Many practitioners are having to grapple with financial loss as a result of COVID -19. Many clinics are starting to open fully, and cash flow is tight. Right now, you must start generating additional income from your practice. Dispensing wound care supplies is an amazing opportunity to quickly increase your cash flow while improving patient […]
When providing Durable Medical Equipment (DME) to Medicare Part B beneficiaries, there are certain situations where an Advanced Beneficiary Notice (ABN) may be required. An ABN should be issued to the patient before they receive DME that is usually covered by insurance but is not in this particular case. Issuing the ABN prior to delivery […]
According to the DMEMAC Local Coverage Article (LCA), Surgical Dressings – Policy Article (A54563), surgical dressings are covered when a “qualifying” wound is present. We must understand which wounds qualify. While there are different requirements for different dressing types, all wounds must meet certain criteria before the dressing type can even be considered. The LCA […]
Last month, I had the opportunity to work with more than 100 doctors while conducting a 14-day practice reinvention challenge. Every day, the participants were asked to watch a short video and perform a challenge that would help them work on their practice and themselves. For many of the participants, it was just the motivation […]
Dispensing compression systems from my office is extremely rewarding. Patients enjoy being handed the product they need, rather than having to hunt for it in their community. Specifically, patients in need of compression therapy find that not all compression garments are right for them. Oftentimes, these patients enjoy the ease of application and adjustment that […]
You may be nervous as you watch patient visits dwindle and new employee regulations take effect. Many of you have already experienced cash flow crunches and have begun to wonder how your practice will fare the pandemic. Uncertainty can be scary for both private practitioners as well as large groups. Don’t despair! There are opportunities […]
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced waivers and loosened some provider restrictions since the public health emergency was declared. There have been new announcements every day. A concern among providers who dispense surgical dressings is the need to document, on a monthly basis, clinical information which demonstrates the reasonable and necessary […]
When dispensing surgical dressings, the dressing size should be selected based on the size of the ulcer being treated. From a clinical standpoint, the dressing should cover the entire ulcer. From a compliance and payment standpoint, it is not appropriate to use a large dressing size when a smaller size was available that could have […]
As of January 1, 2020, the DMEMAC requirement for a “Detailed Written Order” when ordering surgical dressings has changed to the requirement for a “Standard Written Order”. The required elements of a Standard Written Order are almost the same as those of the Detailed Written Order. The required elements of the Standard Written Order include: […]
A missed appointment is a missed opportunity for both the patient and the medical practice. Many times, patients fail to understand the importance of why they need to return for an appointment, and therefore do not make it a priority. In fact, many of them end up canceling or not showing up for their appointment.