It’s disturbing, but true: Many hospitals write off untold millions of dollars in revenue from pharmaceuticals because of coding and billing mistakes — mistakes that could easily be prevented. By popular demand, MedLearn will share surefire strategies for protecting this indispensable revenue source for hospitals. Learn your risks under the Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) program and the steps you should be taking to protect your organization.

RAC scrutiny of drug claims — “The RAC program is targeting a number of high-paying drugs, including Neulasta^®, in its automated claims analysis. The most common mistake we see is incorrect reporting of billing units. This results from not paying close attention to Medicare billing guidelines — specifically, the dosage amount which correlates to the HCPCS code.”

Now you can get the “how-to knowledge” to make certain that your pharmacy coding, billing and documentation practices, as well as your use of modifiers, will stand up to a RAC audit!

Here's what you'll learn from attending this important course:

• HCPCS codes — how to ensure accurate assignments, starting with the set-up of your chargemaster and continuing through file maintenance and validating the accuracy of NDC dose forms, route of administration and other key data
• Revenue codes — proven tactics and best practices for the correct assignment, supplemented with everyday examples to reinforce learning
• Discarded drugs — a review of recent CMS directives covering the segregated reporting of waste vs. single-use vials, the appropriate use of modifier “JW” and restrictions on billing for discarded drugs
• Claim denials — how to avoid common pitfalls, including lack of medical necessity, incorrect HCPCS code assignments, billing unit errors, incorrect billing of self-administered drugs and lack of prior authorization
• OIG summary — what the Office of the Inspector General uncovered in 2009 and what you might expect in an audit during 2010
• Your RAC risk — making certain that your coding, billing and documentation practices, as well as your use of modifiers, will stand up to a RAC audit
• Answers to frequently asked questions, such as “what determines the correct revenue code assignment for drugs and biologicals?"

As a bonus for attending the "2012 Pharmacy Drug Coding and Billing Strategies" Webinar, you can save $65 off the cost of the companion book: 2012 Revenue Capture Guide for the Pharmacy.  Attend the course and get the book, available to ship in December, for only $72 additional, plus $9.95 S/H.  (A total $336 value.)

Randy Wiitala, BS, MT (ASCP), has been a MedLearn senior healthcare consultant since 1991. His areas of expertise include chargemaster review and management for critical access and OPPS hospitals, revenue assurance, and regulatory compliance. Mr. Wiitala contributes to a variety of MedLearn publications and electronic products that help providers maintain revenue streams and regulatory compliance for pharmacy, respiratory therapy and laboratory services. His professional career includes experience as a medical technologist in rural and urban hospitals, marketing manager for a Fortune 500 pharmaceutical company and product development/regulatory affairs specialist with a multinational diagnostics testing firm.