trust me. Use AQ now in 2006 if you used to have

to use QB or QU.

I am now getting Medicare payments this week

without being rejected for

" invalid modifier " . Of course I'll

have to see if I actually get the bonus

payments in three months or so, as I used

to. At least the claims are not

being denied!

a Mintek

Office Manager

for Rian Mintek MD

PS Maybe you all already know this stuff. It's all

pretty new to me!

Yahoo! Photos

Ring in the New Year with Photo

Calendars. Add photos, events, holidays, whatever.

[Guest guest]

As an outsider I would have presumed the

30% difference in rates was due to the cost of living (ie, overhead) being 30%

more in Chicago. But you say that is not the case? I wonder how else they

justify the differences?

Re:

Medicare Physician fee schedule inequality

Good for you to find the new modifier. And good for

you that you receive a 10% bonus in an underserved area.

But I still cannot understand how I am reimbursed 30%

less in Sandwich, Illinios than Chicago. What I do for patients isn't 30%

less valuable and my overhead is surely not 30% less than Chicago. So if

Doctors in Chicago want to know how to make money with cuts of 26% over the

next 5 years, they can come visit my practice. But I am really

concerned that in 5 years,I will only be paid 40% of what the Chicago

physicians are currently paying. I think I need to talk to my

Congressman and Senator about this.

Mintek

wrote:

For those of you who qualify for the extra 10%

quarter! ly payments from

Medicare for working in a physician shortage area,

the modifier required

changed on January 1st. It used to be QB (and QU

for an urban area of need)

but now physicians from both qualified areas need

to use AQ. (how

CONVENIENT)

I do all of our billing now but I'm not reading

Medicare updates daily (or

even weekly) so I found out after getting the

first week of January Medicare

claims denied (and asked to be refiled) for having

the wrong modifier.

This only applies to those in a physician shortage

area who NEED to use a

modifier. A lot of the zipcodes in such areas are

loaded into the Medicare

system to automatically get those payments

quarterly so those physicians

don't have to use a modifier to get the extra

payments. Many zipcodes,

however, DO need to add a modifier.

For more information to see what you need to do if

you aren't doing it

already, go to

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/HPSAPSAPhysicianBonuses/

but remember: even though they describe the

program in that section and

tell you how to check to see if your zipcode

qualifies, the modifier

information has not been updated there (of

course!) I learned of the update

by speaking with someone from Medicare when my

claims were denied due to

" invalid modifier " .

Trust me. Use AQ now in 2006 if you used to have

to use QB or QU.

I am now getting Medicare payments this week

without being rejected for

" invalid modifier " . Of course I'll

have to see if I actually get the bonus

payments in three months or so, as I used

to. At least the claims are not

being denied!

a Mintek

Office Manager

for Rian Mintek MD

PS Maybe you all already know this stuff. It's all

pretty new to me!

Yahoo! Photos

Ring in the New Year with Photo

Calendars. Add photos, events, holidays, whatever.

[Guest guest]

As an outsider I would have presumed the

30% difference in rates was due to the cost of living (ie, overhead) being 30%

more in Chicago. But you say that is not the case? I wonder how else they

justify the differences?

Re:

Medicare Physician fee schedule inequality

Good for you to find the new modifier. And good for

you that you receive a 10% bonus in an underserved area.

But I still cannot understand how I am reimbursed 30%

less in Sandwich, Illinios than Chicago. What I do for patients isn't 30%

less valuable and my overhead is surely not 30% less than Chicago. So if

Doctors in Chicago want to know how to make money with cuts of 26% over the

next 5 years, they can come visit my practice. But I am really

concerned that in 5 years,I will only be paid 40% of what the Chicago

physicians are currently paying. I think I need to talk to my

Congressman and Senator about this.

Mintek

wrote:

For those of you who qualify for the extra 10%

quarter! ly payments from

Medicare for working in a physician shortage area,

the modifier required

changed on January 1st. It used to be QB (and QU

for an urban area of need)

but now physicians from both qualified areas need

to use AQ. (how

CONVENIENT)

I do all of our billing now but I'm not reading

Medicare updates daily (or

even weekly) so I found out after getting the

first week of January Medicare

claims denied (and asked to be refiled) for having

the wrong modifier.

This only applies to those in a physician shortage

area who NEED to use a

modifier. A lot of the zipcodes in such areas are

loaded into the Medicare

system to automatically get those payments

quarterly so those physicians

don't have to use a modifier to get the extra

payments. Many zipcodes,

however, DO need to add a modifier.

For more information to see what you need to do if

you aren't doing it

already, go to

http://www.cms.hhs.gov/HPSAPSAPhysicianBonuses/

but remember: even though they describe the

program in that section and

tell you how to check to see if your zipcode

qualifies, the modifier

information has not been updated there (of

course!) I learned of the update

by speaking with someone from Medicare when my

claims were denied due to

" invalid modifier " .

Trust me. Use AQ now in 2006 if you used to have

to use QB or QU.

I am now getting Medicare payments this week

without being rejected for

" invalid modifier " . Of course I'll

have to see if I actually get the bonus

payments in three months or so, as I used

to. At least the claims are not

being denied!

a Mintek

Office Manager

for Rian Mintek MD

PS Maybe you all already know this stuff. It's all

pretty new to me!

Yahoo! Photos

Ring in the New Year with Photo

Calendars. Add photos, events, holidays, whatever.

[Guest guest]

I have no idea if we are paid less than other areas, to start with because I have never researched it. I didn't realize Medicare varied as much as 30% (!) in its payments to various regions. For 99214 visits, in our area in 2005, Medicare approved $80.83 and so they paid us %80 of that. Now, with the reductions in 2006, our recent approved amounts are $76 and some cents. How does that compare with your payments?

a

Re: Medicare Physician fee schedule inequality

Good for you to find the new modifier. And good for you that you receive a 10% bonus in an underserved area.

But I still cannot understand how I am reimbursed 30% less in Sandwich, Illinios than Chicago. What I do for patients isn't 30% less valuable and my overhead is surely not 30% less than Chicago. So if Doctors in Chicago want to know how to make money with cuts of 26% over the next 5 years, they can come visit my practice. But I am really concerned that in 5 years,I will only be paid 40% of what the Chicago physicians are currently paying. I think I need to talk to my Congressman and Senator about this.

Mintek wrote:

For those of you who qualify for the extra 10% quarter! ly payments fromMedicare for working in a physician shortage area, the modifier requiredchanged on January 1st. It used to be QB (and QU for an urban area of need)but now physicians from both qualified areas need to use AQ. (howCONVENIENT)I do all of our billing now but I'm not reading Medicare updates daily (oreven weekly) so I found out after getting the first week of January Medicareclaims denied (and asked to be refiled) for having the wrong modifier.This only applies to those in a physician shortage area who NEED to use amodifier. A lot of the zipcodes in such areas are loaded into the Medicaresystem to automatically get those payments quarterly so those physiciansdon't have to use a modifier to get the extra payments. Many zipcodes,however, DO need to add a modifier.For more information to see what you need to do if you aren't doing italready, go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/HPSAPSAPhysicianBonuses/but remember: even though they describe the program in that section andtell you how to check to see if your zipcode qualifies, the modifierinformation has not been updated there (of course!) I learned of the updateby speaking with someone from Medicare when my claims were denied due to"invalid modifier".Trust me. Use AQ now in 2006 if you used to have to use QB or QU.I am now getting Medicare payments this week without being rejected for"invalid modifier". Of course I'll have to see if I actually get the bonuspayments in three months or so, as I used to. At least the claims are notbeing denied!a MintekOffice Managerfor Rian Mintek MDPS Maybe you all already know this stuff. It's all pretty new to me!

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

No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 267.14.22/238 - Release Date: 01/23/2006

[Guest guest]

I have no idea if we are paid less than other areas, to start with because I have never researched it. I didn't realize Medicare varied as much as 30% (!) in its payments to various regions. For 99214 visits, in our area in 2005, Medicare approved $80.83 and so they paid us %80 of that. Now, with the reductions in 2006, our recent approved amounts are $76 and some cents. How does that compare with your payments?

a

Re: Medicare Physician fee schedule inequality

Good for you to find the new modifier. And good for you that you receive a 10% bonus in an underserved area.

But I still cannot understand how I am reimbursed 30% less in Sandwich, Illinios than Chicago. What I do for patients isn't 30% less valuable and my overhead is surely not 30% less than Chicago. So if Doctors in Chicago want to know how to make money with cuts of 26% over the next 5 years, they can come visit my practice. But I am really concerned that in 5 years,I will only be paid 40% of what the Chicago physicians are currently paying. I think I need to talk to my Congressman and Senator about this.

Mintek wrote:

For those of you who qualify for the extra 10% quarter! ly payments fromMedicare for working in a physician shortage area, the modifier requiredchanged on January 1st. It used to be QB (and QU for an urban area of need)but now physicians from both qualified areas need to use AQ. (howCONVENIENT)I do all of our billing now but I'm not reading Medicare updates daily (oreven weekly) so I found out after getting the first week of January Medicareclaims denied (and asked to be refiled) for having the wrong modifier.This only applies to those in a physician shortage area who NEED to use amodifier. A lot of the zipcodes in such areas are loaded into the Medicaresystem to automatically get those payments quarterly so those physiciansdon't have to use a modifier to get the extra payments. Many zipcodes,however, DO need to add a modifier.For more information to see what you need to do if you aren't doing italready, go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/HPSAPSAPhysicianBonuses/but remember: even though they describe the program in that section andtell you how to check to see if your zipcode qualifies, the modifierinformation has not been updated there (of course!) I learned of the updateby speaking with someone from Medicare when my claims were denied due to"invalid modifier".Trust me. Use AQ now in 2006 if you used to have to use QB or QU.I am now getting Medicare payments this week without being rejected for"invalid modifier". Of course I'll have to see if I actually get the bonuspayments in three months or so, as I used to. At least the claims are notbeing denied!a MintekOffice Managerfor Rian Mintek MDPS Maybe you all already know this stuff. It's all pretty new to me!

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

No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 267.14.22/238 - Release Date: 01/23/2006

[Guest guest]

I have no idea if we are paid less than other areas, to start with because I have never researched it. I didn't realize Medicare varied as much as 30% (!) in its payments to various regions. For 99214 visits, in our area in 2005, Medicare approved $80.83 and so they paid us %80 of that. Now, with the reductions in 2006, our recent approved amounts are $76 and some cents. How does that compare with your payments?

a

Re: Medicare Physician fee schedule inequality

Good for you to find the new modifier. And good for you that you receive a 10% bonus in an underserved area.

But I still cannot understand how I am reimbursed 30% less in Sandwich, Illinios than Chicago. What I do for patients isn't 30% less valuable and my overhead is surely not 30% less than Chicago. So if Doctors in Chicago want to know how to make money with cuts of 26% over the next 5 years, they can come visit my practice. But I am really concerned that in 5 years,I will only be paid 40% of what the Chicago physicians are currently paying. I think I need to talk to my Congressman and Senator about this.

Mintek wrote:

For those of you who qualify for the extra 10% quarter! ly payments fromMedicare for working in a physician shortage area, the modifier requiredchanged on January 1st. It used to be QB (and QU for an urban area of need)but now physicians from both qualified areas need to use AQ. (howCONVENIENT)I do all of our billing now but I'm not reading Medicare updates daily (oreven weekly) so I found out after getting the first week of January Medicareclaims denied (and asked to be refiled) for having the wrong modifier.This only applies to those in a physician shortage area who NEED to use amodifier. A lot of the zipcodes in such areas are loaded into the Medicaresystem to automatically get those payments quarterly so those physiciansdon't have to use a modifier to get the extra payments. Many zipcodes,however, DO need to add a modifier.For more information to see what you need to do if you aren't doing italready, go to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/HPSAPSAPhysicianBonuses/but remember: even though they describe the program in that section andtell you how to check to see if your zipcode qualifies, the modifierinformation has not been updated there (of course!) I learned of the updateby speaking with someone from Medicare when my claims were denied due to"invalid modifier".Trust me. Use AQ now in 2006 if you used to have to use QB or QU.I am now getting Medicare payments this week without being rejected for"invalid modifier". Of course I'll have to see if I actually get the bonuspayments in three months or so, as I used to. At least the claims are notbeing denied!a MintekOffice Managerfor Rian Mintek MDPS Maybe you all already know this stuff. It's all pretty new to me!

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

No virus found in this incoming message.Checked by AVG Free Edition.Version: 7.1.375 / Virus Database: 267.14.22/238 - Release Date: 01/23/2006