Practice Management

Pain physicians are not only highly trained in the many treatment approaches of pain medicine, but are often required to run successful pain businesses. This section offers practical tools and resources for you to use in your pain practice. Coding, policies, patient education and other helpful information will support your daily practice decisions and business needs. This area is also a favorite of office managers and other support staff.

Latest News and Updates

Coding Refresher: Paravertebral Facet Joint Nerve Destruction Codes (64633-64636)
June 7, 2017 [Source: Emily Hill, PA, AAPM Coding Consultant]
Although codes 64633-64636 were introduced in 2012, there continues to be confusion about how to appropriately report these services. The codes are based on the number of facet joints that are treated. The number of nerves injected does not affect code selection.
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CMS Releases Electronic Clinical Quality Measures (eCQMs)
May 24, 2017 [Source: Emily Hill, PA, AAPM Coding Consultant]
CMS has released the eCQMs that may be used to electronically report 2018 clinical quality measure data for CMS quality reporting programs. The measures, while fully specified, will not be eligible for 2018 reporting unless they are proposed and finalized through notice-and-comment rulemaking for each applicable program.
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Identifying, Treating Pain in Children with Neurological Impairment
May 22, 2017 [Source: American Academy of Pediatrics]
The new AAP clinical report Pain Assessment and Treatment in Children with Significant Impairment of the Central Nervous System provides a guide to this complex problem.
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MIPS Notifications
May 9, 2017 [Source: Emily Hill, PA, AAPM Coding Consultant]
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is reviewing claims and letting practices know which clinicians need to take part in the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS). Beginning in late April through May, providers will get a letter from their Medicare Administrative Contractor providing the participation status of each MIPS clinician associated with your Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN).
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New Canadian Clinical Guideline for Physicians Tapers Down Use of Opioids
May 8, 2017 [Source: McMaster University]
Canadian physicians are being advised to reduce their prescribing of opioid medication to patients with chronic non-cancer pain in a new guideline for clinical care that focuses on harm reduction.
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NavLock Tracker by Medtronic: Letter to Healthcare Providers - Patient Injuries Reported
May 3, 2017 [Source: FDA]
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New vs. Established E/M Codes
April 26, 2017 [Source: Emily Hill, PA, AAPM Coding Consultant]
CPT differentiates between new and established patients for Office and Other Outpatient Service codes (99201-99215). It is important to understand how the status of the patient is defined since it impacts reimbursement and the documentation requirements for E/M Services.
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Does Your Medical Record Address All the Necessary Points for Trigger Point Injections?
April 11, 2017 [Source: Emily Hill, PA, AAPM Coding Consultant]
CPT codes 20552 and 20553 describe injections into trigger points for myofascial pain syndrome and are based on the number of muscles treated. These codes represent high volume services to the Medicare program with code 20552 [Injection(s); single or multiple trigger point(s), 1 or 2 muscle(s)] reported approximately 350,000 times and 20553 [Injection(s); single or multiple trigger point(s), 3 or more muscle(s)] reported approximately 295,000 times in 2015.
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Guidelines for the Chronic Use of Opioid Analgesics:
Adopted as Policy by the Federation of State Medical Boards April 2017
April 2017 [Source: Federation of State Medical Boards]
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