The accurate capture of acute respiratory failure has been a long-standing challenge for CDI programs. The accurate reporting of this condition as a post-procedural event can be even more difficult.
Q: Is it appropriate to assign ICD-10-CM code Y95 (nosocomial condition) based on the documentation of healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP) or hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP)? It is appropriate to assign the code for documented healthcare-associated conditions. Should this still be queried for specificity, and should the hospital-acquired condition (i.e., pneumonia) be coded as bacterial, viral, or something else?
Laurie L. Prescott, MSN, RN, CCDS, CDIP, provides coders with tips on coding heart failure, obstetrics, and linking language, and also offers the latest guidance given by AHA Coding Clinic for ICD-10-CM/PCS ® on these topics.
Since the physician doesn't need to use a specific root operation term in documentation, coders should not rely solely on the term the physician uses. Coders need to know the definitions and the nuances of the root operations, especially those involving a device.
The American Hospital Association recently released its response to CMS’ FY 2017 IPPS proposed rule. The letter, which was sent to CMS’ acting administrator Andrew Slavitt, was presented on behalf of approximately 5,000 AHA member facilities and 43,000 individual members.
Lori-Lynne A. Webb, CPC, CCS-P, CCP, CHDA, COBGC, CDIP, writes about the types of treatment for infertility for both men and women, highlighting the associated diagnosis and procedure codes used to report them.
Providers must link the medical necessity of the treatment they give to the documented diagnoses or they may not get paid. Lori-Lynne A. Webb, CPC, CCS-P, CCP, CHDA, COBGC, CDIP, looks at how to ensure medical necessity is proven for fertility services.
CMS’ 2017 OPPS and Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) proposed rules, released July 6 and 7, respectively, introduce policies that focus on improving payment accuracy across sites and for professionals in primary care, care management, and patient-centered services.
Q: Can a hospital that is not a critical access hospital (CAH) bill professional charges on UB-04 claims, Type of Bill (TOB) 013X? I have not read anywhere that hospitals cannot bill this way, but usually when discussing revenue 96X and other professional revenue codes there is mention of CAHs only.
Q: When a patient presents with acute respiratory failure, as well as an overdose, is it ever appropriate to assign the acute respiratory failure as principal diagnosis, since it is an acute condition that would have occasioned the admission to the hospital?
Paul Evans, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CCDS, give coders ICD-10-PCS documentation and coding tips for three of the most common, and commonly misunderstood, procedures performed via bronchoscopy.
Since the physician doesn't need to document a specific root operation, coders cannot rely solely on the terms the physician uses; thus it is important for each coder to fully understand each root operation, especially Control and Repair. Note: To access this free article, make sure you first register if you do not have a paid subscription.
CMS recently released the 2017 ICD-10-PCS code updates and guidelines, which include changes to certain root operations. Of the updates, the most notable modifications are the addition of root operation Perfusion, and edits to the current definitions of Control and Creation.
Lori-Lynne A. Webb, CPC, CCS-P, CCP, CHDA, COBGC, CDIP, address the inpatient side of bariatric surgery, and how obesity and body mass index play a role in coding.
Choosing an E/M level code depends on three components—history, exam, and medical decision-making. History itself has four further components that coders will need to look for in physician documentation. Review what comprises these components to aid in choosing the correct levels.
Q: We operate a partial hospitalization program (PHP) and just heard from our billing office that there are new requirements for submitting claims. They want us to close out accounts weekly in order for them to bill them. We have done 30-day accounts prior to this and don’t see why they want to change things. Is there a certain timeframe required for billing these services? This is a huge inconvenience to make this work for the business office.
Comprehensive APCs (C-APC) have added another complication to coding and billing for outpatient services. Valerie A. Rinkle, MPA, writes about recent changes that could impact the reporting of physical and occupational therapy and speech-language pathology services provided in support of or adjunctive to a C-APC.
