Some providers are billing only add-on codes without their respective primary codes, resulting in overpayments, according to CMS. Add-on codes billed without their primary codes are considered an overpayment, with one exception.
Health information exchange between hospitals and other providers has risen by 41% between 2008 and 2012, according to research published in Health Affairs from the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC).
CMS’ Pat Brooks, RHIA, senior technical advisor, Hospital and Ambulatory Policy Group, and AHIMA’s Sue Bowman, MJ, RHIA, CCS, FAHIMA, senior director, coding policy and compliance, reviewed basic ICD-10 information during a CMS National Provider Call August 22.
Our experts answer questions about billing vasectomy and sperm analysis , coding for ED visit when the patient is admitted for surgery, billing glucose reading before a PET scan, documentation required for the functional limitation codes, and appropriate reporting of observation.
CMS added three new HCPCS C codes and one G code to the integrated outpatient code editor (I/OCE) as part of the October quarterly update. The new codes are effective October 1.
CMS has been gathering information about the use of observation services and short inpatient hospital stays because hospitals have been placing patients in observation for longer periods of time. CMS recently finalized a change that will substantially affect how hospitals bill for observation stays, long outpatient stays, and short inpatient stays.
Joint replacement surgery is nothing short of a miracle for those experiencing pain due to an arthritic or damaged joint. The surgery is performed not only on the hip and knee, but also on the ankle, foot, shoulder, elbow, or finger. Patients who have undergone this surgery often regain mobility and are able to live pain free.
