With hundreds of ICD-10-CM codes available for the various forms and manifestations of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, coding these conditions to their highest specificity can be surprisingly complex. Without a thorough understanding of their distinctions, and without clear documentation from providers, navigating this coding landscape can feel overwhelming. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register if you do not have a paid subscription.
Coding for joint replacement procedures requires extra attention to detail, particularly for device and qualifier characters and most importantly for partial replacements. Terry Tropin, MSHAI, RHIA, CCS-P , shows how these characters are very specific but give a clear picture of the procedure that was performed for a specific patient.
Revenue integrity professionals have found that working with multiple departments is helpful in addressing denials. Discover how coders—alongside denial, clinical, and CDI professionals—can play a key role in this increased collaboration to manage and prevent denials.
On April 11, CMS released the fiscal year 2026 Inpatient Prospective Payment System proposed rule, which proposes a 2.4% payment increase for hospitals and several adjustments to quality reporting programs, including the Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program.
