Re: GEN: How do insurance carriers do this? (long)
From: art fougner, md (evsono@pipeline.com)
Sun Feb 27 09:22:03 2005
yet endometriosis is often ONLY diagnosable by way of laparoscopy AND
causes both Pain and Infertility. any abrogation of responsibility by
third party payor to reimburse for this procedure should be forwarded to
your respective state's insurance department.
art
At Sun, 27 Feb 2005, R. Daniel Braun wrote:
>
>Yep, and neither one of us gets paid because we are honest and it gets
>kicked out because of the infertility diagnosis.
>
>On Sun, 27 Feb 2005 07:57:30 -0600, Garry E. Siegel, M.D.
><garrys@mindspring.com> wrote:
>> Of course, Dan.
>>
>> Now that being said, what about the women whose complaints include
>> pelvic pain and infertility? Let's say she doesn't have infertility
>> coverage, but after appropriate testing for both--let's say an
>> ultrasound, HSG, and SA may well be a candidate for a lapscope. I would
>> do her scope and bill it under both, wouldn't you?
>>
>> Garry
>>
>> At Sun, 27 Feb 2005, R. Daniel Braun wrote:
>> >
>> >Any one where you change the diagnosis to get them to pay.
>> >
>> >On Sat, 26 Feb 2005 21:05:51 -0600, Garry E. Siegel, M.D.
>> ><garrys@mindspring.com> wrote:
>> >> Dan:
>> >>
>> >> If I do what? Which example are you referring to?
>> >>
>> >> Garry
>> >>
>> >> At Sat, 26 Feb 2005, R. Daniel Braun wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> >If you do that and they catch you, it is FRAUD and a jail sentence could follow.
>> >> >
>> >> >On Sat, 26 Feb 2005 16:31:13 -0600, Garry E. Siegel, M.D.
>> >> ><garrys@mindspring.com> wrote:
>> >> >> A discussion with a patient whose infertility is non-covered leads to
>> >> >> this long diatribe I've often wondered. Any thoughts welcome.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> The broad topic is how to insurers review claims and decide which are
>> >> >> paid automatically (i.e. probably no human input) and which are
>> >> >> reviewed.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> For instance:
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Mid level office visit, dx. endometriosis
>> >> >>
>> >> >> I would think this is paid without review, as the CPT and ICD-9 jive,
>> >> >> AND it is not an expensive amount.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Now, what about:
>> >> >>
>> >> >> TAH, dx. Fibroids
>> >> >>
>> >> >> I would think that this is another slam dunk, but maybe the PROCEDURE or
>> >> >> the AMOUNT merit automatic review.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> So. . .
>> >> >>
>> >> >> If I bill a laparoscopy for a yeast infection, does the mismatch of
>> >> >> diagnosis/CPT generate a red flag? Or, does every surgery get reviewed?
>> >> >> Or, does any CPT that is paid over a certain dollar amount get reviewed?
>> >> >>
>> >> >> So. . .
>> >> >>
>> >> >> If I tried to bill a lapscope done in reality for infertility, but used
>> >> >> Pelvic Pain as the diagnosis, would the carrier catch it? Now, realize
>> >> >> I'm not doing this (unless she has documented pelvic pain). Also, if
>> >> >> the patient has previously had CPTs billed that are obvious, i.e. an
>> >> >> HSG, do they know?
>> >> >>
>> >> >> As an aside, someone on Clomid with oligoovulation can be billed for
>> >> >> office visits under "irreguar menses," I suppose, but if the carrier
>> >> >> sees a bill from the pharmacy for Clomid, do they figure it out?
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Whew!
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Garry
>> >> >>
>> >> >> --
>> >> >> Garry E. Siegel, M.D.
>> >> >> Private Practice
>> >> >> Roswell, GA
>> >> >>
>> >> >--
>> >> >R. Daniel Braun
>> >> > Kinky for Governor
>> >> >
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> Garry E. Siegel, M.D.
>> >> Private Practice
>> >> Roswell, GA
>> >>
>> >--
>> >R. Daniel Braun
>> > Kinky for Governor
>> >
>>
>> --
>> Garry E. Siegel, M.D.
>> Private Practice
>> Roswell, GA
>>
>--
>R. Daniel Braun
> Kinky for Governor
>
--
art fougner, md
"If you don't know where you are going, you will wind up somewhere else."
Lawrence Peter Berra
