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A Complete Guide to Primary Care Billing

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  Primary care practices form the front line of healthcare delivery, providing a broad spectrum of services — from preventive care and routine screenings to chronic disease management and urgent concerns. With this diversity comes billing complexity that requires careful attention to detail, accurate coding, and a clear understanding of payer policies. This guide explores the essentials of primary care billing , helping you understand key components, coding practices, and common challenges. What Makes Primary Care Billing Unique? Unlike specialty practices focused on specific areas, primary care covers: Preventive care (annual check-ups, immunizations) Acute care (infections, injuries) Chronic care (diabetes, hypertension) Screenings and counseling Minor procedures Because these services are often delivered in a single visit, billing must accurately reflect each component — sometimes with multiple codes and modifiers. Core Components of Primary Care Billi...

The Primary Care Physicians Shortage in California

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  The state of California is facing an increased shortage of primary care physicians especially – with a rise in the number of the elderly population in the State leading to an increase in health coverage under Federal Health care reforms. Additionally, 30% of primary care physicians in the state are nearing retirement being above 60 or older- the highest percentage in any state. However, compared to the shortage, the State has not significantly increased the number of primary care physicians trained. HHS’s Council on Graduate Medical Education recommends 60 to 80 primary care physicians per 100,000 people to adequately serve a population. Statistics show in fast-growing regions of California such as the Inland Empire there are only 40, whereas in low-income rural communities where care for 25% of patients is paid by Med-Cal, there are only 45 primary care physicians. Even though medical school applications have been high in California, with a high proportion of U.S. medical sc...