CMS defines a template as a “tool/instrument/interface that assists in documenting a progress note.” Physicians and other licensed independent providers routinely create their own and may even collaborate with other colleagues and care team members to develop effective templates. However,…
In many health care settings, a procedure or service is reviewed by a certified professional coder or other billing specialist before being submitted as a claim to the payer. In some instances, CPT codes and/or the associated diagnosis codes need…
A lack of clarity and awareness exists around circumstances in which FQHCs can bill for more than one visit on the same day for the same patient. This confusion can create unnecessary burdens for both physicians and patients. Such burdens…
The use of text-based secure messaging platforms has increased as a means of clinician-to-clinician and clinician-to-patient communication. As some organizations require that only physicians respond to all patient portal messages, there exists confusion around whether non-physicians may respond to these…
Break-the-glass, or break-glass functions require an EHR user to enter additional authentication information and documentation of a specific business reason for accessing a patient record before they can enter a patient’s chart that is subject to heightened restrictions. The feature,…
The maintenance of an accurate problem list is essential to making informed decisions about a patient’s treatment, identifying risks and care gaps, and ensuring continuity of care. As the number and variety of clinicians included in the care of any…
On average, primary care physicians (PCPs) receive between 10 and 25 prescription refill requests per day and spend an average of 30 minutes per day assessing and responding to refill requests. Many practices coordinate chronic daily medication prescription renewals with…
Advance care planning is a billable, face-to-face service between a physician (or other provider) and a patient and/or surrogate to discuss and make known the patient’s health care wishes in case the patient becomes unable to make health care decisions…
In October 2011, CMS began covering annual depression screening for Medicare beneficiaries in the primary care setting when performed by clinical staff who can advise the physician of screening results and who can help facilitate and coordinate referrals for mental…
When plastic breaks down into microplastic particles, they pollute the environment and numerous studies have found they infiltrate multiple organ systems and tissues. In fact, a 2022 study in Environmental International estimated that microplastics were circulating in the blood of…
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