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2009 Medicare Fee Schedule: Highlights for Psychologists
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has published the final rule containing the 2009 Medicare Fee Schedule. See average fees for selected psychotherapy services and other changes for Medicare in the new year.
Learn what's in store for psychologists who participate in Medicare.
How to Deal with a Subpoena
Receiving a subpoena, a legal command to testify or turn over records, is often a perplexing and anxiety-provoking experience for psychologists. This article addresses common questions from psychologists about how to handle a subpoena.
Learn pointers for dealing with a subpoena.
Landmark Victory: Mental Health Parity is Now Law
President Bush signed mental health parity into law on October 3rd, taking a great step forward in the decade-plus fight to end insurance discrimination against those seeking treatment for mental health and substance use disorders. This historic legislation requires that health insurance equally cover both mental and physical health.
Read the summary of the Wellstone-Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 here.
Learn more about this historic legislation.
Read the APA's press release.
Pointers for Psychologists on Record Retention
Do you know what your state law requires regarding client record retention? Are you aware of APA's Record Keeping Guidelines?
These and other considerations can help guide your decision making about how long to keep records.
Do You Need to Notify Medicare of a Change in Your Practice?
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has posted new fact sheets online listing the types of changes that non-physician providers are required to report to Medicare within 90 days. Changes in a practice's location, business structure or legal business name are among the reasons a psychologist would be required to notify Medicare.
See if reporting requirements apply to your practice.
New Medicare Law Benefits Psychologists and Patients
The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (H.R. 6331) became law on July 15, as Congress overrode a presidential veto. The new law contains several provisions that benefit psychologists and patients.
Review the highlights of H.R. 6331.
CMS Provides Questions and Answers on the Testing Codes
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently posted on its Web site questions and answers (Q & As) that clarify how billing codes for psychological and neuropsychological testing should be used.
Access the Q&As and relevant information here.
APA Conducting Physician Practice Information Survey
For the first time in nearly a decade, the American Psychological Association and more than 70 other health care professional organizations, have worked together to coordinate a comprehensive survey of America's psychologists. The survey will collect up-to-date characteristics of thousands of practices from virtually all disciplines, and be used in efforts to positively influence national decision makers to ensure accurate and fair representation for all health care professionals and patients.
Read more about this survey.
Managed Care Reimbursement Toolkit
This Managed Care Reimbursement Toolkit from the APA Practice Organization contains information and resources to help you respond to managed care rate cuts, diversify your sources of professional income and manage practice finances.
Click here to view the Toolkit contents
Resources and Information About the Health and Behavior Codes
The APA Practice Organization is pleased to provide practical resources and information to help practicing psychologists use and bill appropriately for the health and behavior assessment and intervention codes. These codes apply to psychological services that address behavioral, social, and psychophysiological conditions in the treatment or management of patients diagnosed with physical health problems.
Payment Processing for Your Practice
The APA Practice Organization and ELAVON have partnered to bring you an electronic processing program specifically designed to fit the needs of your practice no matter what the size.
This service enables you to process all types of cards: credit, debit, purchasing, and commercial. ELAVON’s Electronic Check Service converts paper checks into safe, efficient electronic transactions. By submitting checks through the same system that you use to authorize credit cards and debit cards, ELAVON can help you lower costs and enrich your cash flow.
Click here to learn more about ELAVON Payment Processing.
APA Practice Organization Customer Service FAQ’s
For additional help on navigating the apapractice.org website, see our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page.
