Our coding experts answer your questions about payment for items in OPPS Addendum B and skin substitutes, incomplete documentation for IV infusions, coding for amputation of finger and aftercare, facility codes for peritoneal dialysis
Providers will soon be reimbursed by Medicare for a new, less-invasive aortic valve replacement procedure. Medicare Acting Administrator Marilyn Tavenner announced CMS’ decision to pay for transcatheter aortic valve replacement under specific conditions.
CMS released its latest MLN Medicare Quarterly Provider Compliance Newsletter in April. The newsletter features educational information for providers related to recent audit targets and findings.
The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) continues to advocate for no delay in the implementation date for ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS.
Inpatient acute care hospitals could see a 2.3% increase in payment rates under the fiscal year (FY) 2013 Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) proposed rule, released April 24. The 2.3% is a net update after inflation, improvements in productivity, a statutory adjustment factor, and adjustments for hospital documentation and coding changes.
CMS instructed fiscal intermediaries (FI) and Medicare Administrative Contractors (MAC) to hold claims containing CPT ® code 33249 (insertion or replacement of permanent pacing cardioverter-defibrillator system with transvenous lead[s], single or dual chamber) and HCPCS code C1882 (cardioverter-defibrillator, other than single or dual chamber [implantable]).
HHS’ proposed rule announcing a one-year delay of the implementation of ICD-10-CM/PCS was printed in the April 17 edition of the Federal Register . If HHS finalizes the delay, ICD-10-CM/PCS would become effective October 1, 2014.
CMS has posted a summary report from the discussion of procedure codes at the ICD-9-CM Coordination and Maintenance Committee meeting held March 5. The agenda addressed only a small number of code requests due to the implementation of the partial code freeze.