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Easy Counseling Codes Acceptance with Distinct Dxs

Study frequency guidelines prior to billing for counseling services. Question: A sixty year old established Medicare patients with a confirmed diagnosis of vanishing lung (emphysema) reports to the family physician for a medication check and blood work;... Read >

Diagnosis Coding: Ways to Decode Your Doctor’s Notes

If the doctor doesn't circle a diagnosis, the onus may be on you to find one. Do not let an unfinished superbill ruin your chances of submitting a spot-on claim. If the doctor in your office fails to point out to the ICD-9 code for the condition he tend... Read >

Capture Kegel Exercise Pay With Evaluation/Management

Question: Is there a procedure code for billing for Kegel exercise teaching and can you report 90911 or possibly 97110? Answer: No, there are no particular CPT or HCPCS codes for the performance of or teaching of Kegel exercises. To bill for teaching a p... Read >

Ob gyn coding: Clue in to these CCI edits prior to choosing 0193T

Overlooking these new Interstim and hemorrhoid destruction bundles could mean denial woes. Do not let CCI version 16.1's lack of ob-gyn mutually exclusive edits put you into a false sense of security. Here is what you need to know to put off a denial fro... Read >

Compliance: Restrain upcoding mistakes or risk OIG scrutiny

When dealing with compliance, practice size does matter - even solo practitioners have to stay on the straight and narrow. Even small dermatology coding practices have to stay compliant with government regulations - and even though this sounds like a s... Read >

Anesthesia coding: Figure out the missing EGD reimbursement link

A word of caution: Just including EGD diagnosis with your claim does not ensure reimbursement - here is help. Question: Our anesthesiologist provided anesthesia during an esophago gastroduodenoscopy (EGD) procedure, at the request of the attending doctor... Read >

Surgical Coding: Heed These Hernia Bundling Rules

Did you factor in a foreign body removal code by any chance? Question: During an open hernia repair for a reducible umbilical hernia, the surgeon detects a sizeable gallstone embedded in the omentum extending into the preperitoneal fat and he excises th... Read >

Radiology Coders – Tighten up your Lap Band Coding

If your radiologist carries out adjustments during the surgery's global period, do this. Question: Our radiologist carries out percutaneous LAP-BAND adjustments. We go for S2083 for the service and 77002 for the fluoroscopy. Is this the right fluoroscop... Read >

Diagnostic Tests Documentation for Sure-Shot Success

Professional and technical components are the keys. What do insurers anticipate for documentation of tympanometry or other diagnostic tests? That's precisely the question Pediatric Coding Alert subscriber Paula Escobar with Riverside Pediatric Group ask... Read >

Be aware of these RAC fast facts

Be aware of these RAC fast facts Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs) are just another tool in the government's armory to gather inappropriate payments. You have got so many compliance acronyms flying at you each day that you may not be able to discrimin... Read >

Oncology coding: Figure out the proper adverse reaction code

See to it that you describe all the circumstances surrounding a push to get complete reimbursement. Question: Should I report a push if a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patient has an adverse reaction to Rituximab less than 15 minutes into the ordered hour-lon... Read >

Do Away With Your Breast Implant Coding Challenges

Do not miss out on 19342 pay for delayed insertion. Your general surgeon may carry out breast reconstruction after cancer, infection, trauma or burns, or in few cases, firmly for cosmetic reasons. See to it that you capture appropriate implant pay, when... Read >

Watch Out For These Endoscopy Bundles

Code 31575 covers 92511 and 31231 except under these conditions Singling out the right endoscopy code when your otolaryngologist tests multiple areas in the sinuses and throat is not always an easy bet; however in most cases it is very important to sett... Read >

Your Electronic Medical Records Transition Will Pay Off

Five reasons your electronic medical records transition will pay off The hard work hassle of ignoring paper documentation is not in vain. Question: Our office is measuring the pros and cons of transitioning to electronic medical records (EMRs). We kno... Read >

Coders: Here is your 411 on FHR

Know what FHR involves and when patients stand to benefit. An initial FHR (femoral head resurfacing) procedure covers only the femoral head and not the acetabular socket of the hip joint. The surgeon mills the femoral head and implants a metal hemispher... Read >