Modifier -JW is used to describe drug amounts that are discarded and not administered to any patient. Refresh your knowledge of this modifier with coding tips and example scenarios.
Ongoing labor shortages and a competitive hiring market are putting a strain on HIM departments. As competition for qualified staff increases, learn how HIM leaders can turn to a variety of short- and long-term fixes and even find opportunities for improvement.
Coding managers should not assume that they can review every coding guideline, Coding Clinic , or coding-related issue targeted by the Office of Inspector General. Review considerations for conducting focused internal and external audits.
Hospital coding for wound procedures is notoriously difficult, as the process can seem as messy as the injuries themselves. Clarify wound documentation and guidance for reporting wound diagnoses and procedures using ICD-10-CM, CPT, and HCPCS Level II codes.
Modifier -JW is used to describe drug amounts that are discarded and not administered to any patient. Refresh your knowledge of this modifier with coding tips and example scenarios.
The American Medical Association (AMA) recently announced an editorial update to the CPT code set for COVID-19 vaccines that includes new codes for Pfizer-BioNTech’s booster vaccine and Sanofi-GlaxoSmithKline’s (Sanofi-GSK) vaccine candidate.
Q: What is the best way to determine if an E/M service is above and beyond the physician work normally associated with a procedure to justify the use of modifier -25?
Although many provisions of the 2022 OPPS final rule are a light lift for hospitals, several have far-reaching implications. Apply these expert tips to ensure you're up to speed and aware of compliance pitfalls.
Medication Therapy Management (MTM) is a group of services provided by pharmacists that involve active management of drug therapy. Review CPT coding, the role of pharmacists, and documentation tips associated with MTM.
Hospital coding for wound procedures is notoriously difficult, as the process can seem as messy as the injuries themselves. Clarify wound documentation and guidance for reporting wound diagnoses and procedures using ICD-10-CM, CPT, and HCPCS Level II codes. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
Determination of what is medically necessary for any given diagnosis is set forth by the healthcare industry’s Standard of Care. Shelley C. Safian, PhD, RHIA, CCS-P, COC, CPC-I , unpacks local and national medical necessity standards and best practices for avoiding denials due to inadequate documentation .
CMS’ recently released fiscal year (FY) 2023 IPPS proposed rule includes 1,179 proposed ICD-10-CM code additions, mainly affecting reporting for dementia, concussions, and injuries due to motor vehicle collisions. The code changes, if finalized, would take effect October 1, 2022.
Sometimes even the most seasoned revenue integrity professionals get stumped trying to navigate the maze of billing, charging, and coding rules that govern chargemaster structure. Review expert answers to perplexing chargemaster questions.
Podiatry is the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disorders or deformities of the foot and ankle. Read up on foot and ankle anatomy and CPT coding for hallux valgus and rigidus corrections, cock-up fifth toe repairs, toe amputations, and more. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
Lori-Lynne A. Webb, CPC, CCS-P, CCP, CHDA, COBGC , describes the difference between an implant and a foreign body removal and outlines CPT coding for these procedures.
Shelley C. Safian, PhD, RHIA, CCS-P, COC, CPC-I, unpacks local and national medical necessity standards and best practices for avoiding denials due to inadequate documentation .
Although most organizations do a good job of tracking denials by reason, payer, and volume, they miss the mark when communicating information about appeals, according to the results of HIM Briefings’ 2022 Denials Management Survey.
Certain provider services such as acupuncture and cosmetic surgery are not reimbursed by Medicare. This article describes when and how to apply HCPCS modifiers for non-covered services.
Lori-Lynne A. Webb, CPC, CCS-P, CCP, CHDA, COBGC , describes the difference between an implant and a foreign body removal and outlines CPT coding for these procedures. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
A New York City provider received an estimated $1.1 million in Medicare overpayments for behavioral health services that did not comply with billing requirements, according to a recent Office of Inspector General (OIG) report.
CMS recently released an update to the National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) Procedure-to-Procedure (PTP) edit files, introducing more than 4,000 new CPT code pairs. The PTP edits took effect April 1 and primarily involve codes found in the pathology and laboratory section of the CPT Manual .
Physician service modifier -FT for unrelated E/M visits provided on the same day has been a source of confusion for many coding and billing professionals. Review the latest coding and billing guidance for reporting this modifier.
Bruxism, or excessive teeth grinding, is a common condition that is often brought on by stress and anxiety . Debbie Jones, CPC, CCA , describes the causes and symptoms of bruxism and ICD-10-CM coding for the condition.
Facilities can limit their exposure to claim denials and external reviews by implementing a robust internal coding compliance program. This article breaks down components of a coding policy and compliance plan and approaches to monitoring coding quality. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
Electronic health records (EHR) hold all the important information about patients’ medical histories and demographics. Historically, however, they have tended to only include one indication of gender: the gender a patient was assigned at birth.
Facilities can limit their exposure to claim denials and external reviews by implementing a robust internal coding compliance program. This article breaks down components of a coding policy and compliance plan and approaches to monitoring coding quality.
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., according to the National Institute of Mental Health Statistics. Shelley Safian, PhD, RHIA, CCS-P, COC, CIC , breaks down ICD-10-CM coding for common types of anxiety disorders and psychotherapy treatments used to manage them.
Certain provider services such as acupuncture and cosmetic surgery are not reimbursed by Medicare. This article describes when and how to apply HCPCS modifiers for non-covered services.
Following the release of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission’s March report to Congress, the American Medical Association (AMA) urged Congress to revise the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) to include stable, annual payment updates that keep up with inflation and practice costs.
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., according to the National Institute of Mental Health Statistics. Shelley Safian, PhD, RHIA, CCS-P, COC, CIC , breaks down ICD-10-CM coding for common types of anxiety disorders and psychotherapy treatments used to manage them. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
Providers can now code for E/M visits based solely on medical decision-making. Julia Kyles, CPC , outlines how to use the first column of the medical decision-making chart in the CPT Manual to determine E/M level selection.
Arterial embolization is less invasive than open surgery and is often performed as an outpatient procedure in a hospital setting. Lori-Lynne A. Webb, CPC, CCS-P, CCP, CHDA, COBGC, evaluates medical necessity and CPT coding for uterine artery embolization.
CMS recently released new HCPCS modifiers -FR, -FQ, -FS, and -FT for telehealth visits. Julia Kyles, CPC , breaks down reporting guidance for these new physician modifiers that took effect January 1.
Under certain circumstances, a service or procedure may be partially reduced or eliminated at the discretion of the physician. Read up on the correct application of hospital modifiers -52, -73, and -74 for reduced and discontinued procedural services.
CMS recently announced a new HCPCS Level II code for COVID-19 convalescent plasma administered in the outpatient setting, effective for claims submitted on or after December 28, 2021.
To assign the most specific CPT codes for spinal procedures, coders need a solid understanding of spinal anatomy and surgical terminology. Review spinal anatomy and CPT coding for vertebral corpectomies, discectomies, laminectomies, and more. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
The 2022 ICD-10-CM manual includes new codes for thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA)—a rare clinical syndrome defined by the presence of hemolytic anemia, organ dysfunction, and low platelets. Read up on TMA pathophysiology and diagnosis coding.
Under certain circumstances, a service or procedure may be partially reduced or eliminated at the discretion of the physician. Read up on the correct application of hospital modifiers -52, -73, and -74 for reduced and discontinued procedural services.
Organizations may opt to measure productivity using several methods, such as number of charts coded per day or per month, based on their needs, service lines, and other considerations. Some organizations use different productivity metrics for specific settings or account types.
Chapter 19 of ICD-10-CM includes codes for various types of injuries, poisonings, and other consequences of external causes. Review integumentary anatomy and ICD-10-CM coding for burns and superficial injuries.
The 2022 ICD-10-CM manual includes new codes for thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA)—a rare clinical syndrome defined by the presence of hemolytic anemia, organ dysfunction, and low platelets. Read up on TMA pathophysiology and diagnosis coding.
Chapter 19 of ICD-10-CM includes codes for various types of injuries, poisonings, and other consequences of external causes. Review integumentary anatomy and ICD-10-CM coding for burns and superficial injuries. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
State and federal prosecutors continue to extract sizable settlements from practices that allegedly submitted fraudulent claims for one type of service—urine drug tests (UDT). In this article, Julia Kyles, CPC , breaks down fraudulent coding and billing patterns for UDT services.
Q: What is the difference between anterior and posterior approaches to spinal surgery, and when might a physician use a combined (anterior and posterior) approach?
The American Medical Association (AMA) recently announced three new CPT codes for administration of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine in children 6 months to under 5 years old.
Review new CPT codes 98975-98981 for the monitoring of non-physiologic patient data such as musculoskeletal system status, respiratory system status, and medication adherence.
Coding for spinal diagnoses requires careful attention to detail. Take time to review spinal anatomy and ICD-10-CM coding for common diseases of the spinal column and paravertebral tissues. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
CMS recently issued a new HCPCS code for the antiviral medication remdesivir when administered in the outpatient setting. The new code is a response to a statement from the National Institutes of Health regarding therapies for the COVID-19 omicron variant.
Lori-Lynne A. Webb, CPC, CCS-P, CCP, CHDA, COBGC , breaks down CPT coding for subsequent hospital visits and services provided on the day of discharge from inpatient status.
Lori-Lynne A. Webb, CPC, CCS-P, CCP, CHDA, COBGC , breaks down CPT coding for subsequent hospital visits and services provided on the day of discharge from inpatient status.
Fundamentally, what makes outpatient CDI different from inpatient CDI? A multitude of similarities exist between inpatient CDI basics and reviews, but outpatient CDI has many different areas of opportunity.
Review documentation requirements and CPT coding for radiology services including computed tomography and x-ray scans, breast mammography, and bone length studies.
The American Medical Association (AMA) recently announced that it updated the CPT code set to include a new code for a third dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine in children 5 through 11 years old.
Coders continue to be in high demand, and given the importance of this function, evaluating coders’ performance is an essential task for revenue integrity. In this article, Lawrence A. Allen, MBA, CPC, CPMA, CEMA , makes the case for reevaluating coding performance.
Selecting the most specific E/M code for a physician-patient encounter can be tricky. In this article, Lori-Lynne A. Webb, CPC, CCS-P, CCP, CHDA, COBGC , breaks down facility documentation and E/M coding for office visits and initial hospital care.
Review documentation requirements and CPT coding for radiology services including computed tomography and x-ray scans, breast mammography, and bone length studies. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
Medical practices in the U.S. are expanding treatment options for major depressive disorder to include transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Laurie Bouzarelos, MHA, CPC, reviews the basics of TMS, types of providers who can deliver TMS, and ICD-10-CM/CPT coding for TMS delivery and management.
Between 2016 and 2019, Medicare payments to laboratories for genetic tests quadrupled from $351 million to $1.41 billion. This sharp increase in spending on genetic testing is likely linked to excessive and fraudulent billing, according to a recent Office of Inspector General (OIG) report.
CMS recently released the 2022 National Correct Coding Initiative Policy Manual for Medicare Services . Julia Kyles, CPC , breaks down procedure-to-procedure and medically unlikely edits for a selection of new provider-based services.
The 2022 CPT code set includes 249 new codes that went into effect January 1. Review new CPT codes for spinal decompressions, cataract removals, auditory implantations, and more. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
The 2022 CPT code set includes 249 new codes that went into effect January 1. Review new CPT codes for spinal decompressions, cataract removals, auditory implantations, and more.
Shelley C. Safian, PhD, RHIA, CCS-P, COC, breaks down CPT coding for hearing assessments and for auditory osseointegrated implants used to treat certain types of hearing loss.
Q: Effective January 1, CPT codes 94625 and 94626 will replace HCPCS code G0424 for pulmonary rehabilitation. Will these new CPT codes have the same reporting requirements as G0424?
Between January 2019 and August 2020, CMS overpaid physicians an estimated $9.5 million in unallowable Medicare payments associated with facet joint denervation procedures, according to a recent Office of Inspector General (OIG) report.
Tackling reporting errors early on is an essential component of denials management. Leyna Belcher, MSN, RN, CCDS, CCDS-O , describes strategies that coding and billing professionals can employ to reduce claim denials and increase the success rate of appeals.
Shelley C. Safian, PhD, RHIA, CCS-P, COC , breaks down CPT coding for hearing assessments and for auditory osseointegrated implants used to treat certain types of hearing loss.
The American Medical Association recently updated the CPT code set to include 249 new and 93 revised codes, which go into effect January 1. Review significant updates the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and digestive chapters of CPT. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
Joe Rivet, Esq., CCS-P, CPC, CEMC, CHC, CCEP, CHRC, CHPC, CICA, CPMA, CAC, CACO , writes about key regulatory updates in the 2022 Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) final rule, including increased price transparency penalties, changes to the inpatient-only list, and payment changes.
Joe Rivet, Esq., CCS-P, CPC, CEMC, CHC, CCEP, CHRC, CHPC, CICA, CPMA, CAC, CACO , writes about key regulatory updates in the 2022 Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) final rule, including increased price transparency penalties, changes to the inpatient-only list, and payment changes.
Effective January 1, CMS is expanding coverage for the use of telehealth technology to include the delivery of mental health services in underserved areas.
Lori-Lynne A. Webb, CPC, CCS-P, CCP, CHDA, COBGC , unpacks CPT coding for breast biopsies, mastectomies, lymph node excisions, breast reconstructions, and other procedures used to prevent and treat breast cancer.
ICD-10-CM codes for traumatic fractures specify the type of bone injury, affected area of the body, and in some cases, the degree of soft tissue damage. Review orthopedic terminology and documentation requirements for traumatic fractures to resolve the coding challenges.
ICD-10-CM codes for traumatic fractures specify the type of bone injury, affected area of the body, and in some cases, the degree of soft tissue damage. Review orthopedic terminology and documentation requirements for traumatic fractures to resolve the coding challenges. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
The American Medical Association recently updated the CPT code set to include 249 new and 93 revised codes, which go into effect January 1. Review significant updates the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and digestive chapters of CPT.
Four new CPT codes for principal care management services take effect January 1, 2022. Review documentation requirements and billing edits that will affect reporting of these new codes.
CMS recently released the 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) and OPPS final rules, revising E/M coding guidelines for split visit services, retaining Category 3 telehealth codes through 2023, and increasing monetary penalties for hospital price transparency noncompliance.
Lori-Lynne Webb, CPC, CCS-P, CCP, CHDA, COBGC , breaks down CPT coding for mammography, breast ultrasound, and breast magnetic resonance imaging for cancer screening and diagnosis.
Read up on documentation requirements and CPT coding for psychiatric diagnostic evaluations and psychotherapy services. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
Joe Rivet, Esq., CCS-P, CPC, CEMC, CPMA, CICA, CHRC, CHPC, CHEP, CHC, CACO, CAC, reviews findings from a recent Office of Inspector General audit of claims for neurostimulator implantation surgeries and their implications for coders.
The American Medical Association (AMA) recently announced that it updated the CPT code set to include a new code for a booster dose of Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.
Q: What are the reporting requirements for CPT code 99483 (assessment of and care planning for a patient with cognitive impairment) for cognitive assessment and care planning services?
Transcatheter arterial septostomy and transcatheter intracardiac shunt procedures are used to treat congenital cardiac diseases that restrict blood flow and atrial communication. Review documentation requirements and CPT coding for these minimally invasive surgeries. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
The fiscal year 2022 ICD-10-CM code set introduced 165 new codes, effective for encounters on or after October 1. Read about notable changes including new codes for anemia and thrombolysis, COVID-19-realted conditions, depression, and gastric metaplasia.
Transcatheter arterial septostomy and transcatheter intracardiac shunt procedures are used to treat congenital cardiac diseases that restrict blood flow and atrial communication. Review documentation requirements and CPT coding for these minimally invasive surgeries.
The fiscal year 2022 ICD-10-CM code set introduced 165 new codes, effective for encounters on or after October 1. Read about notable changes including new codes for anemia and thrombolysis, COVID-19-realted conditions, depression, and gastric metaplasia. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
Lori-Lynne A. Webb, CPC, CCS-P, CCP, CHDA, COBGC, reviews ICD-10-CM and CPT coding for cervical incompetence, in vitro fertilization (IVF), and postpartum care complications.
Between 2016 and 2017, CMS overpaid hospitals and other providers an estimated $636 million in unallowable Medicare payments associated with neurostimulator implantation surgeries, according to a recent Office of Inspector General (OIG) report.