Practice Management Seminars/CEUs

Upcoming Seminars/Webinars

Preventing and Challenging Claim Denials through Accurate Coding

2011 ICD-9 Changes & ICD-10 Update—90-Minute Webinar

Additional practice management events can be found at the Washington State Medical Group Managers Association (WSMGMA) website's events page

Preventing and Challenging Claim Denials through Accurate Coding

Compliance programs inform practices on the pitfalls that cause claim denials, such as incorrect eligibility status. Still, inaccurate coding is the leading cause of lost revenue for practices, and pursuing corrections to those denials is time consuming and expensive. Instead, make better use of staff hours by ensuring accurate coding the first time around, plus help reduce the risk of audits and penalties imposed by health insurers and government programs.

In this half-day in-person seminar, we’ll walk you through the critical steps for understanding and preventing claim denials, as well as using tools to reduce recoupment of payment by health insurers. This program will focus on “learned lessons” to help practice staff, particularly coders, in achieving rapid and accurate payments.

You also will learn the necessary skills and techniques to improve and enhance your coding and billing compliance program. Demonstrate your practice’s commitment to preventing erroneous claims while monitoring adherence to applicable statutes, regulations and requirements. Learn about the claims process from the insurer's perspective.

Physicians, practice managers and administrative staff who are responsible for processing insurance claims and reconciliation of the accounts receivable, as part of the practice’s revenue cycle, should participate in this important program.

We will guide you through these important issues:

Most common reasons for denials and how to prevent them
Understanding “bundling” and national correct coding edits
Preparing and preventing denials
Steps in challenging payment denials
Strategies for preventing allegations of fraud and abuse
Assessing the “amount in question” vs. the “cost of the appeal”
Implications of going forth with an appeal vs. not pursuing an appeal
Handling delays, insurance company stalls, denials and benefit reductions

Presenter
Michelle Lott, CPC, CPMA is the Associate Director and Health Insurance Coding Specialist for the Practice Resource Center for the Washington State Medical Association (WSMA). Michelle provides guidance and training on CPT and ICD-9-CM coding issues via the WSMA’s Practice Management Seminars and our Coding Hotline. She is a Certified Professional Coder and a Certified Medical Professional Auditor through the American Academy of Professional Coders.

Tuition
WSMA and WSMGMA members can attend for $149 per person, and may sponsor staff in the same practice for the member rate. Three or more members or sponsored staff from the same practice may register for a group discount of $129 per person. Non-members: Please call for pricing.

Cancellations received within five full business days prior to the seminar receive a full refund. Cancellations thereafter receive a refund less a $50 cancellation fee. Space is limited, so register early.

SEMINAR SCHEDULE

Everett: Friday, October 8
12:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Providence Pacific Campus
Providence A & B
900 Pacific Avenue
Everett, WA 98201

Seattle: Thursday, October 14
12:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Cherry Hill Swedish
Cherry Hill Auditorium
500 - 17th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98122

Spokane: Tuesday, October 19
12:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Spokane Valley Hospital
Caduceus Room
12606 East Mission Avenue
Spokane Valley, WA 99216

Tacoma: Wednesday, October 20
12:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Allenmore Hospital
Classroom 1 (Located in basement)
1901 South Union Avenue
Tacoma, WA 98405

Check in and on-site registration begins ½ hour before start time.

Questions? Contact Jenelle Dalit by phone at 1(800) 552-0612 or jcd@wsma.org

2011 ICD-9 Changes & ICD-10 Update—90-Minute Webinar

The 2011 changes to ICD-9 have been issued. As no grace period exists for the transition to the annual coding changes, practices will need to be ready by October 1st to begin using the new codes and to discontinue using the invalid codes. Also, pressure is growing for the conversion to the dramatically more detailed and complex system of ICD-10 codes.

You will learn:

ICD-9 2011 Changes:

Information on the 2011 changes to ICD-9 codes
Review and discussion of the 122 new codes
Review of the updated ICD-9 guidelines and the effects on code selection

ICD-10 Implementation—Update:

Guidance on approaching ICD-10 implementation, minimizing impact on the practice
Information on training and educational resources

Presenter
Michelle Lott, CPC, CPMA is the Associate Director of the WSMA Practice Resource Center. Michelle provides guidance and training on CPT and ICD coding issues via the WSMA’s Practice Management Seminars and our Coding Hotline.

Date & Time
Friday, September 17, 2010
12:00 - 1:30 pm PT

Tuition
WSMA and WSMGMA members can attend for $89 per person. One registration fee per phone line lets your entire staff listen in. Non-members: Call for pricing.

Questions? Contact Jenelle Dalit by phone at 1(800) 552-0612 or jcd@wsma.org