Reporting procedures for the skin can require a variety of documented details, such as location, severity, and size. John David Rosdeutscher, MD, and Gloria Miller, CPC, CPMA, CPPM, explainwhich details coder should look forto accurately report excisions, closures, and other wound care services.
Each year, the AMA updates the Vaccines, Toxoids section of the Medicine chapter in the CPT ® Manual to add or revise descriptions of newly available products. In 2015, the AMA added two new product codes (90651, 90630) and revised four (90654, 90721, 90723, and 90734).
Even through ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM/PCS are currently under a code freeze, c oders and CDI specialists still need to pay attention to what conditions are considered CCs and MCCs, as well as sequencing rules which could affect MS-DRGs.
Cardiovascular coding can be challenging even without the introduction of new codes and concepts in ICD-10-CM. Laura Legg, RHIT, CCS, and Shelley C. Safian, PhD, RHIA, CCS-P, CPC-H, CPC-I, review the anatomy of the cardiovascular system and highlight some of the key changes in ICD-10-CM.
Physician coders won't be able to just report the CPT ® code that best describes the procedure for some digestive system services in 2015. Shannon E. McCall, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CPC, CPC-I, CEMC, CCDS, and Raemarie Jimenez, CPC, CPMA, CPC-I, CANPC, CRHC, explain why some payers, including CMS, may require new G codes for certain procedures and how the G codes map to related CPT codes.
The January quarterly I/OCE update includes new modifiers, changes related to expanded packaging, and continued refinement of CMS' skin substitutes categories, but the biggest change for outpatient hospitals is the implementation of comprehensive APCs (C-APC).
CPT ® codes in 2015 for cardiovascular procedures include the ability to report several new technologies and procedures. Shannon E. McCall, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CPC, CPC-I, CEMC, CCDS, and Raemarie Jimenez, CPC, CPMA, CPC-I, CANPC, CRHC, explain the procedures and what coders will need to look for in documentation to select the correct code.
Drug administration coding and billing remains a challenge despite no code changes in six years. Jugna Shah, MPH, and Valerie RInkle, MPA, examine how to apply the new -X{EPSU} modifiers with drug administration codes and review other common questions they receive about injections and infusions.
Coronary artery disease (CAD) develops when the arteries that supply the blood to the heart muscles become hardened and narrowed due to a buildup of cholesterol and other materials, such as plaque, on their inner wall. It's also called atherosclerosis.
