Adriane Martin, DO, FACOS, CCDS , reviews some of the ICD-10-CM/PCS code and CC/MCC updates that made the final cut in the fiscal year 2019 IPPS final rule.
Patients determined to have a tubo-ovarian abscess (TOA) require immediate and aggressive surgical therapy. Lori-Lynne A. Webb, CPC, CCS-P, CCP, CHDA, COBGC , reviews clinical documentation and ICD-10-CM coding for TOAs as well as CPT coding for surgical interventions used to treat them.
A retrospective study recently published in the Journal of Pediatric Surgery found that 59% of reviewed cases across four institutions contained discrepancies between operative dictation and CPT coding for pediatric abdominal surgeries.
Modifier -25 is frequently a target of payer and Office of Inspector General audits. Susan E. Garrison, CHCA, CPC, CPC-H, reviews CMS and NCCI guidance for reporting modifier -25.
Before radiation therapy can be administered, several steps must be taken prepare the patient for treatment. Review CPT coding and documentation for the first two steps in the process: the initial consultation and preparation for radiation treatment. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
Acute heart failure patients in an emergency department's clinical pathway program had a 13.1% lower readmission rate, according to a report published in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine.
Q: We recently had a patient admitted for syncope workup. The workups were negative except for incidental findings of acute kidney injury (AKI). The physician documented “AKI likely 2/2 hypovolemia. Treatment focus is to trend creatinine levels and hydration.” Would the AKI or hypovolemia be sequenced as the principal diagnosis?
Cesar M. Limjoco, MD, writes that although different literature has become available on principal diagnosis selection through the years, questions and disputes keep popping up. In this article, he revisits the issue and provides additional insight to code selection for conditions such as acute respiratory failure and congestive heart failure.
Creating a query and knowing when to query can be complicated, and there are a number of continued training tactics that prove successful for the coder when trying to improve upon physician query practices. This article looks at a few of the official sources that offer query guidance for coders. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
