Following are some ICD-10-PCS documentation and coding tips for three of the most common (and commonly misunderstood/miscoded) procedures performed via bronchoscopy.
Allow me to introduce myself as the new columnist for the "Clinically Speaking" section of Briefings on Coding Compliance Strategies after the recent passing of Dr. Bob Gold. My hope is that this column will continue his legacy of helping you promote complete, precise, and clinically congruent ICD-10-CM/PCS code assignments resulting in defendable DRG assignment and applicable severity and risk adjustment. Thank you for this privilege of writing to you; I solicit your feedback and advice.
The fiscal year (FY) 2017 IPPS proposed rule alerted us to some significant changes to Patient Safety Indicator (PSI) 90, one of which is a new name: the Patient Safety and Adverse Events Composite. A fact sheet released by the measure's owner, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), provides insights into what may lie ahead if the proposed rule's content is finalized.
The last few weeks have brought us some direction, though, including the release of approximately 1,900 new ICD-10-CM codes for 2017. (The list can be found on CMS' website.) We also have a list of approximately 3,600 new ICD-10-PCS codes for 2017. (This is also available on CMS' site.) Of course, we will also be looking for changes in DRG mappings and the CC/MCC lists, which will likely appear later this summer.
Congressional legislation is often written in a way that obfuscates or, at the very least, makes it difficult to discern the impact or intent of a bill.
Anatomical modifiers qualify a HCPCS/CPT® code by defining where on the body the service was provided. These modifiers are especially helpful to indicate services that would normally be considered bundled but were actually performed on different body sites.
Q: A patient has multiple labs on the same date of service. We receive the following NCCI edit: “Code 80048 is a column two code of 80053. These codes cannot be billed together in any circumstances.” Should we only bill code 80053?
Lori-Lynne A. Webb, CPC, CCS-P, CCP, CHDA, COBGC, CDIP, looks at the different types of bariatric surgical procedures and documentation details providers may include for them. She also reviews which CPT codes can be used to report these procedures
ICD-10-CM has brought codes to more specifically report obesity and related conditions. Lori-Lynne A. Webb, CPC, CCS-P, CCP, CHDA, COBGC, CDIP, describes these codes and when to report them, while also taking a look at operative reports for bariatric surgeries.
In addition to laterality modifiers for right and left (-RT and –LT, respectively), coders can also report bilateral procedures with modifier -50. Susan E. Garrison, CHCA, CHCAS, CCS-P, CHC, PCS, FCS, CPAR, CPC, CPC-H, analyzes the guidelines for these modifiers and offers tips on how and when to report them.
