Common Medical Billing Mistakes

Only when insurance claims get held up or denied, do the billing staffs try to trace out what went wrong. And then they realize that there has been some thing they have overlooked, a mistake that should have been corrected during the medical billing process itself. With the high cost of health care in the USA medical billing errors have often created situations that make some unfortunate client get wrong bills and makes him pay up more than he needs to. If in such situations the client does not have the necessary insurance documents in order, his condition becomes pitiable.

Tracking of billing mistakes is not always easy even for the billing professionals and is an assured impossibility for the naïve client/patient with not much technical knowledge about it. Quite often we have come across many a people wondering as to why a simple surgery did cost them a fortune. It is for the health care professionals to avoid such common billing mistakes which often amounts to just carelessness and could be caused by a flaw in the internal communication process. Here is a list of the most common billing mistakes that often becomes the cause for a delay or denial of the insurance claim / bill reimbursement.

• Wrong patient identification number
• Wrong ICD-9-CM code with out fourth / fifth digits when required
• Duplicate claim
• Wrong date of service
• Wrong rates charged
• Procedure of claim not fully furnished by the other party
• No match between the ICD-9-CM code and CPT code
• Physician's ID not available
• Billing for more Operating room time than used
• Type of service code not mentioned
• Billed for cancelled services / tests
• Bill amount totaling mistake
• Treatment/service provided was not validated
• Service/treatment given in an invalid center/place of service
• Service was not a medical necessity
• Place of service code not mentioned

Some of the suggestions given to reduce medical billings in physician offices include, having an auditor who is well-schooled in medical policy and terminology. Errors should be corrected immediately when found out and care must be taken to remember not to repeat the same mistakes again. It is always right to report an error to the government authorities even though one can be fined for it.

The author of this article is Ricci Mathew of Outsource Strategies International (OSI), a US based company that offers services in Medical Coding, Medical Billing, Medical Transcription for clients across the US.

Physical Side Effects Of ADD Drugs That Every Concerned Parent Has To Know About

Has your child just been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD? Are you considering placing your child on some sort of medication?

The side effects of Ritalin are often more devastating than parents are led to believe. In many cases when the child begins to suffer from the side-effects of Ritalin, other drugs are prescribed to counteract those symptoms. Before long, a whole host of devastating and sometimes irreversible side effects have occurred.

Before you begin medicating your child you need to be aware of some of these physical side effects:

Nervousness and Insomnia, Hypersensitivity,Drowsiness, Dizziness, Headaches and slowed growth and development.

Dyskinesia -which are involuntary movements similar to a tic, Blood pressure and pulse changes are also common.

Heart problems caused by Ritalin are Angina, Cardiac Arrhythmia (The heart may beat too fast or too slow and this is caused by abnormal electrical activity in the heart)- In most cases this isn't a cause for concern in itself, but there are times when a cardiac arrhythmia can lead to a cardiac arrest and death and Tachycardia- a form of cardiac arrhythmia in which the heart beats rapidly.

Abdominal Pain, nausea and Weight loss during prolonged therapy caused in part by a loss of appetite that the drug creates. In some cases it has even lead to the development of Anorexia.

These are just some of the devastating side effects that occur from the use of Ritalin. There is an excellent source of further information on the side effects of Ritalin at http://www.squidoo.com/side-effects-of-ritalin

There are so many other safer and more effective treatment options available today, that there is really no need for Ritalin to be anything but a last resort.

For a free report "The Dark and Deadly Side Effects Of Ritalin & Other Drugs" please go to http://www.maximindpower.com

A wide variety of treatment options and the pro's and con's of each are discussed in detail at http://attention-deficit-disorder-treatments.blogspot.com

The Natural Path to Preventative Medicine

The prohibitive costs associated with health and medical care are one of the main causes of the health care crisis we are experiencing today. Fewer people are able to afford something as basic as a visit to the doctor for a routine checkup, much less a more serious visit that might result in being admitted to the hospital for a length of time. Many Prescription medications are so expensive that elderly patients are forced to ration them and at times even choose which ones they need the most when they cannot afford to pay for everything that is prescribed. This catch-22 creates a boomerang effect that lowers recovery moral and often depletes wellness optimism that is needed for recovery and symptom management.

As I tried to find a way out of this dilemma; for my own good as well as the good of my family, a friend suggested that I acknowledge I was on the traditional heath treadmill and explore other healing avenues. He suggested I check out the DVD series offered by The Center for Healing Arts. Facilitated by healing arts experts who are carefully chosen for their knowledge and experience in their chosen field of study, this DVD series offers you an in-depth look into the world of holistic medicine and helps you unravel its many mysteries.

Preventative Medicine to the Rescue

Over the past 20 years or so, the idea of preventative medicine has gained momentum among people who are "sick and tired of being sick and tired". The concept makes perfect sense if you think about it - take proper care of yourself before you get sick. If you take steps to prevent illness, your body is much less likely to be susceptible to whatever communicable disease happens to be going around the office at any given time. The old adage about an ounce of prevention being worth more than a pound of cure has found new relevance in today's economy.

Prevention Takes Action

Preventative medicine can be as simple as increasing your activity level by walking a few times a week or as in-depth as joining a gym. Here are a few other tips that can go a long way toward preventing poor health:

" Stop smoking - No excuses; everybody knows it's bad for health and that it can lead to cancer, heart and lung disease. Smoking affects more than just the person who smokes; it also affects those around you so think about your family, friends and co-workers when you are debating whether to give it up or not.

" Cut the Sugar - According to The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimates, the average American consumes about 20 teaspoons of sugar every day. Most people take in much of that sugar without even realizing it. If you are one of those who are shaking their heads in doubt, allow me to point out that can of soda on your desk - it contains about 9 teaspoons of sugar in just 12 ounces.

" Eat More Color -Have you ever noticed that most comfort foods are brown? One simple way to help your body help itself is by consuming more fruits and vegetables - preferably in their raw state whenever possible. Nature has provided these gems of good health and filled them full of vitamins and nutrients, especially when they aren't overcooked, over salted or over sweetened.

" Wash your hands - It sounds like common sense because it is. We were all raised to wash our hands before meals and after using the restroom and this simple action alone can curb the spread of the viruses that cause colds and flu.

The Bottom Line

Preventative medicine means learning how what you are doing now can affect your health later. Holistic therapy embraces this idea to the fullest. Holism is based on the concept that mind, body and spirit should all work together harmoniously, that when one of the three are out of balance, the whole being suffers. The many therapies that fall under the heading of holism can be confusing to a beginner, but by learning more about these powerful health care practices it is possible to learn to take better care of your whole self before you find yourself in a health crisis.

Divne Pointer is a novelist and freelance writer with a special interest in holistic health and a fan of http://thecenterforhealingarts.com The Center for Healing Arts' films on healing.

Alternative Vs Conventional Medicine - Winners and Losers

Alternative health therapies and natural medicine are excellent options for healthy living. But if you break a leg or rupture your spleen, are you gonna call a naturopath or hobble to the nearest emergency room for professional medical attention?

I would choose conventional medicine in both cases, but when it comes to chronic conditions and other diseases, should we place all our faith in medical doctors?

According to a recent survey in the New England Journal of Medicine:

95% of all doctors admit they had "contact" with big drug companies;

35% have been reimbursed by these companies for costs associated with attending medical meetings and conventions;

28% were also paid for lectures and consulting work; and

7% accepted free tickets to professional sports games, concerts and other events.

This evidence raises the question of whether doctors are working for the best interests of us patients or their drug suppliers.

For most of my life I've taken my doctor's advice. But after watching my two closest relatives lose their lives within 21 months of each other while under the care of top rated, board certified oncologists, I began to reassess my beliefs.

One of the hardest things about breast cancer treatments is the avalanche of available, often conflicting, information about which treatment or therapy is best.

At the end of 2002, my 65 year old mom's breast cancer returned after 19 years in remission. In the spring of 2003, my 43 year old sister was diagnosed with breast cancer for the first time. They both benefited from some of the "best" conventional medical care in the San Francisco East Bay Area. I know because the shelves of their medicine cabinets were lined with bottles of prescription medicine, a good proportion of which were experimental drugs. They also had access to leading alternative health therapies too.

Acupuncture, essential oil therapy, deep tissue massage, and herbal treatments are considered viable, highly respected alternatives in northern California. But not to their highly respected, board certified oncologists at the hospital. They had to sneak around their oncologists when they went to their see their naturopaths or have acupuncture treatments.

In many cases, these alternative treatment alleviated the debilitating side effects of "conventional" drugs and chemotherapy.

Having to downplay or even hide the truth of what they were doing certainly did nothing to calm or ease the stress of their respective situations, either.

I don't blame the doctors or hold them accountable in anyway for the eventual loss of my loved ones, but I was frustrated and very disappointed by their across the board refusal to explore or even allow for open discussion of alternative therapies. Whether they be conventional practitioners or alternative healers, credentials and word of mouth are two key factors when choosing my own health care providers.

I had a sit down interview with primary care physician and asked pointed questions about his experience treating asthma and allergies and the types of patients he had under his care. He was forthcoming and personable and admitted that he would never have all the answers.

My acupuncturist and chiropractor were friends of friends before becoming integral members of my chosen family.

There are lots and lots of credentialed and non-credentialed experts on the internet.

Who's advice do you trust?

What information do you believe and why?

Mostly it's instinctual. Or really good word of mouth.

Depending on the activity, it's pretty easy to put your trust in a total stranger. When you're in line for a movie and the previous show is letting out, how often do you listen to the 'off the cuff' reviews of exiting moviegoers?

When's the last time you went to new restaurant without reading a review or talking to a friend or co-worker first?

How about buying a new cell phone? Or digital camera?

Reviews, testimonials and recommendations from satisfied customers often make the difference between a pass and a sale on the internet.

People inherently distrust anything they don't understand or have never heard of before, so other people's opinions and insights usually make the difference between giving up the cash and clicking back to that page of Google search listings. But, and this often gets overlooked in the decision making process, what works for one person doesn't always work for another.

This is particularly true when if comes to your health.

The internet is a primary tool for disseminating information on any health topic -- virtually everything you buy comes with a money back guarantee. But we don't really want our "money back", we want to feel better. We want the guarantee of success that the advertised "health benefits" promise.

That's what we really want.

We all want relief from what ails us and we're willing to trust people we've never met in person with our money in the hopes of feeling better. This is what we all are doing with ever increasing regularity.

Finding the information is easy. Trusting your gut and the opinions of others when making a decision about your health can require a little more time and effort.

Stay informed. Read testimonials. Send emails to eBook author or product manufacturer. Get your hands (and eyes) on as much FREE information as possible.

As much as I trust and respect my doctor when it comes to treating asthma and allergies with pharmaceutical drugs, I now place a lot more confidence in my own life experiences and knowledgebase gathered from surfing the web.

As I've grown more confident in making my own informed judgment about my health, I've thought about asking my doctor if he's ever been able to CURE any of his patients of asthma and allergies.

I might just do that the next time I see him.

To your health and well-being,

Jay Greene

To reach any goal, you must know where to begin. Begin your journey to better health today. Get 2 Free Chapters of the Ultimate Detox Reference Guide Today. http://www.tipsforhealing.com

Save On Drugs Using The Information Supplied By Internet

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This has been in the online pharmacy business for a long time and has a great reputation among their customers. Stay away from the online pharmacy email scams that you receive in your inbox daily and buy from a reputable online pharmacy service such as some trusted ones.

They guarantee on selling only proven and tested treatments, and offer 100% money back guarantee, supplies only top quality pills made from the highest quality ingredients, and produced by state of the art pharmaceutical manufacturers, under the strictest quality control standards, in compliance with WHO international guidelines.

Using these services you can forget about appointments with your personal doctor, annoying doctor visits, losing precious time and waiting rooms. In twenty first century the Internet space has taken the control of that personal care and makes it easier day by day. Working with DHL, FedEx, EMS and TNT most online shops ship their products in a discrete brown package that does not mention the contents of the shipment. Shipping, depending on your locale, take between 7-20 days, although delivery times are typically shorter.

Having in mind that other (big ones) offer more then 100 prescription medications at discount prices or cheap drugs (- 80%) in the following categories such as: Men's Health, Weight Loss, Pain Relief, Diabetes, Stop Smoking, Cholesterol, Anti Depressant, Allergy, Antibiotic, Anti fugal, Digestive, Hypertension, Osteoporosis and Women's Health. All products carry 100% guaranty. You will always get the highest quality, name-brand drugs and prescription products at savings that our potential clients deserve.

GenericsWorldWide.com is glad to be able to offer the world, generic copies of popular brand name medicines, and drastically reduced prices. Its because of these factors, combined with top customer service, that makes GW a world leader, in the online Pharmaceutical industry.