Ask the Billing Expert

Samuel A. Collins is the director of the H.J. Ross Network, a consulting group for doctors on billing and collection for insurance claims. He is a featured speaker on billing and coding for the AAOM and the California State Oriental Medical Association, as well as many acupuncture colleges. You are encouraged to submit your billing questions to him at sam@hjrossnetwork.com.

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Previous Articles

Should You Adjust Your Fees This Year?

March 1, 2026 (Vol. 27, Issue 3)

Should You Be in-Network or Out-of-Network With Insurance?

December 1, 2025 (Vol 26, Issue 12)

2026 ICD-10-CM Updates for Acupuncture Practices

Multiple-Procedure Claim Reductions?

September 1, 2025 (Vol. 26, Issue 9)

Did VA / Medicare Allowed Rates Increase?

July 1, 2025 (Vol. 26, Issue 7)

New Telemedicine Billing Codes

April 1, 2025 (Vol. 26, Issue 4)

Understanding Acupuncture Visit Limits

February 1, 2025 (Vol. 26, Issue 2)

VA Optum Health Recoupment of Cupping 97039 Payments Rescinded

October 1, 2024 (Vol. 25, Issue 10)

New Medicare Payment Increases Help Offset Earlier 2024 Reductions

July 1, 2024 (Vol. 25, Issue 7)

Can I Request a PPO Rate Increase?

May 1, 2024 (Vol. 25, Issue 5)

CPT Coding Changes for 2024

March 2024 (Vol. 25, Issue 3)

Billing Insurance: Common Errors That Can Lead to a Claim Being Denied

February 2024 (Vol. 25, Issue 2)

Diagnosis Code Changes for Acupuncturists

December 2023 (Vol. 24, Issue 12)

Billing Insurance: How to Get Started

July 2023 (Vol. 24, Issue 07)

What Should Your Fees Be This Year?

April 2023 (Vol. 24, Issue 04)

When Insurance Companies Try to Get Your Money Back

February 2023 (Vol. 24, Issue 02)

ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code Updates

November 2022 (Vol. 23, Issue 11)

Diagnosis Denials: "Excludes 1" Notes

September 2022 (Vol. 23, Issue 09)

Acupuncture and Exam Insurance Denials

June 2022 (Vol. 23, Issue 06)

Don't Be Surprised by the "No Surprises Act"

April 2022 (Vol. 23, Issue 04)

2022 Rate Increases for Acupuncture

February 2022 (Vol. 23, Issue 02)

ICD-10 Coding Changes: What Acupuncturists Need to Know

December 2021 (Vol. 22, Issue 12)

Accommodating Hearing-Impaired Patients

October 2021 (Vol. 22, Issue 10)

This Is Why Your Claim Is Being Denied

August 2021 (Vol. 22, Issue 08)

Patient Access to Health Care Records: What the Cures Act Does & Doesn't Mandate

June 2021 (Vol. 22, Issue 06)

Updated E&M Codes: Big Benefits for Acupuncturists

April 2021 (Vol. 22, Issue 04)

Help Block the Medicare Fee Cuts

January 2021 (Vol. 22, Issue 01)

ICD-10 Code Changes for 2021

October 2020 (Vol. 21, Issue 10)

Are Insurers Limiting the Number of Acupuncture Sets They'll Pay For?

August 2020 (Vol. 21, Issue 08)

Acupuncture Coverage in Medicare: Answering Some of the Big Questions

May 2020 (Vol. 21, Issue 05)

Acupuncture for Veterans: How to Get Involved (and Get Paid for It)

March 2020 (Vol. 21, Issue 03)

Code Changes for 2020

January 2020 (Vol. 21, Issue 01)

Acupuncture Coverage in Medicare: It's Time to Clear Up the Confusion

November 2019 (Vol. 20, Issue 11)

Providing Mulitple Sets of Acupuncture in a Single Visit

September 2019 (Vol. 20, Issue 09)

The Most Common Modifier for Acupuncture Claims

May 2019 (Vol. 20, Issue 05)

Updates to ICD10, Specifically for Myalgia (Muscle Pain)

January 2019 (Vol. 20, Issue 01)

An Audit From Anthem for Misuse of 99212?

October 2018 (Vol. 19, Issue 10)

The Secondary Insurance Plan

August 2018 (Vol. 19, Issue 08)

The Veteran's Choice Program & Your Claims

June 2018 (Vol. 19, Issue 06)

The "Red Flag" & Your Claims: Billing for Multiple Services

April 2018 (Vol. 19, Issue 04)

How to Avoid an Audit: The Five-Letter Word You Dread

February 2018 (Vol. 19, Issue 02)

Bill With Confidence: Learn What to Collect

May 2017 (Vol. 18, Issue 05)

A Q & A About Updated Codes

December 2016 (Vol. 17, Issue 12)

Less Time Than Required

October 2016 (Vol. 17, Issue 10)

Billing Timed Services

August 2016 (Vol. 17, Issue 08)

How to Bill Evaluation and Management Codes

June 2016 (Vol. 17, Issue 06)

Dealing with Unspecified Codes

April 2016 (Vol. 17, Issue 04)

Billing and Coding for Moxibustion

February 2016 (Vol. 17, Issue 02)

Your Billing Questions Answered

November 2015 (Vol. 16, Issue 11)

Calculating Billable Units

June 2015 (Vol. 16, Issue 06)

Deciphering The New CMS 1500 Claim Form

August 2014 (Vol. 15, Issue 08)

Implementing ICD-10 Coding: What You Need to Know

November 2013 (Vol. 14, Issue 11)

Deals and Discounts Meet Billing

January 2013 (Vol. 14, Issue 01)

Insurance Carrier Increases Diagnoses Codes For Acupuncture Benefits

December 2012 (Vol. 13, Issue 12)

Billing and Time Matters

November 2012 (Vol. 13, Issue 11)

Understanding the Changes of ICD10

March 2012 (Vol. 13, Issue 03)

Deciphering Important Acupuncture Billing Codes

January 2012 (Vol. 13, Issue 01)

Billing for Communication With Patients

August 2011 (Vol. 12, Issue 08)

Understanding Physical Medicine Billing Units

June 2011 (Vol. 12, Issue 06)

New Year, New Codes

February 2011 (Vol. 12, Issue 02)

Billing for Office Visits, Needles and Other Services

December 2010 (Vol. 11, Issue 12)

Billing for Additional Sets of Needles

October 2010 (Vol. 11, Issue 10)

Continuing Care After Reaching Service Limit

August 2010 (Vol. 11, Issue 08)

Payment and Billing for Unattended Modalities

June 2010 (Vol. 11, Issue 06)

Billing for Cupping and Moxibustion

April 2010 (Vol. 11, Issue 04)

New Codes for the New Year?

February 2010 (Vol. 11, Issue 02)

Refunding for Incorrect Coding

December 2009 (Vol. 10, Issue 12)

Preventing Identity Theft

October 2009 (Vol. 10, Issue 10)

Can You Charge for Requests for Records?

August 2009 (Vol. 10, Issue 08)

Coding for Active Care

June 2009 (Vol. 10, Issue 06)

New Codes for the New Year

April 2009 (Vol. 10, Issue 04)

Fee Schedules and Charges

October 2008 (Vol. 09, Issue 10)

Should I Sign on the Dotted Line?

August 2008 (Vol. 09, Issue 08)

Can You Code for Missed Appointments?

June 2008 (Vol. 09, Issue 06)

How Often to Bill a Re-Exam

April 2008 (Vol. 09, Issue 04)

New Codes for 2008?

February 2008 (Vol. 09, Issue 02)

The Importance of Finding/Remembering a Mentor

Billing for Unusual Procedures

December 2007 (Vol. 08, Issue 12)

Billing for Herbal Therapy

October 2007 (Vol. 08, Issue 10)

Filling Out the New CMS 1500 Form

August 2007 (Vol. 08, Issue 08)

Clearing Up Confusion Over Code Use

June 2007 (Vol. 08, Issue 06)

New Diagnostic Codes for the New Year

April 2007 (Vol. 08, Issue 04)

Insurance Verification: Good for the Doctor, Good for the Patient

February 2007 (Vol. 08, Issue 02)

The New CMS1500 Form

December 2006 (Vol. 07, Issue 12)

What Is an NPI and How Do You Get One?

October 2006 (Vol. 07, Issue 10)

Billing for Sunday and Out-of-Office Visits

August 2006 (Vol. 07, Issue 08)

Billing for a Report of Findings

June 2006 (Vol. 07, Issue 06)

What to Do About Section 24

May 2006 (Vol. 07, Issue 05)

Choosing the Right E & M Codes

March 2006 (Vol. 07, Issue 03)

Denials Due to Truncated or Incomplete Diagnosis

February 2006 (Vol. 07, Issue 02)

Examination Denials

January 2006 (Vol. 07, Issue 01)