This increase in alcohol-related deaths is consistent with reports of increases in alcohol-related illnesses and injuries during the same period. This study highlights the fact that alcohol-related admissions are not uncommon, which is why inpatient coders should brush up on reporting these disorders in ICD-10-CM.
Although a great deal has been written about acute respiratory failure, chronic respiratory failure has not received as much attention even though it may also impact MS-DRG assignment and risk adjustment.
CMS is moving forward for E/M changes for physician billing according to the 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. Read about those changes, as long as a preview of new CPT codes that will be added for 2021.
Because of the complexity and frequency of ischemic stroke admissions, inpatient coders should review clinical criteria and ICD-10-CM reporting regularly for this diagnosis to ensure accurate coding and reimbursement.
CMS continues to focus on site-neutral payment policies and keeping payments down for 340B-acquired drugs in the 2021 OPPS proposed rule, released in early August.
Departmental silos are prevalent in the healthcare world and can lead to unvoiced frustrations and counterproductive work. Different organizations have different approaches to breaking down these walls, often through regular interdepartmental meetings or newsletters.
Q: Can modifier -59 (distinct procedural service) be used to bypass the NCCI edit that bundles CPT codes 11055 for lesion removal and 11721 for nail debridement?
The 2021 MPFS proposed rule, released August 3, introduces new policies under the Quality Payment Program (QPP) including plans to delay implementation of the Merit-based Incentive Payment System Value Payment (MVP) model and introduce 108 new quality measures.
