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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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?
CMS issued a final rule last week to revamp the way it pays for tests under the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule, though the agency has pushed the start date back a year and worked to ease administrative burden based on public comments.
Shannon Newell, RHIA, CCS , AHIMA-approved ICD-10-CM/PCS trainer, writes about significant changes to PSI 90 in the 2017 IPPS proposed rule, one of which is a new name–The Patient Safety and Adverse Events Composite.
Q: I am never sure of correct sequencing when the admission is for flu, pneumonia, and asthma. Can you suggest proper sequencing, and if queries are needed?
Michelle M. Wieczorek, RN, RHIT, CPHQ, discusses how documentation and coding can impact your facility’s data reported for hospital-acquired conditions and present on admission indicators.
Kimberly Cunningham, CPC, CIC, CCS , and other professionals comment on commonly seen MS-DRGs and inpatient conditions, including which terms coders need to look for in documentation to arrive at the most accurate MS-DRG and codes. Note: To access this free article, make sure you first register if you do not have a paid subscription.
Providers should already be aware they will have to report more specific ICD-10-CM codes when CMS ends its grace period for physicians later this year, but the agency will also be excluding certain unspecified codes from reporting in 2017.
CMS recently announced changes to require providers to report modifier -JW (drug amount discarded/not administered to any patient) when appropriate. Jugna Shah, MPH, looks at when providers will need to use the modifier and how to remain compliant.
The value modifier is having an increasing effect on physician payments and coding each patient’s severity is key to accuracy. Richard D. Pinson, MD, FACP, CCS, writes about how the value modifier impacts payment and conditions coders should be aware of that quality scores.
Anatomical CPT modifiers aren’t used just to distinguish laterality. Susan E. Garrison, CHCA, CHCAS, CCS-P, CHC, PCS, FCS, CPAR, CPC, CPC-H, reviews how to report modifiers –LC, -LD, -LM, -RC, and –RI for percutaneous coronary interventions.
CMS' coding modifiers are not always used to report clinical components of a service. Sometimes they can be used in order to provide information about how a service relates to Medicare coverage policies.
