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?
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.
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.
Review documentation requirements and CPT coding for radiology services including computed tomography and x-ray scans, breast mammography, and bone length studies.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Kimberly A. Hoy, JD, CPC , summarizes proposed changes to physician coding and billing for therapy assistant services in the 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule.
