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

HIPAA Basics: CMS Reminders
September 14, 2016 [Source: Emily Hill, PA, AAPM Coding Consultant]]
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a Medicare Learning Network publication outlining HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) basics and providing a hyperlink table to additional resources. The publication outlines the basics of the three major components of HIPAA: Privacy Rule, Security Rule, and the Breach Notification Rule.
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Opioid Pain or Cough Medicines Combined With Benzodiazepines: Drug Safety Communication - FDA Requiring Boxed Warning About Serious Risks and Death
August 31, 2016 [Source: FDA]
FDA review has found that the growing combined use of opioid medicines with benzodiazepines or other drugs that depress the central nervous system (CNS) has resulted in serious side effects, including slowed or difficult breathing and deaths.
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Neurolytic Destruction Procedures and Unlisted Code 64999
August 30, 2016 [Source: Emily Hill, PA, AAPM Coding Consultant]
CPT 2016 introduced new language regarding the appropriate use of codes 64633, 64634, 64635, 64636. The instructions state: "Do not report 64633, 64634, 64635, 64636 for non- thermal facet joint denervation including chemical, low- grade thermal energy (<80 degrees Celsius), or any form of pulsed radiofrequency. To appropriately report any of these modalities, use 64999."
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Documenting Radiology Services
June 28, 2016 [Source: Emily Hill, PA, AAPM Coding Consultant]
Image guidance is an inherent part of many of the injection procedures performed by Pain Medicine physicians. It is important that documentation requirements are met in the event that a payer request a copy of the record.
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Reporting E/M Services and Procedures on the Same Day
June 16, 2016 [Source: Emily Hill, PA, AAPM Coding Consultant]
CPT guidelines allow an Evaluation and Management (E/M) Service code to be reported on the day of a procedure or diagnostic test if the E/M service is "significant and separately identifiable" from the other service being reported.
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Zecuity (sumatriptan) Migraine Patch: Drug Safety Communication - FDA Evaluating Risk of Burns and Scars
June 13, 2016 [Source: FDA]
Zecuity manufacturer Teva Pharmaceuticals has decided to temporarily suspend sales, marketing, and distribution to investigate the cause of burns and scars associated with the Zecuity patch.
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FDA Drug Safety Communication: FDA Warns about Serious Heart Problems with High Doses of the Antidiarrheal Medicine Loperamide (Imodium), Including from Abuse and Misuse
June 6, 2016 [Source: FDA]
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning that taking higher than recommended doses of the common over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription diarrhea medicine loperamide (Imodium), including through abuse or misuse of the product, can cause serious heart problems that can lead to death.
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Assessing ICD-10-CM Coding in Your Practice
May 26, 2016 [Source: Emily Hill, PA, AAPM Coding Consultant]
It's been eight months since the implementation of ICD-10-CM. Most physicians report there was limited or no reimbursement impact and that the transition was easier than anticipated. Medicare reports that less than 1% of denials since implementation have been related to ICD-10-CM coding. CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) also provided a 12- month "transition period" that eased concerns regarding audit liability.
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Olanzapine: Drug Safety Communication - FDA Warns About Rare But Serious Skin Reactions
May 10, 2016 [Source: FDA]
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Aripiprazole (Abilify, Abilify Maintena, Aristada): Drug Safety Communication - FDA Warns About New Impulse-control Problems
May 3. 2016 [Source: FDA]
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