UTP Best Employees June Honorees

UT Physicians’ new employee recognition program, Best Employees, allows employees, managers, patients and physicians to recognize UT Physicians employees who have gone above and beyond their day-to-day responsibilities to deliver excellent customer service.

Honors go to Brenda DeLeon (Otolaryngology), UTP employee of the month for June.  Best Employee awards in June go to Christine Palomo (Orthopaedics), Melissa Torres (Adult Surgery), Alicia Williams (Internal Medicine) and Mary Williams (Medical Records).  Taroub Baba (Dermatology) is recognized with an honorable mention.  A special "shout out" goes to UT employee Jacqueline Legette (Family Medicine) for a job well done.

Each month the Best Employees committee reviews nominations to determine eligibility for recognition and the level of recognition to be awarded.  The Best Employees program also arms supervisors with the ability to reward employees with on-the-spot recognition for providing exceptional customer service.  For more information, visit www.UTdocs.com and click on Best Employees Program. 

To nominate a UT Physicians employee for Best Employees recognition, fill out the Best Employees online nomination form or pick-up a nomination form in any UTP clinic, complete the form and place it in the Best Employees box in the clinic.


Brenda, DeLeon
UTP June Employee of the Month

UT Imaging Now Offers Digital Mammography 

Digital mammography is newly available at UT Imaging.  Screening mammograms are offered Monday through Friday,  8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Diagnostic mammograms and breast ultrasounds are available Mondays and Thursday,  8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., with a radiologist trained in breast imaging onsite to interpret those studies. 

Call UT Imaging at 713-375-1260 to schedule patients for mammograms.  Patients that have had prior mammograms should bring their prior year's study with them to their appointment for comparison.  Other diagnostic imaging studies, including DEXA bone density studies, can be scheduled at the same time as the patient's mammogram.

Coming soon at UT Imaging.Breast MRI.

UT Physicians to Open Walk-in Clinic Mid-August 

To improve access to care for UTP patients and UT/UTP employees, UT Physicians Priority Care Clinic will open in mid-August.  The clinic, staffed by a UT School of  Nursing nurse practitioner, will accommodate walk-in patients with minor to moderate medical concerns who are unable to get a same-day appointment with their regular physician.  After an office visit, the Priority Care clinician will communicate the specifics of the patient encounter to the patient's regular physician and instruct the patient to follow-up with that physician.  Patients who do not have PCPs will be referred to a UTP PCP to manage their care and refer, when necessary, to UTP specialists.  Look for updates on UT Physicians Priority Care Clinic in coming weeks.

 
 

UT Ophthalmology Moves to New Clinic

The clinical faculty  of Department of Ophthalmology & Visual Science at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston are now seeing patients in the new Robert  Cizik Eye Clinic located in the Memorial Hermann Medical Plaza , next to the UT Professional Building.  Call 713-599-1777 for information and appointments.

New UT Mental Health Clinic Opens in UTPB 

The UT Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences offers diagnostic, psychotherapeutic and medication management services for children, adolescents and adults experiencing mental health disorders. The department's new clinic in the UT Professional Building serves patients of all ages and is staffed by faculty physicians.  Clinical services provided:

.   Patient assessment within 48 hours of referral
.   Individual psychotherapy
.   Group therapy
.   Psychological testing
.   Medication management
.   Appropriate referrals, if required

The treatment philosophy encompasses elimination of stigma related to mental illnesses and offers the goal of full recovery and functioning in all spheres of life (family, work setting, social environment).

Pedro Ruiz, MD, Professor of Psychiatry and Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs, provides oversight of the clinical operation of the mental health services at the Mental Sciences Institute (MSI) and the UT Professional Building (UTPB). Dr. Ruiz has extensive experience in clinical psychiatry and is the past president (2006-2007) of the American Psychiatric Association (APA).

Insurance coverage or full payment at the time of service is required.  Locations and contact information:

UT Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Mental Sciences Institute (MSI)                                                                        Phone:   713-500-2525
1300 Moursund Street , at the corner of M. D. Anderson Blvd.                     Fax:         713-500-2530     
Houston , Texas 77030

UT Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

UT Health Science Center Professional Building (UTPB)                          Phone:   713-500-5880
6410 Fannin Street, Suite 1520                                                                         Fax:         713-500-0506
Houston , Texas 77030

http://med.uthtmc.edu/departments/psychiatry/  

CMS -1500 Claim Form Now Accommodates up to Eight Diagnosis Codes

Effective for Medicare claims processed on or after July 1, 2007, the Part B standard and carrier claims processing systems will capture and process up to eight diagnosis codes on all claims (both paper and electronic). Providers should make sure their billing staffs are aware of this change. The complete article is available on the CMS MLN Matters Web page at: www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNMattersArticles/downloads/MM5441.pdf.  An updated example can be found on the TrailBlazer Web site at: ww.trailblazerhealth.com/Publications/Job%20Aid/Item%2021%20example.pdf 

New LCD Job Aid 

A New Searching the Local Coverage Determinations Job Aid has been developed to assist providers with accessing and searching the Local Coverage Determination (LCD) tool on the redesigned TrailBlazer Web site. This job aid includes step-by-step instructions and tips on how to search, sort and view LCDs as well as the types of information that will display. The job aid is available on the LCD Web page and on the Job Aids page.

Find MRA Descriptions on TrailBlazer Web Site

Part B POE recently added a new feature to the Self-service option on the TrailBlazer Web site. Users are now able to enter a reason code from their Medicare Remittance Advice (MRA), and find the description of the reason code. An associated solution (in red text) is also available from the search.

Example: If your MRA indicates your claim did not process and you see a reason code of M20 on the MRA details, enter M20 in the reason code search, click search and obtain the following message:

Details for Reason Code M20 
                Missing/incomplete/invalid HCPCS.

Providers should utilize a current HCPCS manual. Verify the HCPCS code submitted in Item 24d or the electronic equivalent, make any necessary changes and resubmit the rejected/unprocessable claim to Medicare.

Note: You will see the "B" icon located next to the reason code. The "B" indicates this reason code applies to Medicare Part B. 

This Reason Code Search tool is not currently an all-inclusive listing. TrailBlazer  will be adding new codes as they are identified, so please be sure to visit the site often for updates.

You will find the Reason Code Search tool on the TrailBlazer Web site at the following link:   www.trailblazerhealth.com/Tools/ReasonCodeSearch.aspx

Medicare Reject "Old" CMS-1500 (12/90) Forms After July 2, 2007

Effective July 2, 2007, providers who submit paper claims will be required to begin submitting the new CMS-1500 (08-05) form. The CMS-1500 (12-90) form will be returned/rejected if received on or after July 2, 2007. The claims will need to be resubmitted on the new form. Read the TrailBlazer Notice.