Hospital coders must develop and adhere to internal E/M coding guidelines and CPT guidance to accurately report visits to the ED. In addition, because ED coding encompasses professional and facility billing, they may need to scour provider documentation to determine the correct E/M service level for both bill types.
Providers will find significant leeway in how they can approach and report advance care planning services for physicians given CMS’ open-ended coding requirements, which should push the already strong growth of the codes to new heights.
Coding for knee arthroscopies can be challenging, especially when procedures are performed in multiple compartments of the same knee. Read about anatomy and coding details required to accurately report these procedures.
Review advice from experts on accurate documentation and CPT coding for chronic care management, knee injection services, and health and behavior assessments.
In 2018, most organizations held the line on coder productivity, according to the results of sister publication HIM Briefings’ 2018 coding productivity survey.
Pay close attention to new CPT documentation and coding guidance for reporting radiological imaging. For example, a new paragraph titled “Imaging Guidance” in both the surgery and medicine guidelines advises that even when imaging guidance or supervision are included in a surgical procedure code, you must still follow the radiology documentation requirements in the CPT manual.
CMS has downgraded the supervision requirements for services performed by radiologist assistants working in medical practices, imaging centers, and radiology offices. Read about these 2019 changes to ensure accurate documentation and reporting for radiology services.
The 2019 CPT code update includes 19 code additions and three revisions to the cardiovascular section of the CPT Manual. These changes reflect advances in surgical treatment for cardiovascular conditions such as heart failure and aortic stenosis.
Take cues from the revised NCCI Policy Manual for Medicare Services to polish your coding and billing efforts in 2019 and avoid common infractions tied to modifier -50 (bilateral procedure).
CMS hit the brakes on making imminent changes to the oft-used E/M code set that’s tied to billions of dollars in medical practice revenue. Review updates to E/M payment and documentation requirements effective January 1 and the extensive changes planned for implementation in 2021 under the 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule.
Along with E/M changes for 2019 and beyond , the 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule final rule contains a plethora of regulations impacting reimbursement, including new modifiers for therapists.
Outpatient procedures involving anesthesia should be reported using five-digit CPT codes as well as applicable hospital modifiers. Review types of anesthesia administration and documentation elements required for accurate code assignment. Note : To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
Peggy S. Blue, MPH, CPC, CCS-P, CEMC , reviews the key characteristics of physician visits administered to patients in skilled nursing facilities and E/M coding for these services.
E/M code assignment for hospital admissions based solely on the provider’s documentation of face-to-face-time spent with a patient can be confusing and requires a detailed understanding of CPT guidelines. Lori-Lynne A. Webb , CPC, CCS-P, CCP, CHDA, COBGC , reviews reporting requirements for E/M visit levels based on the provider’s documentation of time and CPT coding for hospital admissions.
A common error and audit finding affecting providers is the lack of a physician order or physician signatures on medical documentation. Kimberly A. H. Baker, JD, CPC , reviews CMS guidance for physician signatures on medical documentation.
A July 2018 update to the OPPS clarifies that coders can report HCPCS code C9749 for an inherently bilateral procedure with modifiers -73 or -74 to indicate that the procedure was unilateral. Debbie Mackaman, RHIA, CPCO, CCDS, unpacks this seemingly contradictory guidance and addresses implications for coding and billing professionals.
Coding professionals will need to familiarize themselves with 2019 updates to the ICD-10-CM Manual , including significant changes to chapter two for neoplasms and chapter 5 for mental disorders. Shannon McCall, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, CPC, CEMC, CRC, CCDS , summarizes important 2019 ICD-10-CM updates , which will impact payment for claims submitted on or after October 1.
The fiscal year (FY) 2019 ICD-10-CM code update, released on June 11, includes 279 code additions, 143 revisions, and 51 invalidations. The number of changes is significantly less than the past two years, which makes me think we are getting back to the “norm” of expected yearly changes.
