In the second part of her Q&A series, Lori-Lynne A. Webb, CPC, CCS-P, CCP, CHDA, CDIP, COBGC, answers coder questions about OB topics including modifier usage, services bundled in the package and when to use specific ICD-10-CM Z codes.
Jugna Shah, MPH, and Valerie A. Rinkle, MPA, review newpolicies and regulations from CMS in the 2016 OPPS final rule, including a new comprehensive APC for observation.
Q: A patient fractured all metatarsals last year and had open reduction and internal fixation. The patient now has a nonunion of the fracture sites and is going back to the OR for an amputation. What would be the appropriate ICD-10-CM seventh character to report?
Coders need to understand the clinical presentation of sepsis to report it accurately. Robert S. Gold, MD, and Gloryanne Bryant, RHIA, RHIT, CCS, CDIP, CCDS, review how to identify sepsis and tips for coding it in ICD-10-CM.
Q: In terms of coding blood transfusions, does the documentation of which intravenous (IV) site used have to come from the physician in the progress note or can this particular information be extrapolated from nursing notes, orders, etc.? As far as I can tell, a blood transfusion is usually administered to whatever peripheral IV line/site is available, unless otherwise contraindicated or instructed differently by a specific physician order.
Garry L. Huff, MD, CCS, CCDS, and Brandy Kline, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CCDS, provide an overview ofkey information providers need to document for coders to assign proper codes for chronic kidney disease and acute kidney injury.
Sherry Corsello, RHIT, CPC, writes about how to ensure consistency and reliability of records in ICD-10 and what providers can do with the more accurate data the code set will give them.
CMS does not require ordering providers to rewrite orders prior to ICD-10 implementation with appropriate diagnosis codes for laboratory, radiology, and other services, including durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies, according to a new FAQ.
Extensive changes in ICD-10-CM terminology and codes for cardiovascular diseases often frustrate coders, says Cindy Basham, MHA, MSCCS, BSN, CCS, CPC . She provides an overview of the changes and notes what must be documented so coders can select the appropriate code.
Providers need to be careful when reporting multiple services with status indicator J1 on the same claim. Dave Fee, MBA, reviews potential concerns with reporting multiple comprehensive APCs as well as new codes and APCs introduced in the October 2015 I/OCE update.
Q: We are an independent outpatient end-stage renal disease clinic. When we administer a blood transfusion (we do not bill for the blood) can we bill HCPCS code A4750 (blood tubing, arterial or venous, for hemodialysis, each) for the tubing used in the procedure and also A4913 (miscellaneous dialysis supplies, not otherwise specified) for miscellaneous supplies pertaining to administering the blood?
CMS introduced several new HCPCS codes and added comprehensive APCs (C-APC), including one for observation, in the 2016 OPPS final rule, released October 30.
Lori-Lynne A. Webb, CPC, CCS-P, CCP, CHDA, CDIP, COBGC, answers questions from coders about OB diagnoses and procedures, including what’s bundled in the global package and how to report multiple births.
Q: Is there guidance on reviewing a record, such as an operative note, that has not been signed by a physician? I am at a facility that allows coding from unsigned transcriptions. I was always told that the information needs to be confirmed by a signature as valid before including that information in the review worksheet. Do you have any recommendations for this?
Shelley C. Safian, PhD, RHIA, CCS-P, COC, CPC-I, AHIMA-approved ICD-10-CM/PCS trainer, writes about the section added to ICD-10-PCS for 2016 for reporting new technology procedures.
ICD-10 may be a new system with thousands of additional codes compared to ICD-9-CM, but that doesn’t mean it can still accurately report every clinical scenario. Robert S. Gold, MD, identifies conditions that aren’t necessarily represented by the codes available.
Jillian Harrington, MHA, CCS, CCS-P, CPC, CPC-P, CPC-I, MHP, reviews the components in operative reports coders will need to find in order to report ICD-10-PCS codes for spinal fusions.
CMS finalized its proposals regarding the 2-midnight rule in the 2016 OPPS final rule, including moving responsibility for enforcement and education of the rule from Recovery Auditors to Quality Improvement Organizations (QIO). This latter change occurred October 1, 2015.
