RA: Billing And Ongoing Discussions

This week our featured guest is Melody Mulaik, President of Revenue Cycle Coding Strategies.  Listen in as she takes time with us to shed light on some of the questions that continue to be raised about billing for the Radiologist Assistant (RA) profession.  We take and extensive look into the 2019 CMS billing guidelines, incident to, value in the RA, seeking support, MARCA, and how Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy professionals can advance into the medical billing and coding profession.   Disclaimer: This podcast episode was record for the purpose of offering an opportunity to openly discuss some of billing guidelines and gaining better clarification for RA professionals.  Opening conversations help us know where we need better support and can lead to a more unified understanding as we progress the profession forward.   Links to the content discussed can be found below the timeline.   Timeline: (00:52): Opening remarks and guest host Melody Mulaik (03:14): Speaking about supporting national legislation to halt or stop Medicare cuts. (07:18): Going through 2019’s changes that now RA to perform diagnostic imaging procedures under “direct” supervision. (10:32): Breaking down Transmittal 251 and “concept does not apply”. (14:42): Exploring the gray areas of billing and lack of billing for inpatient procedures. (16:55): Value in various pieces of utilizing the RA while also bring mindful of tracking/billing. (18:27): Speaking about MARCA, rural communities, seeking CMS guidance and having conversations. (24:32): Incident to guidelines and what falls under the incident to rules. (29:43): Brief discussion over prior MARCA language. (31:31): Radiologist shortages and how extenders can play a vital role in assisting with departmental flow and a type of triage process for procedures and case workup. (34:48): E&M coding and who can provide those services. (35:14): Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy pathways into medical billing and coding. (37:30): Having the hard conversations, gaining better understanding, and becoming more unified as to why we are seeking CMS/MARCA support. (39:17): Thanking Melody Mulaik for coming on with us and closing remarks.   To support the halt or stop to Medicare cuts go to https://fixmedicarenow.org/take-action?vvsrc=/Campaigns/108965/Respond and submit a letter to your state representatives.   Transmittal 251: https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Transmittals/2018downloads/R251BP.pdf   We were truly grateful to have this conversation with Ms. Mulaik.  While there are no new rule changes, we wanted to come together and educate why the RA is seeking CMS and MARCA support.  The more we can all understand and unify, the more consistent our message will be.