MAY Newsletters
(Sent out May 7th, 14th, 21st and 30th)
Chiropractic Medicare
Sent May 7th, 2012
"Some Medicare Carriers have limited Chiropractic!"
Dear Doctors and Staff,
The Medicare Carrier of Tennessee has posted their draft indicating "Chiropractic limitations" as 25 chiropractic visits per year. The Medicare Carrier in "New Jersey
However, to my knowledge, CMS has issued NO limits on Chiropractic Care as long as the adjustments are medically necessary. That simply means the state Medicare Carriers have posted limitation on Chiropractic illegally. Who's to stop them? CMS does not seem to care that the Medicare Carriers are breaching Federal law by these limitations.
In each state, when the Medicare Carrier creates Chiropractic limitations, the State Chiropractic Associations and Societies should file complaints with their Congressmen and Senators to get it stopped. IT MUST BE STOPPED NOW!!!
Even if there WERE TO BE limitations of 25 or 30 visits per year, we still must know the correct way to do Medicare and we still must become compliant in Medicare by the end of 2012. Because the error rate on Chiropractic billing and documentation has been in the 60% to 99%, those reports were issued by the Inspector General to Congress. If we are to stay in Medicare and also in the new insurance program (Obama Care), we have to prove we are smart enough to be part of the program.
Most Chiropractors and staff believe they are doing Medicare correctly, however, statistics indicate most are not. If you think you are doing Medicare correctly, however, not sure, give me a call and we will talk about it! With 34 years of Chiropractic Medicare experience, those that have learned to do Medicare correctly are having very little trouble with getting paid and are also being successful with audits.
My recommendation is simple....beg, borrow, steal or purchase "The Basics" Chiropractic Medicare DVD and booklet so you know how Medicare works and so you know how to "document" the Chiropractic necessity of care.
If you are going to stay in practice after 2013, you also must become compliant in Medicare. You may wish to consider the Medicare Compliance book and CD. It's ready to start you and your staff on the way to becoming compliant. Sooner or later you have to do this. May as well make it sooner and save the trouble and heartache.
Consider "The Basics" Chiropractic Medicare DVD and booklet. And since we also must become Medicare compliant by the end of 2012, consider our bundle which includes the Chiropractic Medicare Compliance CD and booklet. Protect yourself....it's up to you to do it correctly. Don't fool around or procrastinate!!!! Get this information TODAY!!
Have questions? Give Dr. Street a call today at (618) 395-3800.
Post Script NOTE: (Illinois Chiropractors) WPS has lost it's Medicare Carrier contract. The new Medicare Carrier in Illinois
Spring 2012 Seminar Schedule:
*Thursday, May 17, 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm at Hampton Inn-Downtown, Indianapolis , IN
(4 hrs. Risk Management Continued Education - add $35.00 to registration)
*Thursday, May 24, 8:30 am - 12:30 pm at King Oscar Hotel
*Thursday, May 24, 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm at Staybridge Suites, Mukilteo , WA
*Saturday, May 26, 8:30 am - 12:30 pm at Quality Inn Oakwood, Spokane , WA
*Thursday, June 21, 8:00 am - 12:00 pm at Comfort Inn & Suites, Mount Laurel , NJ
*Thursday, June 21, 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm at Holiday Inn, Saddle Brook , NJ
*Saturday, June 23, 8:00 am -12:00 pm at Holiday Inn Express University , Albany , NY
*Thursday, June 28, 8:30 am - 12:30 pm at Holiday Inn Express, Mishawaka , IN
(4 hrs. Risk Management Continued Education - add $35.00 to registration)
Sent May 14th, 2012
Dear Doctors and Staff,
This week, Thursday, we will be in Indianapolis , IN
Next week we will be in the State of Washington at Pacific and Everett on May 24th and Spokane
These presentations are important. Those attending get the idea of the correct way to do Chiropractic Medicare. They return to their offices, correct errors, implement what they learn, and are successful with Medicare....plus sleeping good at night.
To my knowledge, I have not yet met the Chiropractor or staff that was already aware of the "documentation" used successfully in Medicare before attending our presentation or studying or DVD. So when my fellow Chiropractors tell me they are doing Chiropractic Medicare correctly and talk about their S.O.A.P. note documentation....it becomes obvious there is a problem!
After last weeks Medicare article, we received several emails indicating several other state Medicare Carriers have placed limitations on the chiropractic adjustments. That guideline change limiting chiropractic coverage has not officially been adopted by CMS.
The biggest problem is that Chiropractors believe they are doing Medicare right because they are getting paid. (As long as you bill a "clean claim" most Medicare Carriers pay that claim and audit later by request of patient records.) So now many chiropractors are not interested until they have a Medicare audit and fail. (Remember...the Chiropractic Medicare error rate is 67% to 97% of ALL claims.) Now the STAFF is under pressure to make thing happen in Medicare since claims are not being paid and the office has to send patient records to the carrier.
Also, filed claims are denied by the carrier. Even if the claim is billed correctly...some are denied, even first visit. The appeals process should be used. However, the majority of our profession has no idea about the five levels of Appeal and they give up after the first one or two levels are denied by the carrier.
Procrastination is dangerous when dealing with a federal program. You must do it correctly or you either pay back money or lose the program.
Sent May 21st, 2012
"Getting It Right!"
Dear Doctors and Staff,
We are very happy to receive reports back from our fellow Chiropractors in regards to the success with audits and reviews. Those Chiropractors and Staff that have our information, by either attending seminars or the purchase of our DVD and booklet, are very successful. The reason being they are doing Medicare correctly.
Medicare carriers in each state are implementing visit restrictions for chiropractic care. The Federal Law indicates there are NO limits in Medicare for the chiropractic adjustment as long as it is Medically necessary. Since very few chiropractors know the correct way to "Document the Chiropractic Necessity of Care", we are now facing those limits by default. Nobody is challenging the Medicare carriers and they are getting away with unlawful limits.
However, sometimes even if you do Medicare correctly you may receive denials from your Medicare Carrier. When that happens, review your claims for any errors and file an appeal.
Remember, the first two (2) steps of the appeals process is still with your Medicare Carrier. The third step requires a review by an administrative law judge OUTSIDE your Medicare Carrier. Nearly always you will be successful... especially if you have our material since our documentation has been approved by the administrative law judges.
Sent May 30th, 2012
"Do It Correctly - or Lose!"
Dear Doctors and Staff,
The Medicare Carriers that have placed limits on the number of Chiropractic adjustments per patient per year have demanded we Chiropractors do it right....or we lose.
There are NO limits for the Chiropractic adjustments in the Medicare program. However, each Medicare Carrier may establish in-house limits that we can exceed if we do Chiropractic Medicare correctly and challenge the carrier through the Appeals Process.
If you are actually doing Chiropractic Medicare correctly and wade through the Appeals Process to the Administrative Law Judge Appeals level, you should win each challenge.
(The problem with the Appeals process is that the first two stages are still with the Medicare carrier and usually denied. Most chiropractors give up before it goes to the third step with the Administrative Law Judge.) If you are NOT doing Medicare correctly, you will lose in the Appeals, even through the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ).
If you still believe your S.O.A.P. notes are “documentation” in Medicare, then you will learn the hard way which will cost you some big bucks.
I strongly suggest that you consider three important items we have to offer:
1. "The Basics" Chiropractic Medicare DVD and booklet. This contains everything you and your staff must know to do Medicare correctly.
2. The Audit and Appeals Process DVD and booklet. If you are going to know how to defend yourself in an audit, this item walks you through the Appeals Process so you don't "give up" before you win.
3. Chiropractic Medicare Compliance CD and booklet. We all must become compliant by the end of 2012. We have it completed. It is ready for you to implement it into your practice. The faster the better to become compliant.
A couple of notes from fellow Chiropractors:
May 14, 2012
Hey Doc,
Just wanted to let you know that I won my ALJ decision for my audits going back to end of 2010 and early 2011! You said I would, and I must say, I had my doubts the way things are going here in NY. They found 100% in my favor. Thanks for your help throughout the process. I truly appreciate it.
All the best,
Ed Casper, DC
May 22, 2012
To Whom It May Concern:
It was a great blessing running into Dr. Street 7 years ago.
He was like a prophet with his predictions about where Medicare and Chiropractic would go.
We have followed his recommendations to a T. It is nice for patients to know what their financial responsibility is and which services are the responsibilities of Medicare.
His procedures are efficient and ethical with no "gimmicks".
Outside of cumbersome paperwork, Medicare audits go through like a breeze by following Dr. Street's procedures.
If you are a Chiropractor who is a Medicare provider, you cannot afford to not attend this seminar.
Sincerely,
Dr. Joseph Clauss
Dr. Carolyn Clauss
Have questions? Give Dr. Street a call today at (618) 395-3800.
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