Opinion

Handle claims on case-by-case basis instead of blending

LETTER — Posted Jan. 30, 2006

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Regarding "Higher coding spurs insurer to 'blend' pay rates" (Article, Dec. 26, 2005): I was appalled to read that insurance companies are starting to pay the same for 99213 and 99214 levels of service. Doctors should not sign contracts with the companies that are doing this. If insurance companies think that doctors are "upcoding" and charging for a level of service that was not medically necessary, the insurance company should have to contest this on a claim-by-claim basis.

Audrey Spencer, MD, Maysville, Ky.

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2006/01/30/edlt0130.htm.

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