Testimonials
- MaryAnn HastingsHaving worked in healthcare revenue cycle for more than three decades, I have partnered with many vendors. My vendor of choice for CDM Review, E/M Coding Compliance and Physician Education is without a doubt HMI, LLC. Mary Quimby and Vickie Faler are not only subject matter experts, they are true partners providing that extra level of service that sets them far above others in the industry. I have worked with them for 15+ years in 5 different acute facilities, and multi-specialty physician groups. Using their sophisticated, data driven modeling, they have identified significant revenue opportunities for all my facilities using overall conditions, code level conditions, comparison conditions, relationship conditions and category constraints as part of their approach to the CDM review. I highly recommend them for their expertise and commitment. You will find none better.Denise MooreHMI has been a very reliable resource for Princeton Community Hospital for many, many years. I have had the opportunity to work with many staff members and have found all to be reliable and courteous in every aspect. The staff is very flexible and provides Princeton Community with the support and coding stability needed. Thank you for the sometime short notices for coding coverage when unexpected situations arise with our staff. We thank you for your coding expertise as well as your continued auditing support and look forward to a lasting relationship for future endeavors Denise Moore, CCS Coding Manager Princeton Community HospitalWe recently transitioned to HMI from another Physician Documentation & Coding Compliance Review vendor, and the entire experience has been positive. HMI has been extremely accommodating throughout the process and has demonstrated a willingness to adapt to our workflows, leading to a seamless transition. We’ve received positive feedback from our providers about their experiences with HMI, and the Coding Hotline has been an invaluable resource. For anyone looking for a new consulting partner, I would highly recommend HMI.We have been working with HMI since 2010 and have expanded the use of their services to include CDM and ED Coding. The HMI coding staff is extremely knowledgeable and has become an integral part of our coding team. Our consultant Beth never shies away from any CDM project that comes her way. We appreciate the professionalism and teamwork we have with HMI.HMI has been a great partner with MedStar Washington Hospital Center now for many years. We can always count on them to provide us with support on small to very large projects. HMI delivers consistent and honest results and additionally provides very thoughtful & targeted education to our physicians.I’ve worked with HMI employing them to conduct audits of physician documentation and coding. They have consistently produced quality work in a very timely fashion with reports that were well written and easy to understand. Communication has always been prompt and effective. I have such confidence in their work that, over the years, I brought them from my prior location to my current location. I would recommend HMI to anyone in need of accurate and timely coding or auditing.“I have had the privilege of working with HMI over the past 10+ years with two different health systems. I have used HMI for hospital CDM and compliance reviews as well as physician coding reviews and education. I always receive top-notch service from the HMI team and I appreciate working with a partner that is always honest and responsive to my questions and needs. I have worked with Mary Quimby and Vickie Faler and both have proven to be very knowledgeable, accessible, and professional.”"I have had the privilege of working with HMI for twenty plus years and have always found their representatives to be professional and knowledgeable in all aspects of acute hospital and professional service charge master management. Additionally ongoing coding related reviews and billing reviews and associated report backs are timely and positively impact appropriate revenue capture - billing - and compliance." "I recommend HMI to be considered when choosing a partner to assist with the complications of maintaining an accurate charge master and associated billing and coding practices."David AlleyWe have utilized HMI Corp. since 2002 for consultation services related to chargemaster review and updates and have always found their services to be professional of nature and valuable to our organization.Jessica MayfieldWe have utilized HMI’s for chargemaster compliance and billing reviews for nearly 10-years. We have always found that their staff to be knowledgeable, resourceful and professional in all services provided to our organization.
Telehealth Coding and Billing During COVID-19: Tips and Guidelines
Telehealth Coding and Billing During COVID-19
Healthcare organizations have turned to telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, some are not prepared to handle telehealth coding and billing.
Demand for contract medical coding experts is surging. Companies like HMI Corp can help your organization manage complicated COVID-19-related telehealth coding. Our coding experts have proven expertise across the United States.
Today, we’re highlighting some of the best telehealth coding and billing practices for the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, including changes to be aware of.
HHS Relaxes Certain Telehealth Rules During COVID-19
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, HHS has relaxed certain telehealth coding rules. HHS allows providers to offer telehealth services while charging the same amount they would for in-person care.
Whether providing care virtually or on-site, providers can get paid the same amount for patient care because of these new HHS regulations.
Specific services covered under these regulations include:
• Telehealth visits
• Virtual check-ins
• E-visits
These rules are changing regularly.
CMS recently announced that doctors can directly care for patients at rural hospitals, across state lines if necessary, via phone, radio, or online communication, without having to be physically present. They announced similar options for nurse practitioners, occupational therapists, and hospice nurses. These changes affect critical access hospitals (CAHs), federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), rural health clinics (RHCs), skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), and home health agencies and hospices.
You can learn more about the CMS’s COVID-19 emergency declaration blanket waivers for healthcare providers and telehealth services at CMS.gov here.
CMS Releases HCPCS Codes for Telehealth Services
CMS has released a list of HCPCS codes for telehealth services and other virtual patient treatment sessions.
These codes are covered under the Physician Fee Schedule, and they will continue to be covered throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
You can view the full list here.
AMA Releases Guidance on Telehealth Billing and CPT Codes
AMA has released information on telehealth billing and CPT codes, including telehealth visits, online digital visits, remote patient monitoring, and similar telehealth services.
AMA’s guideline was updated on May 22 and covers the implementation of telehealth in response to COVID-19, including how to code telehealth services.
The goal of the guideline is to help providers implement telemedicine and remote care services while ensuring uninterrupted care for 100 million Americans with chronic conditions.
Items covered by AMA guidelines include:
• Store and forward technologies that collect images and data for transmission and interpretation at a later date
• Real-time, audio-video communication tools that connect physicians and patients
• Remote patient monitoring tools like blood pressure monitors, wearables, Bluetooth devices, and other devices that collect biometric data for review (including mHealth apps).
• Verbal/audio-only and virtual check-ins via patient portals, messaging platforms, etc.
Using Telehealth Services for Triage
Hospitals are now using telehealth services to triage patients whenever possible, according to a recent report from the Office of the Inspector at HHS.
As demand for elective and non-urgent services declines, ambulatory organizations are following similar guidelines.
That means demand for telehealth services continues to grow – and the demand for effective telehealth coding guidelines is increasing with it.
Other Tips for COVID-19 Telehealth Coding and Billing
COVID-19 has left organizations scrambling. Some are struggling to effectively code for telehealth services. Others are struggling with COVID-19 coding.
Whatever your coding issue may be, these tips can help:
Stay up-to-date. The AMA, CDC, and CMS are releasing new guidelines regularly, and the COVID-19 pandemic is changing weekly. Spend extra time checking information from all relevant providers to help your organization stay up-to-date.
Spend extra time verifying EHRs to ensure accuracy and compliance. This is always a good tip, but it’s particularly important during an uncertain situation when coding errors are rampant.
Consider hiring contract medical coding experts for assistance. Contract medical coding experts are a guaranteed way to solve inefficiencies and reduce errors. They’re experts at medical coding, and that expertise is invaluable during a time like this.
HMI Corp’s Contract Medical Coding Experts Can Help
HMI Corp has contract medical coding experts standing by to solve medical coding issues for your healthcare organization.
Whether struggling with telehealth coding or COVID-19 coding, your organization cannot risk inaccurate or ineffective coding.
Our US-Based contract medical coding specialists are credentialed by AHIMA and/or AAPC. They have firsthand experience in Inpatient/MS-DRG, Outpatient Surgery, Physician E/M, Emergency Department E/M, Interventional Radiology, Ambulatory Surgery, GI/Endoscopy, and other fields of care. They can work with TruCode, Meditech, VISTA, 3M, McKesson, Cerner, Epic, and CHCS/CHCSII.
Contact HMI Corp for effective contract medical coding for your organization. Whether dealing with telehealth coding issues with COVID-19 or general medical codinginefficiencies, we can help.