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Submitting claims for a certified surgical assistant

Fee codes T70019, T70020 Claims for certified surgical assistants are billed under the following fee codes: T70019: Certified surgical assistant (where it is necessary for one certified surgeon to assist another... Read More

Tackling polypharmacy in BC—The Shared Care approach

Polypharmacy is frequently in the news as concern continues to grow about the risks of taking multiple medications, especially for our elderly and frail elderly populations. Studies show that taking multiple medications... Read More

Audit tip: The 5-year audit period

While there will be a specific trigger for your on-site audit, did you know that when the audit is conducted on your practice the medical inspector will look at all entries in the medical records? Did you know that the... Read More

Audit and billing information available on the new Doctors of BC website

You have had the opportunity to read several audit and billing articles in the BCMJ over the past several months. In addition to providing this information, the Patterns of Practice Committee provides a range of support... Read More

Audit tip: Billing for call-out charges

As defined in the Doctors of BC Guide to Fees, call-out charges are applicable when a physician is called to render emergency or non-elective services and must travel from one location to another to attend the... Read More

Audit tip: Locum agreements

Thinking of hiring a locum? Here’s how to comply with the Medicare Protection Act and avoid problems later. The practitioner number belonging to the physician who personally provided the insured service should be... Read More

Audit red flag: Treating a family member or yourself and billing for it

In the last 2 years the Billing Integrity Program has seen an increase in the number of physicians treating and billing for family members or themselves. Physicians whose family billings exceed $1000 are now being... Read More

Number one billing error seen in audits

With the support of the Patterns of Practice Committee (POPC), a regular column will appear in the BC Medical Journal that provides information on the most common billing errors discovered during practice... Read More

Re: Why an audit? The audit process in BC explained. Dr White responds

Thank you to Dr McFadden for his comments on the article which appeared in the BCMJ, Issue: Vol. 55. No. 8, pages 390–393 by Dr Graham White, past chair of the Patterns of Practice Committee (POPC). This is the... Read More

Re: Statin use in older patients

We would like to acknowledge the concern of Drs Eppler and Miller regarding statin use in older patients [BCMJ 2013;55:184, BCMJ 2013;55:273].  This and other issues with respect to prescribing in... Read More