Reimbursement Advocacy Program
For coding questions and reimbursement issues, contact Sandie at 408/998-8850 or MCMS 831/455-1008 or email sandie@sccma.org. Also, contact Sandie if you would like to receive the Economic Advocacy newsletter by email.
Reimbursement Advocacy Program (RAP) is a benefit available only to members of the Monterey County Medical Society and Santa Clara County Medical Association. Through RAP, association members gain leverage in collecting payments from managed care plans (and other payers) slow in honoring claims. The RAP program also provides physicians, their office managers, and/or billing staff with coding and billing guidance.
Contact RAP for Assistance With:
Carrier Failure to Process “Clean Claims” in Accordance With State Law (30 days for PPO plans and 45 days for HMOs)
- Habitual Downcoding
- Treatment Authorization and Subsequent Denial
- Payment Inconsistent With the Physician’s Contract and CPT Guidelines
- Coding Guidance
Follow These Steps To Expedite In-Office Collection:
Step #1: Collect Accurate Data
Remember—collection of accurate data is vital to your practice. Verify the information below at every patient encounter:
- HMO or IPA affiliation
- Name of insurance company
- Name of Primary Care Physician (PCP)—with some plans this information can change monthly
- Patient’s home address. Do not accept a P.O. Box, in lieu of a home address
- Patient’s phone number
- Address and phone number of patient’s current employer
- If the patient visit requires a referral from a PCP, secure the referral number prior to the patient visit
Step #2: Discuss Fees and Billing Procedures With Your Patients
It is very important to inform new patients about billing policies, when they call for an appointment. Place a sign at the check-in area advising patients that co-pays and deductibles are due at the time of service. Also, incorporate these policies in your patient registration form. Collect any applicable co-pays and/or unmet deductibles at patient checkout. Strict adherence to the foregoing will eliminate the additional expense of follow-up billing. Consistent observance of the “pay at time of service” policy not only reduces overhead, but reinforces the custom with patients, resulting in their readiness to pay prior to leaving the office.
Step #3: Electronic Billing
Claims should be filed electronically, whenever possible. This practice will significantly expedite payments and save resources, i.e. staff time, supplies, postage. In order to ensure timely reimbursement, whether billing electronically or via submission of paper claims, it is imperative that claims are “clean” and accurate, i.e. employ proper use of CPT procedure codes, modifiers, and ICD-9 diagnosis codes. The availability of up-to-date coding manuals, familiarity with current coding literature, augmented with attendance at billing-related seminars, are essential tools for precise billing.
Step #4: Obtain “Physician Claims Inquiry” Forms From MCMS/SCCMA
These bright green forms, identified with the MCMS/SCCMA logo, garner excellent results when affixed to claims that seem to be “hung-up” in the system. Attach this attention-getting form to a copy of the original claim(s) and resubmit to the carrier—30 days after the first submission for PPOs and 45 days for HMOs.
Step #5: Request Help From MCMS/SCCMA RAP
After 30-45 days, if there is no response to the “Physician Claims Inquiry,” complete and sign an RAP form, and attach a copy of the claim, the patient’s insurance card, along with any related correspondence, and mail to:
Monterey County Medical Society or
Santa Clara County Medical Association
700 Empey Way
San Jose, CA 95128
To request “Claims Inquiry” & “Reimbursement Advocacy” forms, Please contact one of the following:
Fax 408/289-1064
Call 408/998-8850 Ext. 3007
Web www.sccma.org
or www.montereymedicine.com
Mail See above address
