A JAMA study published in January found that patients with the highest risk for severe COVID-19 infection received outpatient therapy less often than those with the least risk.
Q: How should we report services with modifier -50 (bilateral procedure) for physician claims when a private payer’s instructions contradict our Medicare administrative contractor (MAC)?
Aimee Wilcox, CPMA, CCS-P, CST, MA, MT, and Karla VonEschen, MS, CPC, CPMA, CCDS-O, take a look back at the progression of diagnosis and mortality coding before looking ahead to ICD-11 and how coding departments can prepare for it.
Heart failure affects more than 6 million adults in the U.S. and costs the nation more than $30 billion. Review ICD-10-CM guidance and documentation details required for accurately reporting the condition. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
The CDC posted its updated 2024 ICD-10-CM guidelines in January that include a sequencing update for sepsis due to postprocedural infection. The guidelines will take effect April 1.
Penny Jefferson, MSN, RN, CCDS, CCDS-O, CCS, CDIP, CRC, CHDA, CRCR, CPHQ , explains how professional development in CDI is a journey, demanding integration of specific knowledge, continuous learning, and adaptability.
Q: A patient who presents with complaints of progressive neck and bilateral arm symptoms is diagnosed with cervical spondylosis—worse at joints C5-C6 and C6-C7. Which ICD-10-CM codes would be reported?
Nancy Reading, RN, CPC, CPC-P, examines the complex relationships between ketoacidosis, hyperglycemia, and hyponatremia, and gives advice on reporting these diabetic complications in ICD-10-CM. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
Amanda Vincent, MBA, CCS, CPC, CCDS, CRC , analyzes various types of postprocedural complications, such as respiratory failure, infection, ileus, shock, and offers direction on how to report them.
CMS published a summary of its fourth quarter 2023 HCPCS Level II code update application decisions, including 36 additions, four revisions, and 18 deletions.
The behavioral health coverage that CMS calls among the most important in Medicare history were finalized and expanded in the 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule.
Most fracture cases originate in the ED, so orthopedic coders must understand the various scenarios that may arise based on the patient’s condition and the intent of the performing clinician. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
Teresa Seville, RHIT, CCS , explains that a thorough review of code updates must include analysis of the addenda, including index, tabular notes, guidelines, and committee meeting highlights.
TaraJo Vaught, MSN, RN, CCDS , shines a light on the crucial roles played by coding and CDI specialists, compares their respective realms, and offers insights for transitioning between them.
While certifications specific to CDI are by no means a requirement to get into the CDI field, they have grown to become a rite of passage for many CDI professionals.
Diane Pittman, CPC, CPMA, CRC, CCD-O, and April Russell, MBA, CPC, CPC-P, COC, CRC, CCDS-O, explain how reporting ICD-10-CM social determinants of health, their context, and coder feedback can influence natural language understanding.
Amanda Vincent, MBA, CCS, CPC, CCDS, CRC , analyzes various types of postprocedural complications, such as respiratory failure, infection, ileus, shock, and offers direction on how to report them.
Our experts answer questions about conflicting payer and MAC guidance, identifying CPT/HCPCS services and supplies that are not separately reportable, and more.