MAY 15, 2017 -- As many as 80 percent of all medical claims submitted to insurance carriers contain mistakes estimated at $68 billion (1). Approximately 55 percent of evaluation and management (E/M) claims are incorrectly coded resulting in $6.7 billion in improper Medicare payments.(2) Providers looking to avoid lost revenue and serious consequences are raising the training standards of its administrative staff seeking out those who have completed specialized training and certification offered by Practice Management Institute (PMI).

Medical coding errors can cause considerable damage to both patients and providers in the form of inaccurate medical bills and lost revenue for the medical office. The best practice is to employ well-trained and qualified staff to ensure that correct claims are submitted for reimbursement the first time.

Zika first hit the Americas in March of 2015, from tourists who traveled to Brazil to watch the World Cup. According to the CDC, as of August 31, 2016, there have been 2,722 cases of Zika in the U.S., 35 of those cases were contracted within the country.  All 35 cases were contracted in Florida. It is predicted that Zika will spread most prevalently in locations where Brazilians often travel to and where the Aedes Mosquito that carries the Zika virus lives.

Written By: Robert Liles

Originally found at: http://www.lilesparker.com/2012/08/16/outsourced-billing-compliance-risks/