The AMA revised the molecular pathology codes in the CPT ® Manual in 2012, but at that time CMS did not adopt the codes as it was still debating whether and how to change the reimbursement system for these services going forward. For CY 2013, CMS elected to recognize the codes, which meant it had to finalize how to pay for them. While CMS did not change pamyent for these services under the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CLFS) despite industry pressure, its change to the new codes means a change in the payments providers can expect this year and in the future.
Anesthesia coding in some ways is similar to evaluation and management coding—only easier. Chandra Stephenson, CPC, CPC-H, CPMA, CPC-I, CANPC, CEMC, CFPC, CGSC, CIMC, COSC, explained the 10 steps to coding anesthesia during the AAPC National Conference in Orlando, Fla., April 14-17.
The three-day payment window has been wrought with compliance challenges since its inception. In January, CMS updated the policy to provide additional clarification.
CMS corrected edit 84, added five APCs, deleted two APCs, and changed the description of another as part of the April updates to the I/OCE. Dave Fee, MBA, reviews the most significant changes CMS implemented
Gloria Miller, CPC, vice president of reimbursement services for Comprehensive Healthcare Solutions, Inc., located in Tacoma, Wash, created this quick reference for HCPCS Level 1 modifiers commonly used in wound care coding.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 31% of all American adults have high blood pressure, so odds are coders see the condition documented often. Shelley C. Safian, PhD, CCS-P, CPC-H, CPC-I, AHIMA-Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer , compares coding for hypertension in ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM.
The April 2013 issue of CMS’ Medicare Quarterly Provider Compliance Newsletter highlights two Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) issues that affect outpatient providers.
When coders begin using ICD-10-PCS the second and fourth character definitions seem simple enough: Second character-Body system Fourth character-Body part However, when coders start assigning codes,...
You know what keeps you up at night thinking about the ICD-10 transition. Have you ever wondered what causes CMS officials to lose sleep? For Denise Buenning, MsM, director of CMS’s administrative...
It was almost inevitable. The possibility of another ICD-10 delay was brought up during the AHIMA ICD-10-CM/PCS and CAC Summit in Baltimore April 24. And just as quickly as it was raised, the...
The three-day rule defines certain preadmission outpatient services as inpatient operating costs that are covered and paid under the IPPS. Kimberly Anderwood Hoy, JD, CPC, and Valerie A. Rinkle, MPA, unravel the complex conditions associated with the rule.
DRGs for procedures unrelated to the principal diagnosis should occur rarely. Robert S. Gold, MD, and Cheryl Ericson, MS, RN, CCDS, CDIP, explain when it is appropriate to report an unrelated DRG.
Distinguishing between clinical and coding significance is often confusing. Joel Moorhead, MD, PhD, CPC, discusses how coders should differentiate between the two.
I wanted to share some interesting numbers from Torrey Barnhouse's presentation at the AHIMA ICD-10 Summit in Baltimore. Torrey is the founder and president of TrustHCS, which conducted an industry...
Trust is a basic human emotion. It allows us to explore out surroundings and grow. You can't expect grouth or change without trust. Cindy Seel, MSA, RHIA, director of education and training at HRS,...
Any healthcare organizations are considering computer-assisted coding (CAC) to help minimize the expected coder productivity decline in ICD-10. Lisa Knowles-Ward, RHIT, coding and reimbursement for...
ICD-10 implementation is only 18 months away. Sounds like a long time, doesn't it? It's really not, Kathleen Frawley, JD, MS, RHIA, FAHIMA, told attendees at the 2013 AHIMA ICD-10 and CAC Summit in...
By now you have probably heard that you need to train more than just your coders on ICD-10. Shelley Weems, RHIA, CCS, implementation lead for the Health Information Management Program Office for the...
