Coders append modifiers to claims every day, but use some modifiers less frequently than others. Lori- Lynne A. Webb, CPC, CCS-P, CCP, CHDA, COBGC, discusses the proper use of two less common modifiers, modifiers -62 and -66.
October 1, 2014, is a little more than 14 months away. Where do your ICD-10 implementation plans stand? Do you know what resources you’ll need for the transition or when you should providing training...
One of the big changes to coding glaucoma in ICD-10-CM is the addition of laterality to the codes. ICD-10-CM includes options for right, left, bilateral, and unspecified. ICD-10-CM also includes...
Facilities may be reluctant to charge for bedside services beyond the room rate because they fear double-dipping. Kimberly Anderwood Hoy, JC, CPC, and William L. Malm, ND, RN, CMAS, discuss what CMS does—and doesn’t—say about charging for ancillary services .
The demand for coding labor may increase as much as 20%–40% over the next two years, according to a recent report, The State of H.I.M.: A Study of the Impact of ICD-10, CDI, and CAC Initiatives Within the Health Information Management Community. Trust Healthcare Consulting Services, LLC, which published the report, surveyed more than 300 HIM professionals in all types of healthcare facilities in nearly every state. The majority of participants (84%) were HIM directors.
Healthcare data continues to become the industry’s newest hot commodity. Ralph Wuebker, MD, MBA, and Yvonne Focke, RN, BSN, MBA, explain what information facilities can extract from PEPPER reports.
The clinical documentation specialist role is relatively new, but can be a great place for coders. Lois Mazza, CPC, reveals why coders should consider taking on this role.
Q: Some of our providers see patients in our local nursing facilities. When these patients are admitted to our hospital, must we retain this documentation in our own records?
In late June, CMS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the 2014 ICD-10-CM codes without the updated guidelines. Those guidelines are now available on the CDC website ...
When we talk about root operations in ICD-10-PCS, we often focus on the 31 root operations in the Medical and Surgical section of the manual. After all, we’re going to use those codes the most and...
Everyone likes to think physicians are infallible (especially physicians), but accidents do happen, even during surgery. In ICD-9-CM, we can choose between two possible codes for a hemorrhage (998.11...
Ancillary department staff may think they don’t need ICD-10 training, but they’re wrong. Lori Purcell, RHIA, CCS, and Kathy DeVault, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, offer tips for preparing ancillary department staff for ICD-10-CM.
The upcoming transition to ICD-10 is a great opportunity to build relationships with physicians. Kathy DeVault, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P, Mark N. Dominesey, MBA, RN, CCDS, CDIP, HIT Pro-CP, and Ann Barta, MSA, RHIA, reveal how coders and clinicians can educate each other to make the ICD-10 transition smoother.
Coders who want to get a head start on coding in ICD-10-CM can now download the 2014 ICD-10-CM codes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and CMS websites. The updated coding guidelines for ICD-10-CM are not available yet.
ICD-10-CM coding for diabetes mellitus will look very different from the ICD-9-CM coding . Shelley C. Safian, PhD, CCS-P, CPC-H, CPC-I, AHIMA-Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer, explains what coders need to know to code diabetes in ICD-10-CM.
Ah, the Fourth of July, picnics, parades, and pryotechnics. What could be better? Well, not having your family and friends end up at Fix ‘Em Up Clinic the next day would be a good start. Alas,...
In ICD-10-PCS, coders will need to select the root operation based on the objective of the procedure (not what the physician calls it). If the physician’s objective is to strip out by force all of a...
Do EHRs enable fraud and abuse by encouraging upcoding? What other factors could have led to higher levels of E/M coding over the past decade? Who or what organizations are responsible for ensuring compliance?
