Comments on: http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/03/backlash-against-ridiculous-idea-of.html Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:59:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/03/backlash-against-ridiculous-idea-of.html#comment-60248 Anonymous Fri, 10 Mar 2006 15:23:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/03/20180.html#comment-60248 Excellent point Anon 4:01pm.<br/><br/>Blended codes are a method of forcing doctors to see more patients per unit of time.<br/><br/>This promotes the 8 minute per visit syndrome, inattention to the big picture, and mistakes, with subsequent increased malpractice risk, a risk not born by the insurance company.<br/><br/>The insurance companies know exactly what they are doing. Excellent point Anon 4:01pm.

Blended codes are a method of forcing doctors to see more patients per unit of time.

This promotes the 8 minute per visit syndrome, inattention to the big picture, and mistakes, with subsequent increased malpractice risk, a risk not born by the insurance company.

The insurance companies know exactly what they are doing.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/03/backlash-against-ridiculous-idea-of.html#comment-60225 Anonymous Thu, 09 Mar 2006 21:01:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/03/20180.html#comment-60225 No, I'm sure the insurance companies aren't doing it to make life simpler. In fact the current system was actually designed by the AMA which is one of the main reasons why I am not a member. No, I’m sure the insurance companies aren’t doing it to make life simpler. In fact the current system was actually designed by the AMA which is one of the main reasons why I am not a member.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/03/backlash-against-ridiculous-idea-of.html#comment-60218 Anonymous Thu, 09 Mar 2006 17:30:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/03/20180.html#comment-60218 In response to anonymous 12:08, <br/><br/>Certainly I think we would all welcome a simpler, fair system, but I doubt the insurance companies are just trying to make our lives less complicated. In response to anonymous 12:08,

Certainly I think we would all welcome a simpler, fair system, but I doubt the insurance companies are just trying to make our lives less complicated.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/03/backlash-against-ridiculous-idea-of.html#comment-60216 Anonymous Thu, 09 Mar 2006 17:08:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/03/20180.html#comment-60216 To take a contrarian view, blending the codes to a uniform "office visit" fee may even the playing field and simplify life for office-based physicians. I feel that I'm spending too much time and effort worrying about the criteria for a 99213 vs 99214 office visit. Also we all know that may physicians successfully game the system with electronic records and other documentation systems that we all know put more on paper than was actually done. I would favor a basic three tiered payment system for brief, intermediate, and comprehensive services with additional payment for a new patient. The current system is a joke, and we all know it. To take a contrarian view, blending the codes to a uniform “office visit” fee may even the playing field and simplify life for office-based physicians. I feel that I’m spending too much time and effort worrying about the criteria for a 99213 vs 99214 office visit. Also we all know that may physicians successfully game the system with electronic records and other documentation systems that we all know put more on paper than was actually done. I would favor a basic three tiered payment system for brief, intermediate, and comprehensive services with additional payment for a new patient. The current system is a joke, and we all know it.

]]> By: Anonymoushttp://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2006/03/backlash-against-ridiculous-idea-of.html#comment-60211 Anonymous Thu, 09 Mar 2006 15:43:00 +0000 http://clients.emmense.com/kevinmd/2006/03/20180.html#comment-60211 Smells like downcoding. The carrier probably discovered itself making larger payouts once proper documentation was applied and they didn't like having to pay for what their insureds were using. <br/><br/>I would dump any insurance company that did this to my claims. I already dumped Cigna. Smells like downcoding. The carrier probably discovered itself making larger payouts once proper documentation was applied and they didn’t like having to pay for what their insureds were using.

I would dump any insurance company that did this to my claims. I already dumped Cigna.

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