Hospitals are approximately two months into the Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) Program that began with Medicare fee-for-service discharges on or after October 1, 2012. The Hospital Readmission Reduction Program is also well underway. Deborah K. Hale, CCS, CCDS, and Susan Wallace, Med, RHIA, CCS, CDIP, CCDS, explain the important role coded data plays in these and many other quality-of-care-related initiatives.
Penny arrived at the Stitch ‘Em Up Hospital with a benign growth on her thyroid gland (ICD-10-CM code D35). The growth isn’t causing any functional problems, so we don’t need to report any additional...
Misusing modifier -25 (significant, separately identifiable E/M service by the same physician on the same day of the procedure or other service) can be an expensive proposition. Just ask Georgia Cancer Specialists I, a leading oncology practice in Atlanta.
Our coding experts answer your questions about observation orders, sequencing additional diagnoses, coding for wound care with no-cost skin substitute, and reporting cardiac rehabilitation and physical therapy together.
The Hospital Outpatient Payment Panel recommended CMS change the supervision requirements for 15 HCPCS and CPT codes during its second meeting this year in August. CMS released details of the meeting September 24.
In this month's issue, we review correct use of modifier -25, walk through observation case studies, discuss the pros and cons of dual coding in preparation for ICD-10, review the supervision decisions of the Hospital Outpatient Payment Panel and CMS, and answer your coding questions.
Robert S. Gold, MD, gives coding guidance on primary cardiomyopathy, SIRS, sepsis, acute respiratory distress syndrome, and conditions during the perinatal period.
Most of the odd ICD-10-CM codes, the ones that make us laugh or roll our eyes, live in Chapter 20 (External causes of mortality). Here you will find such gems as: X32, exposure to sunlight (which...
When coding for neoplasms in ICD-10-CM, coders will notice some differences in clinical documentation and sequencing. ICD-10-CM and ICD-9-CM coding for neoplams share some similarities, but ICD-10-CM...
When I first heard that the American Medical Association (AMA) is still fighting against ICD-10 implementation, I thought, “Seriously?” and rolled my eyes. In case you haven’t heard, the AMA’s House...
External cause codes in ICD-10-CM are intended to provide data for injury research and evaluation of injury prevention strategies. Some are humorous and some are confusing. Rhonda Buckholtz, CPC, CPMA, CPC-I, CGSC, COBGC, CPEDC, CENTC, explains how and when to use these codes.
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, JustCoding will provide an occasional article about specific anatomical locations and body parts as part of a larger series for ICD-10-CM preparation. This month’s column addresses the anatomy of the shoulder.
Organizations looking for real-world examples of ICD-10 education can check out the plan created by Ginger Boyle, MD, of Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System in South Carolina.
