negative time

Gentle reminder!

"Negative" or "No Significant Past Medical History" are not acceptable phrases for Medicare billing for Past Medical History/Surgical History/Family Hisotry/Social History.

BAD: Negative
BAD: No Significant Past Medical History
BAD: Denies
BAD: Not Significant
BAD: Reviewed in Chart

GOOD: Denies Past Medical History
GOOD: No Past Medical History
GOOD: See HPI / See Problem List ** (caveat: you must reference PMHx in the history, avoid the word significant)

Specific TIME is an important component of critical care billing.

BAD: 30-74 minutes of critical care performed

GOOD: In excess of 30 minutes of critical care performed
GOOD:  x Minutes of critical care performed
GOOD: In excess of 74 minutes of critical care performed

Don't Forget: to add "excluding teaching time or time performing procedures"


That's a wrap folks.  We are doing better but I have seen SEVERAL slip ups on the past medical history issue.