ASC Coding, Billing & Collections

The Ambulatory Surgery Association has nominated Denise Lascar, president of MedStar Surgery Center in Washington, D.C., to serve on the advisory panel on Ambulatory Payment Classification, according to the ASCA's Government Update.

Health IT advisors are discussing whether a delay of Stage 2 of meaningful use could give healthcare providers more time to transition to ICD-10 code sets, according to a report by Government Health IT.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina has added on-site billing services at Duke University Health System, the fourth location to benefit from the "on-site service model" provided by the payor, according to a Triangle Business Journal report.

Don't hire coders from hospitals or practices. "A coder with inpatient hospital certification can't handle an ASC, says Eva-Marie Alexander, West Coast regional director for American Academy of Professional Coders Physician Services, based in Redondo Beach, Calif. "They need to…

Two physicians have resigned following contentious contract negotiations at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, Wash., that ask emergency room physicians to accept more responsibility for unpaid patient bills, according to a Spokesman-Review report.

Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin has signed into law legislation that moves the state toward a single-payor health system, according to a New York Times report.

New Jersey health officials want to tighten eligibility requirements for new Medicaid enrollees, part of Gov. Christopher Christie's administration's effort to save $300 million by reforming the state healthcare program, according to a Forbes report.

San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera has sued three medical insurers, alleging the companies have systematically underpaid San Francisco General Hospital and other public hospitals for emergency services, according to an SF Appeal report.

On Monday, Connecticut insurance regulators rejected a request by American Republic Insurance to increase health premiums by an average of 35 percent for 117 Connecticut residents, according to a Hartford Courant report.

Jessica Edmiston is manager, coding, for National Medical Billing Services.   Q: Concerning screening colonoscopies, our ambulatory surgery center is having no problem using the -PT modifier for Medicare but third-party payors are not accepting the -33 modifier. Do you…