Coders should avoid reporting signs and symptoms as the principal diagnosis when possible. However, that’s not always possible. William E. Haik, MD, FCCP, CDIP, reviews the ICD-9-CM principal diagnosis selection guidelines and when coders should report signs and symptoms as the principal diagnosis.
Electronic health records (EHR) provide opportunities for more efficient and effective care, yet they also provide coding and documentation challenges. Jill M. Young, CPC, CEDC, CIMC, explains what coders need to be wary of when coding from an EHR.
The FY 2013 Office of Inspector General (OIG) Work Plan includes plenty of new additions that might interest inpatient hospitals. Sara Kay Wheeler, Kimberly Anderwood Hoy, JD, CPC, Monica Lenahan, CCS, and William E. Haik, MD, FCCP, CDIP, review those new additions and offer tips for dealing with OIG scrutiny.
If you’re curious about whether something you’ve heard or read about the Recovery Auditor program is true, be sure to check out new information published on the CMS Web site. The agency released a document that addresses 14 common myths about the program.
Q: One of our orthopedic surgeons started to perform spinal fusions percutaneously. CPT ® provides instruction on how to code this procedure; however, these are inpatient surgeries, so we need an ICD-9-CM code. We’re leaning toward code 81.00 (spinal fusion unspecified). Do you think this is the correct code?
