The Voice of Podiatrists

Serving Over 10,000 Podiatrists Daily

November 21, 2007 #3,098 Editor-Barry Block, DPM, JD

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WV Podiatrist Named to Board of Directors of Charity

Soles4Souls(TM) Inc., the international charity dedicated to providing free footwear to people in desperate need, announced today that it has appointed Dr. Lenord Horwitz, to its Board of Directors.

Dr. Lenord Horwitz

"We are excited that Dr. Horwitz is joining our Board of Directors," said Wayne Elsey, Founder and Chairman of the Board for Soles4Souls. "He has a legacy of supporting noble causes and we are thrilled to tap into his valuable experience and advice."

"Soles4Souls is a remarkable organization that is making a tangible difference in the lives of many people," said Dr. Horwitz. "They have helped serve underprivileged families here in the Appalachian region of West Virginia, and I am proud to assist their overall mission in this way."

Source: News Blaze (NAT) [11/18/07]

Scholl Podiatrist Lectures on Limb Salvage to Orthopedists in Brazil -- from Dubai

David G. Armstrong, DPM, PhD, Professor of Surgery at Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, continues to use technological innovation that has been a hallmark of Scholl's research group in a lecture given to the 39th Brazilian Orthopedic and Traumatology Society in Sao Paulo, Brazil—transmitted half-way around the globe from a meeting while he was a visiting professor in residence this week in both Dubai, UAE and Riyadh, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Dr. David G. Armstrong

"We can, in many cases, extend our educational reach to be in two places at once", noted Armstrong, who directs Scholl's Center for Lower Extremity Ambulatory Research (CLEAR) and is also Director of Research at the James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago. "I think we often artificially limit ourselves, but the technology to make a difference is right in front of us. Our phones and our laptops can be just as important as our scalpel."

Gift Cards Turn Healthcare into Stocking Stuffer

Your patients may soon come for post-holiday visits not wearing new reindeer sweaters, but carrying gift cards that can help pay your fees.
Pittsburgh-based insurer Highmark says it has made giving the gift of good health possible with the introduction of its Healthcare Gift Card.

While hospitals and some practices already are in the gift-card market, analysts consider Highmark's entry a watershed moment for the health care and gift card industries. Highmark is believed to be the first to issue a gift card that can be used nationally, while also intended mostly for everyday health expenses.

Analysts agree this trend is reflective of patients shouldering more financial responsibility for their health care. Where they disagree is whether health gift cards are a positive or negative development.

Source: Emily Berry, AMNews [11/26/07]

Query: Billing Insurance Companies For Free Exam

I just joined a multi-office practice which advertises “free foot exams” in the Yellow Pages. When patients come in, they receive this exam, but they are asked for their insurance information. If they have insurance, their carrier is billed for the examination, as well as any additional treatment the patient receives? If this legal?

Name Withheld by Editor

Editor’s comment: PM News does not provide legal advice. While we cannot comment on the legality of such a practice (check with a healthcare attorney in your state, as laws vary), we can state that this is a violation of the APMA Code of Ethics:

BE1.31 The podiatrist, as an inducement to provide additional services for a fee, may advertise and offer free examinations or free podiatric medical services. The podiatrist shall not, however, charge a fee to any patient or any third-party payor for any podiatric medical service provided at the time that such free examination or free podiatric medical services are provided.

Query: Platelet Gel – A Tissue Graft?

I recently spoke with a company regarding a relatively new product which uses a patient's growth factors to create a platelet gel which is then applied as a skin graft to wounds, as well as used to augment healing in tendons, soft tissue and bones.

If this is created from a person's own blood, and then applied to their wound would this be correctly billed as CPT 20926 (tissue grafts, other [e.g., paratenon, fat, dermis])?

Michael Perlstein, DPM, Brooklyn, NY

Response: I checked this out about a year ago. While some carriers will pay for CPT codes, CPT 20926 (tissue grafts, other [e.g., paratenon, fat, dermis]), most will not.

You should inquire with each payer, and get a preauthorization of benefits (do they reimburse platelet gel tissue grafts?), and their preferred coding.

Paul Kesselman, DPM, Woodside, NY

Editor's note: Dr. Kesselman will be a featured speaker at both the Codingline New York Meeting on January 24th and the 2008 Hawaii Coding and Practice Management Workshop (www.podiatrym.com/hawaii)

Codingline subscription information can be found at:
http://www.codingline.com/subscribe.htm

RE: Lytec EMR (Sandy Schustek, DPM)
From: Multiple Respondents

I have used Lytec billing software and have been pleased with it. It is relatively inexpensive and I don’t remember having any problem that the vendor couldn’t respond to immediately. However you probably need to buy a separate software module so that Medinotes, which I have also used, will interface. Overall they are both acceptable. Keep in mind cost comparisons and support from the vendor.

Glenn McClendon, DPM, Conway, AR, gmcclendon@conwaycorp.net

I opened my practice a few years ago and went with Lytec. I bought the latest version. A little over a year, the system developed problems. Their tech support was awful. I had to upgrade to the newest version, because they no longer provided support for my out of date (2 years old) version. I even lost some data. They want you to upgrade about every 2 years from what I see. Unlike Medinotes, they do not have an annual fee for support. I suggested this to them, but received no positive response. Medinotes is great to work with and the tech support is great. They have always handled my issues in a timely manner. Lytec on the other hand, is a completely different story. In my opinion, look for another billing software program.

Randy Hall, DPM, Richmond, KY, dpmran@yahoo.com

I use Medisoft which is owned by NDC Medical - the same company who owns Lytec. The Medinotes can be incorporated within Medisoft and does work very well in the system. Medicomp is a company who can put these two programs together.

Joel Morse, DPM, Wash, DC, Foxhallfoot@aol.com

Our practice switched from a "high end" practice management system about 8 months ago to Lytec for the purpose of having a system that interfaced with Medinotes EMR. Lytec is a Windows-based program that has been user friendly for our staff.

The BIG difference we have found is not so much feature/function, but the level of support and availablity from our Lytec vendor, DarwinTech, Inc. Even though we are in New Jersey and they are based in Michigan, the internet and telephone-based support we receive has been top notch. You can reach them @ www.GoDarwinTech.com or 248-840-3100.

Hal Ornstein, DPM, Howell, NJ, toetoe@optonline.net

RE: Billing Services (Richard Gosnay, DPM)
From: Multiple Respondents

I have been reading the postings concerning using a billing service versus in-house billing. I have also been billing for several clients from my home and I have to agree with Dr. Gosnay. There are billers such as myself who bill a flat rate of 5-6%, have no minimum and pay for our supplies and postage. I bill primary and secondary insurance along with any patient billing needed. I give my clients monthly reports for payments collected, charges billed etc.

I do agree with Dr. Gosnay that it is more cost-effective to pay a flat percentage rather than paying a full-time employee for this service. I only get paid for what I collect which is a big incentive to bill in a timely manner and I am as aggressive as each client wishes in collecting patient balances. You do not necessarily need to find a biller located in your area in order to receive good service for a flat rate.

Cheri Derochie, Logic Billing and Consulting, Garden City, KS

Like Dr. Gosnay, I also opened an office "cold" approximately 4 years ago and agree with his analysis. I strongly believe that the most valuable bill that I pay each month is to my billing company. Others have pointed out that it is very easy to submit electronic claims to various companies over the internet and receive quick payments. However, the billing company really earns their money with the 10-15% of claims that get delayed, denied, appealed, etc. Repeated calls, letters etc. to recover this revenue takes 80% of their time.

As a strict business decision, I feel it makes much more sense to pay 6% of your collections if you are solo or 2-physician practice, than pay a full time employee with benefits. For a large group of physicians, it may be much more advantageous to pay a full time employee for this as your gross collections may be much higher. Obviously my opinion is also somewhat slanted, as I have had a wonderful experience with my company. They are Practical Billing Solutions from Red Bank, NJ, and I have no affiliation with them besides being a satisfied client. I would recommend fully investigating any billing company that you consider (with personal references of course).

Tom Lembo, DPM, Manahawkin, NJ, coastalfoot@yahoo.com

I would just like to add that any and all billing services should be asked which billing and coding updates they attend during the year. I personally would not have anyone perform my billing unless they attended one specifically for podiatry. For those on the East coast there will be the NYSPMA-Codingline Meeting at the Marriott Marquis the day before the NYSPMA Clinical Conference on January 24, 2008. I would highly recommend if you have a billing service to encourage their attendance at this meeting for the latest updates and happenings in 2008 Podiatry.

Barry A. Wertheimer, DPM, Redondo Beach, CA , bwertheimer@cox.net

Editor’s note: This topic is now closed.

PODIATRISTS NEEDED - CHICAGO --NORTHWEST INDIANA

Home Physicians, a medical group specializing in house calls is looking to hire podiatrists. We are located in Chicago and Northwest Indiana. Full and part time positions are available. Competitive Compensation including malpractice. Contact Scott Schneider. Phone-773-342-4201 FAX 773-486-3548-E-Mail sschneider@homephysicians.com -- www.homephysicians.com

We specialize in providing conservative care to residents in long-term care settings. Immediate part-time positions available. Very flexible scheduling. Competitive compensation and expenses. Contact Dr. Brian Aronson. Phone-773-775-0300, or Fax resume to 773-775-0883

P/T ASSOCIATE POSITION - QUEENS, NY

10 yr old practice seeks motivated, surgically-trained individual . Fax CV with hours available to (718) 458-0053.

ASSOCIATE POSITION NEWPORT BEACH BEVERLY HILLS CA

Do you have a dream of treating movie Stars and the rich and famous? Outstanding opportunity for PSR36 graduate to join Solo practitioner Summer 2008. Must have passion to practice at the highest level of Podiatry all aspects. Partnership in the future a must. Please send resume to Ifabs@earthlink.net

LOOKING FOR ABPS BOARD CERTIFIED/QUALIFIED PODIATRIST - VIRGINIA

Hospital-Based Practice with Tremendous Growth Potential and a Fantastic Opportunity for the Right Doctor. I am looking for someone who will be an associate for a couple of years, then discuss Partnership Buy-In. This practice is currently solo-DPM – but I am turning away patients each day “because doctor is too busy.” Currently, I am in the OR 2 full days a week. Qualified candidate DOES NOT need significant rearfoot experience, but arthroscopy skills appreciated. Need strong surgery and people skills, with emphasis on wound care, forefoot surgery, diabetic problems, etc. No nursing homes. My office is a brand new state-of the-art facility with digital x-rays, computerized EMR, etc. Immediate start available, SALARY commensurate with experience. Please send resume to: podmed@mac.com

ASSOCIATE POSITION - ILLINOIS

Excellent opportunity for ethical & personable hard-working individuals to join a busy multi-office two physician practice. Looking for one podiatrist with interest in conservative care, including sports medicine and one podiatrist trained in rearfoot surgery. Rearfoot surgeon must be board eligible and working toward board certification. Competitive salaries, 401-K, health insurance, paid vacation and more. Please forward CV with references to nrussell@neondsl.com

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