Provider News

SGR Update: What’s Up With That 21 Percent Physician Pay Cut?

Here’s what you should be watching on Capitol Hill. It’s that time of year again — the time when we all bite our nails wondering if Medicare will slash physician payments in the New Year. This year, the drama is more intense as Congress decides whether to permanently repeal the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula that creates [...] Related articles:

  1. Proposed 2010 Physician Fee Schedule: A Closer Look21.5 percent cut looms for your services Last week, Coding...
  2. PFS 2010 Highlights: Consultations Axed, More Reimbursement for PCPsRight before many of us left for the beach or...
  3. CMS Will Offer New Modifier to Denote Admitting Physician on ClaimsPop the champagne cork & get ready for brand new...

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November 29, 2009
Hot Coding Topics

CPT 2010 Update: Laboratory & Pathology Coding

Stop using general codes for analyte-specific tests. Here’s why. You have 15 new codes scattered throughout the pathology/laboratory CPT chapter, so we’ll help you jump start your 2010 claims with this how-to inventory. “From chemistry to surgical pathology, you’ll find new codes in CPT 2010 that you need to know,” says Peggy Slagle, CPC, billingcompliance coordinator [...] Related articles:

  1. 5 Rules Pinpoint Date of Service for Laboratory ClaimsTip 3: Here’s DOS advice for archived samples. You can’t...
  2. Match Pathology Report Keywords to Uterus Codes Common descriptions and diagnoses lead the way. Never again...
  3. Payer Update: NGS Directives Vs. Proper Skin Lesion CodingIgnore the LCD and stick with what you know about...

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November 29, 2009
Toolkit

Test Yourself: ICD-9 2010 for Ob-Gyn Coders

Is your ob-gyn practice using the new codes correctly? 3 quick questions say for sure. This year, ICD-9 2010 brought new hyperplasia, mammogram, and fertility preservation codes. In some cases, these codes simply expanded on existing options, and it’sup to you to spot when you should report the new versus old alternatives. Dig in to [...] Related articles:

  1. What Diagnosis Code Do I Use for a Fern Test?Ob-Gyn Coding Tip: Scan for leukorrhea signs when fluid is...
  2. Are You Up For ICD-9 2010? Quick Quiz Says For Sure Surgery Coders: These 5 questions reveal if you need an...
  3. Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) Test Coding Tips Make sure you know when to support your coding...

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November 29, 2009
Coding Challenge / modifier 52 / multiple wake test

Can a Sleep Study Code Describe an Awake Test?

Question: A sleep study was ordered for a patient diagnosed with hypersomnolence. The neurologistincluded a multiple wake test in the sleep study. What CPT code should I use for the multiple wake test? Answer: You should use 95805 (Multiple sleep latency or maintenance of wakefulness testing, recording, analysis and interpretation of physiological measurements of sleep during [...] Related articles:

  1. Protect Sleep Study Pay With These Documentation Essentials How to keep your polysomnography claims off Medicare’s hit...
  2. Sleep Study Reimbursement: How to Claim Your Piece of the Pie Medicare promises to cover facility and home-based testing —...
  3. CMS: Apnea is Key for Sleep Testing Coverage Medicare benes who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)...

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November 29, 2009