Coding for podiatry services requires an extensive understanding of complex anatomy and regulations. Lynn M. Anderanin, CPC, CPC-I, COSC , AAPC Certified ICD-10-CM instructor, AHIMA Approved ICD-10-CM trainer, reviews what steps coders can make to ensure complete documentation for podiatry services that are facing increasing audits.
ICD-10-CM codes may look completely different, but many of the coding steps remain the same. Betty Hovey, CPC, CPC-H, CPB, CPMA, CPC-I, CPCD; Julia Palmer, MBA, RHIA, CCS ; and Melanie Endicott, MBA/HCM, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, FAHIMA, CDIP, AHIMA-approved ICD-10-CM/PCS trainer explain how to code for neoplasms in ICD-10 and which changes to note.
The 2014 IPPS Final Rule was supposed to be implemented with enforcement beginning October 1, but one of its most controversial aspects has seen another delay in enforcement, with major healthcare trade groups seeking more.
Q: We recently had a situation where a patient had come in to have his port re-assessed. He had been complaining of the port being difficult to access. Preliminary x-ray showed the port accessed, with great blood return. Patient has an allergy to IV contrast, so we just flushed the port, and did not give the contrast. The port remained accessed. How do we code this? Do we use 36598 (contrast injection[s] for radiologic evaluation of existing central venous access device, including fluoroscopy, image documentation and report) with a modifier -52 (reduced services)? The other option is a modifier -73 (discontinued outpatient procedure prior to anesthesia administration) or -74 (discontinued outpatient procedure after anesthesia administration). However we have no documentation regarding anesthesia, and I'm not sure the patient would even get anesthesia for a procedure such as this.
