Entries by Sara Hathaway, PharmD

Empowering Pharmacy Teams to Decrease Audit Risk

Sir Francis Bacon is often credited with stating “scientia potentia est” in his published work, Meditationes Sacrae from 1597. This Latin phrase roughly translates to “knowledge is power” and while this turn of phrase is centuries old, it holds true today. The pharmacy industry is an ever-changing world and staying up to date on audit […]

New DUR Codes for Insulin Method of Administration

If your pharmacy dispenses rapid-acting insulin, be ready to start closely evaluating the patient’s method of administration. Knowing whether a patient is using the rapid-acting insulin for direct injection (via syringe or pre-filled pen), with a disposable insulin pump, or in a qualifying DME pump will become critical to claim payment starting in October.

New PAAS Tool! Flowchart for Multi-Payor Claims with Conflicting Coverage

In last month’s Newsline article, “A” for Abandoned: The Short Life of DAW Code A and What it Means for Multi-Payor Claims, PAAS National®® provided insight into the revised billing process for multi-payor claims where one payor prefers the brand and the other payor prefers generic. Due to the complexity of this billing process, a […]

Reduce Vaccine Audit Risk Through Accurate Quantity Billed

To enhance profitability, pharmacy owners and operators have frequently incorporated immunization services into their offerings. While vaccines tend to carry a lower audit risk, the higher the cost of the vaccine, the more likely it is to be audited. The audit risk also increases when core billing elements of the vaccine claim are adjudicated incorrectly.

“A” for Abandoned: The Short Life of DAW Code A and What it Means for Multi-Payor Claims

Just 11 short months ago, PAAS National®® released the NEW Dispense As Written (DAW) Code Revealed Newsline article about DAW code value “A” (408-D8). DAW A was designed to be utilized on multi-payor claims when one payor required a multi-source brand (or reference biologic with an approved interchangeable biosimilar in the marketplace) and the other […]

When Precision Fails: The Hidden Issues in Insulin Pen Dosing Calculations

Undoubtedly, a calculator can be found near every data entry and verification station throughout the prescription workflow line. This is, in part, due to PBM requirements that prescriptions have a mathematically calculable set of instructions. Consequently, pharmacies should strive to bill every claim with an appropriate quantity and days’ supply to prevent claim recoupment issues […]

Verify Day’s Supply on CeQur Simplicity Meal-Time Insulin Patch

CeQur SimplicityTM is a meal-time insulin patch approved for use in adult patients (over the age of 21) with Type 2 Diabetes and can replace up to 12 meal-time insulin doses. The patch delivers rapid-acting insulin in 2-unit doses through a flexible cannula by depressing two buttons, one on each side of the patch. This […]

When the Margins Are Thin, Self-Audit for the Win

It is no secret that margins on prescription medications have declined dramatically over the last few decades. Independent pharmacy owners are well aware of their less-than-favorable Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) contracts, and their propensity to routinely audit. After working day in and day out to take care of the patients in your communities, auditors swoop […]

The Next Big Wave: Anticipating a Surge in HIPAA Compliance Audits

Desk audits, onsite audits, invoice audits…and HIPAA compliance audits?! Unfortunately every community pharmacy has some familiarity with third party payor audits, and PAAS National®® audit analysts bring their expertise to guide members through the entire audit process, ensuring everything goes as smoothly as possible. But what about HIPAA compliance audits? With a potential surge in these […]