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

What Is CDI and How Does It Impact You?
June 6, 2018 [Source: Emily Hill, PA, AAPM Coding Consultant]
CDI (Clinical Documentation Improvement) has been described as the process of improving healthcare records to ensure improved patient outcomes, data quality, and accurate reimbursement. Hospitals began CDI programs as a response to the advent of DRGs (Diagnosis Related Groups) as a form of reimbursement. Most physicians have experienced the request for supplementary documentation to support additional or more specific ICD codes to enhance hospital reimbursement and data collection.
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Hospira Issues a Voluntary Nationwide Recall for Two Lots of Naloxone Hydrochloride Injection, USP, in the Carpuject™ Syringe System due to the Potential Presence of Particulate Matter
June 4, 2018 [Source: FDA]
Hospira, Inc., a Pfizer company, is voluntarily recalling lots 72680LL and 76510LL of Naloxone Hydrochloride Injection, USP, 0.4 mg/mL, 1 mL in 2.5 mL, Carpuject Single-use cartridge syringe system (NDC 0409-1782-69), to the hospital/institution level due to the potential presence of embedded and loose particulate matter on the syringe plunger.
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Reinventing Medical Practice Discussion - Telemedicine in Practice – From Laws and Licensure to Adoption and Payment
May 29 - June 8, 2018 [Source: AMA]
Share ideas and innovative ways to build a thriving medical practice and improve patient satisfaction. Join the Reinventing Medical Practice digital community and connect with physician and other practice leaders to share insights and projects that drive you to have a greater impact on the practice of medicine and the health of patients. You do not have to be a physician or AMA member to join this community.
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New Medicare Beneficiary Identifiers (MBIs) Ready for Use
May 9, 2018 [Source: Emily Hill, PA, AAPM Coding Consultant]
Some Medicare beneficiaries are receiving new Medicare cards with new Medicare Beneficiary Identifiers (MBIs). The MBIs are 11 characters in length and will use randomly selected numbers and upper case letters. The new cards and numbers are being issued in phases by geographic location.
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Walmart Introduces Additional Measures to Help Curb Opioid Abuse and Misuse
May 7, 2018 [Source: Walmart]
Within the next 60 days, Walmart and Sam’s Club will restrict initial acute opioid prescriptions to no more than a seven-day supply, with up to a 50 morphine milligram equivalent maximum per day. This policy is in alignment with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) guidelines for opioid use. Where state law for fills on new acute opioid prescriptions is less than seven days, Walmart and Sam’s Club will follow state law.
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AAPM Immediate Past President Steven P. Stanos, DO, responds to the new Walmart policy in this NPR interview.

CMS Releases Tool to Check Your MIPS Eligibility
April 18, 2018 [Source: Emily Hill, PA, AAPM Coding Consultant]
CMS has recently released its updated MIPS Eligibility Lookup Tool. Enter your NPI number to determine if you need to participate in the MIPS program in 2018. Providers who meet the established low volume threshold do not need to participate.
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CMS Seeks Comments on Changes to E/M Documentation Guidelines
April 4, 2018 [Source: Emily Hill, PA, AAPM Coding Consultant]
In the November 2017 Final Rule, CMS sought comments on potential updates to the Evaluation and Management (E/M) Documentation Guidelines. CMS indicated it was particularly interested in suggestions for initial changes to the history and exam components. CMS further suggested that medical decision making (MDM) and time are more important factors in distinguishing levels of service.
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Survey: Patient Clinical Outcomes Shortchanged by Prior Authorization
March 21, 2018 [Source: AMA]
More than nine in 10 physicians (92 percent) say that prior authorizations programs have a negative impact on patient clinical outcomes, according to a new physician survey released today by the American Medical Association (AMA).
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New Medicare Card Transition Begins April 1
March 21, 2018 [Source: Emily Hill, PA, AAPM Coding Consultant]
CMS will begin mailing new Medicare cards with the Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) in April 2018. The MBI on the new card is effective immediately unless the patient is new to Medicare. In that case, the start date will be on the card.
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Diagnostic Errors Top ECRI Institute’s Patient Safety Concerns for 2018
March 12, 2018 [Source: ECRI Institute]
Opioid safety, second on this year's list, stretches across the healthcare continuum. “Opioids are a patient safety concern because of the seriousness of the side effects," says Stephanie Uses, PharmD, MJ, JD, patient safety analyst and consultant, ECRI Institute. "We recommend that clinicians carefully assess patients for opioid use disorder and set realistic expectations about pain."
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