In this month's issue, we review injection and infusion coding guidelines, take a look at some self-administered drug clinical examples, examine knee anatomy in preparation for the increased specificity of ICD-10, and answer your coding questions.
Healthcare providers are used to regularly changing guidelines and regulations that drastically alter their processes for coding and billing. Despite few guideline changes since 2008, drug administration still frequently causes confusion because of all the necessary factors to properly document, code, and bill the services.
During the January injections and infusions audio conference, Jugna Shah, MPH, president and founder of Nimitt Consulting in Washington, D.C., and Valerie A. Rinkle, MPA, associate director with Navigant Consulting in Seattle, reviewed these scenarios.
The Cooperating Parties made the last regular update to the ICD-9-CM codes October 1, 2011, but they are still adding codes for new technologies each year. The updates are considerably smaller than the regular updates, but coders still need to be aware of them.
ICD-10-PCS is a whole new ball game for inpatient coders. Everything will change. Coders have been hearing that almost constantly since CMS announced the first ICD-10 implementation date in 2009.
Editor's note: With the increased specificity required for ICD-10-CM coding, coders need a solid foundation in anatomy and physiology. To help coders prepare for the upcoming transition, we will provide an occasional article about specific anatomical locations and body parts as part of a larger series for ICD-10-CM preparation.
In this month's issue, we explain how prepare for ICD-10-PCS' surgical challenges, detail changes made by Recovery Auditors, review changes to codes and MS-DRGs, and discuss why documentation improvement is important for more than just reimbursement. Dr. Gold reveals why coding from memory is not recommended and our coding experts answer your questions.
Ah, Black Friday, when shoppers go doorbusting for deals and then head to the Fix ‘Em Up Clinic for repairs. Today’s first wounded bargain hunter, Stephanie, comes in complaining of pain in her left...
Farmer Brown came in today to see Dr. Gobbler for some injuries sustained when he tried to prepare his Thanksgiving main course. It seems Farmer Brown’s turkey wasn’t interested in joining him as...
ICD-10-CM codes may look unfamiliar, but many concepts are the same as those in ICD-9-CM, with a few notable changes. Shannon E. McCall, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CPC, CPC-I, CEMC, CCDS, and Rhonda Buckholtz, CPC, CPMA, CPC-I, CGSC, COBGC, CPEDC, CENTC , look at some of the new conventions and guidelines for ICD-10-CM.
Coding for acute and chronic pain will not change greatly in ICD-10-CM, though coders will have some new options at their disposal. Shelley C. Safian, PhD, CCS-P, CPC-H, CPC-I , discusses some common pain diagnoses and how they will translate from ICD-9-CM.
CMS recently released five online resources to aid providers in their ICD-10 implementation efforts. Although CMS designed some of these resources with providers in mind, much of the information is applicable to hospitals, payers, and vendors as well.
Q: When a procedure is performed by laparoscopy, but only a code for the open approach is listed, do you use the unlisted procedure code? For example, the physician documented: laparoscopic pyloromyotomy, hypertrophic pyloric stenosis. We used CPT ® code 43520-22 (pyloromyotomy, cutting of pyloric muscle, Fredet-Ramstedt type operation, with the increased procedural services modifier) but the coding department corrected with 43659 (unlisted laparoscopy procedure, stomach). We are a pediatric surgical practice. I feel because the procedures are very common and performed often, our revenue will drop by using unidentified procedure codes, but I want to code them correctly.
You may remember that the American Medical Association (AMA) has been pushing for an end to ICD-10 since 2012. During its recent House of Delegates meeting, the AMA reinforced its position that ICD-...
Conquest, War, Famine, and Death have nothing on the Four Horsemen of the ICD-10 Apocalypse: Accuracy Documentation Productivity Reimbursement How do you tame these terrors? With planning and...
A feral flock of wild turkeys has invaded New York City. Seriously. And with them, they bring all sorts ofcode-ready diseases and mishaps. First, turkeys can transmit fun infections such as...
CMS created a mini tempest in June when announced it would not conduct end-to-end testing for ICD-10. CMS has not reversed that decision, but will require MAC to conduct front-end testing in March...
Coders may find assigning codes for sepsis somewhat easier in ICD-10-CM, but they will still face some challenges. Ann Barta, MSA, RHIA, CDIP , and Shannon E. McCall, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CPC, CCDS, detail how to report sepsis in ICD-10-CM.
When an error occurs in coding, sometimes the coders miscodes a record, but in others, the documentation is deficient, leading to incorrect code assignment. Joy Strong, PMP, Donielle Bailey, RHIA, and Jill M. Young, CPC, CEDC, CIMC, discuss how good documentation and accurate coding go hand in hand.
