Author Topic: ST documentation ?  (Read 2138 times)

Anne

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 78
ST documentation ?
« on: March 19, 2010, 02:12:11 AM »
when billing for speech therapy - primary ins. is BCBS, or Aetna - visits are not timed, so I put in 1 for 24J (number of units).  Then if Medicaid is secondary, I change number of units to 15 min increments since Med. does pay according to timed units, so number of units has to be indicated on the secondary claim.  My question is, shouldn't the documentation on daily progress notes show the "time in" and "time out" for each visit?  My provider says "no, it's not necessary" to have length of time for the visit on notes, and to just chg certain amt per visit.  She chgs an amt for certain code and another amt for another code.  She gives me her charges and progress notes for each visit per patient, but doesn't indicate time or how much time per code.  She said to chg for 1 hour for each visit.  My other ST providers give me their charges with more detailed notes - Each visit has the time in and time out, or how many minutes for that session, and how much time they spent with patient for each code and they are not all the same.  If I tell her she really needs to have the time on the notes, will I be telling her the correct thing?

Michele

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5927
    • Solutions Medical Billing
Re: ST documentation ?
« Reply #1 on: March 22, 2010, 09:50:05 AM »
Well, if you have to indicate the time in units on the claim, that would be rather difficult without the time indicated on the chart (progress notes).  I would explain that some insurances require the time indicated in units and you cannot calculate that without the times indicated.

Michele
Sign Up for our FREE Medical Billing Newsletter
Get a 10% discount on Medical Billing Products by using Coupon Code: 10OFF
http://www.solutions-medical-billing.com

Anne

  • Jr. Member
  • **
  • Posts: 78
Re: ST documentation ?
« Reply #2 on: March 22, 2010, 08:54:52 PM »
I did tell her that - she just says each visit is one hour and to chg accordingly. So, she gives me a list of DOS.  The notes are in email - name of patient, DOS, and description of visit.  Notes are not signed by her, no time is indicated.  Doesn't seem very "official" to me.

Michele

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5927
    • Solutions Medical Billing
Re: ST documentation ?
« Reply #3 on: March 24, 2010, 09:46:32 AM »
If she states that every visit is one hour, then I would get that in writing from her and keep it on file.  Then bill based on that info.  Advise her that if an appointment is ever not an hour, she needs to indicate that for you.  Personally I don't agree with her methods, and I think if she is audited she will be advised that she needs to be more 'official'. 

Michele
Sign Up for our FREE Medical Billing Newsletter
Get a 10% discount on Medical Billing Products by using Coupon Code: 10OFF
http://www.solutions-medical-billing.com

Medical Billing Forum

Re: ST documentation ?
« Reply #3 on: March 24, 2010, 09:46:32 AM »