Important Agreement Changes for FHG & CCM

There have been some unilateral agreement changes made that affect both Family Health Groups and Comprehensive Care Models.  If you are in either of these groups it's important that you read each of the bulletins regarding the changes.  You have 30 days from the date of the imposed changes to terminate your affiliation with the respective group, or, it will be assumed that you have actively agreed to these changes.  According to the attached bulletins they affect terms of the agreement with respect to leaving the affected groups.

Here is the link to the bulletin for the Family Health Group (FHG) changes. 

Here is the link to the bulletin for the Comprehensive Care Model changes.

While they are not major changes it would still be adviseable to be aware of them if you are in either of these groups.

Back to Basics & Dreaded MOH Error Reports

We all know that medical billing is complicated and extremely detail oriented.   OHIP billing is so detail oriented that it's downright overwhelming.  We have yet to come across the path of anyone that can confidently say "I have an amazing handle on it and I know that I am billing everything appropriately and not missing one code, ever"....not a doctor, not a billing agent and not an OHIP billing company.  How do you feel you are doing in making sure you are claiming all of the income (either for yourself or your employer) that has already been earned? 

In order to get closer to our ultimate goals we have to be purposeful in taking steps that get us there, the same is true when you are dealing with OHIP billing. 

Aside from joining our OMBIS members (enjoying our membership resources, OHIP code database and personal support when they need it) you have to employ a strategy.  The best places to start looking for lost income is often the most basic places, like the dreaded RA & Errors Reports.  Our employees have sat through OMA Medical Billing Conferences and listened to office staff explain that they have literally never actually done any error reconciliations ever because they don't know how to read the rejection report and/or the RAs. 

Is this true for you?  Do you reconcile the easy errors and then say you'll go back but never actually get around to it?  Are there errors that you don't quite understand so you just leave them?  Be honest in your evaluation and ask yourself how often this happens (even if it's just those darn errors that seem to keep coming back). 

Maybe after reading this you are feeling like you are in a good position because you think that around 95% of the time you get those errors reconciled....hang on a second!  Are you willing to forget about 5% of your income (or your employer's)? 

Figure out how to make that attainment rate 99%, or better yet 100% when it comes to errors and reconciliation.   Maybe it means that you need to re-evaluate office procedures in order to make sure you manage to get valid health card numbers for those EH2 errors, or maybe you need to make sure they are right to begin with so that you don't have to deal with them afterwards.  There are many other ways to increase your income and billing efficiency, but errors and reconciliation is definitely a place that shouldn't go unchecked.

If you are a physician and now you are stressed out worrying if your office staff is handling these errors in an appropriate way, why don't you sit down with them and ask them honestly how things are going.  You may think everything is going well and could be surprised at what the reality is.  If your staff is having a hard time, don't blame them, OHIP medical billing is pretty complicated.  Work together to make your systems better, it's better for you and your staff.

If you are a member and you are concerned that this could be an issue in your office (either directly or with office staff), send us an email and we'll work together to ensure you have an efficient system in place.  administration@ombis.ca

See the topic you want to know about here!

We are always looking for new topics for blog posts.  Do you have a particular code that has been driving you crazy?  A certain aspect of billing that you can quite seem to figure out or a code that keeps being rejected and you don't know why? 

Whether you are a member or not send us an email at administration@ombis.ca and your topic may be the next post you see. 

Members always get our undivided attention and we will seek specific answers for your questions as soon as they become an issue for you.

Have you been thinking about becoming a member?  Now is the time! Check out our current promotions page here.

New 2013 OHIP MOH Schedule of Benefits & Billing Code changes

So the new 2013 Schedule of Benefits has been released and there are quite a few changes, way too many to post like we have done in the past. 

There are many fee decreases, deletions and a few new fee codes.  The most notable of the new fee codes is the Periodic Health Visit which, as you may have already heard, will replace the traditional annual physicial (A003).  These changes are effective as of January 1, 2013, which means you should investigate these new codes as soon as possible to understand how the new process works.  The Periodic Health Visit codes are K130, K131 and K132.  We have already updated our www.ombis.ca database with the periodic health visit codes and we will be uploading further details on these codes over the next few days.

We are working away at getting all of the updates done and we are hoping to have them all done in the next two weeks.  We will be posting new linked resources so keep your eyes on the right hand side of the screen when you are looking at searched content.

Want a free customized package? Find us on Facebook!! Bettery hurry, limited time offer.

Like us on Facebook before Saturday, January 26 (midnight) and we will provide you with a free Customized Insurance Form package!  

 

All you have to do is like us and send us an email (administration@ombis.ca) with your title and office information (including phone & fax). Just let us know that you have liked us on Facebook and that you would like a customized package.  We'll get your package out to you right away! No catch, you don’t even have to be a member, it's that easy...better hurry! Here is the link to our Facebook Page (see we even made it easy for you!).

 

 

 

Members vs Non-Members

Most people stumble across our blog when they are searching the internet for clarification regarding an OHIP medical billing code (or medical billing precedural). OMBIS Inc., was created out of a need for a platform that would address gaps in knowledge, and provide a forum for sharing questions and knowledge. OMBIS Inc., provides information on billing codes and procedures here on Blogger and we also do that in a much more comprehensive way for our members at www.ombis.ca.

What's the difference between members and non-members?

Our members (www.ombis.ca) send us questions and we will search for answers then email them back with a response. Non-members can also send us questions or topics that they would like to see a posting on as suggestions; however, our members get our special attention when it comes to finding answers to specific questions and/or concerns.

Our members also enjoy access to resources (preventative health care forms, practice management forms, etc.) and a search engine with thousands of OHIP codes that is put together in a way that takes the guess work out of billing. Our search engine took months to compile and will tell you what codes are allowable (not-allowable), details limits and specific considerations as well as links you to relevant OHIP memorandums and additional third party resources.

Member's also enjoy a 50% discount on all customized resource packages like the customized insurance form package that we were telling you about here.

More Money, Less Hassle....What are you waiting for?

In the past we have discussed the headaches associated with handing Attending Physician Requests and Disease Specific Questionnaires, to read the post click here.  Due to all of the questions we received from members (and blog followers!) about how to make sure they are being compensated while making sure they are still following the OMA's recommended guidelines we created a solution.  Our solution is a customized insurance form package.  This package includes a customized invoice and form that allows your staff to simply figure out how to invoice the insurance company while increasing your income and ensuring OMA rate compliance.  This package also comes with a letter that will provide you with step-by-step instructions as to how to implement this new system. 

No more fighting for payment after you have completed your APS request, no more feeling like you are underpaid and no more frustration with all of the "rush" requests you receive.  The customized package is $30.00 plus HST. 

We offer group discounts for multiple physicians (each physician will receive a separate customized form).  OMBIS member's enjoy a discounted rate of 50% off of all additional resource packages, which means our member price for this package is $15.00 plus HST.

New members who join during the remainder of January will receive a customized insurance form package at no additional charge!

Email us at administration@ombis.ca and we'll get you maximizing your income right away.