Columnists

Samuel A. Collins

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

VA Optum Health Recoupment of Cupping 97039 Payments Rescinded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)