CPT 2010 / Hot Coding Topics / Pain Management

Facet Joint Injection Coding for 2010

Marvel Hammer’s Quick Start Guide to changes you’ll face in 2010. Tons of pain management coders gathered at the Orlando conference this week, and everyone was abuzz about the coding changes the painful reimbursement cuts their practices are going to get next year. Some big news: Effective January 1, 2010 radiological imaging will be required and bundled [...] Related articles:

  1. MAC Auditors Will Stick It To Facet Joint Injection Claims We hook you up with CMS instructions for when...
  2. Pain Management Coding Update: Facet Joint Injection CPT Changes for 2010Pain management, anesthesia, orthopedic, physiatry & neurology coders get ready...
  3. Audit Hot Spot: Facet Joint Injection ClaimsHere’s why the OIG wants to stick it to facet...

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December 8, 2009
Coding Challenge / modifier 54 / modifier 55

Cataract Surgery Coding: When Optometrist Provides Postop Care

We’ve got the modifier you need when the ophthalmic surgeon passes the baton. Question: An ophthalmic surgeon performs cataract surgery, and then turns the patient over to the optometrist for postoperative management only. How should I code between the two providers? Do I need a modifier? Answer: If the ophthalmic surgeon turns the patient over to the [...] Related articles:

  1. Optometry Coding: Eye Exams, Cataract Surgery and Co-ManagementE/M or Eye Code? Choose Wisely With These Documentation Tips...
  2. Ophthalmology Coding: See Your Way to Clear Reimbursement for Eye Exams and Cataract SurgeryChoose the Right E/M or Eye Code to Optimize Reimbursement...
  3. Cataract Removal Eye-Opener: 66984CPT 66984 is the number-one procedure performed in ASCs, according...

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December 7, 2009
Coding Challenge / radiology

How to Code for Screening Mammogram When Radiologist Finds Problem?

Watch out: Results don’t turn screening into diagnostic Question: A patient presented for a screening mammogram, and the radiologist determined the patient needed an ultrasound for a closer look. The patient returned for that test at a later date. Should I code the original mammogram as 77056 instead of 77057 because the radiologist found a possible [...] Related articles:

  1. Radiology Billing Checklist: Rules for Additional Tests without Treating Physician’s OrderKeep these additional test rules at your fingertips if your...
  2. Diagnostic Radiology ICD-9 Code Update: New Mammo Code 793.82 New code 793.82 shakes up the whole 793.x range...
  3. Radiology Coding Tips: Mammograms, CTs, MRIs and MoreRadiology coding is multi-faceted. Here are some foolproof radiology coding...

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December 5, 2009
CPT 2010 / Hot Coding Topics

CPT 2010 Update: Tally Up Common Audiology Code Groups Into Single Codes

Plus, add this new tympanometry code to your cache next year. One of CPT 2010’s initiatives is to move several codes typically performed together into one code. Check out these new audiology testing codes and understand the rationale before Jan. 1 hits. For instance, if your physician performs a vestibular evaluation in 2010, you will report new [...] Related articles:

  1. Diagnostic Radiology ICD-9 Code Update: New Mammo Code 793.82 New code 793.82 shakes up the whole 793.x range...
  2. Can a Sleep Study Code Describe an Awake Test? Question: A sleep study was ordered for a patient...
  3. Bundle of His Recording Coding ChallengeQuestion: How should I report right atrial pacing and recording...

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December 5, 2009
pathology / Toolkit

Zero In On Correct Nasal-Specimen Coding With This Quick Quiz

Missing multiple 88304 specimens could cost your practice $125. Busting the polyps’ “s” myth and identifying separately billable nasal specimens could add hundreds of dollars to a pathology claim. Make sure you’re not falling into two common coding traps by trying your hand at these two questions; then checking your answers. Question 1: The lab receives [...] Related articles:

  1. Coding Challenge: Prior Cancerous Biopsy, But No Residual Tumor Question: We received a mastectomy specimen based on a...
  2. 5 Rules Pinpoint Date of Service for Laboratory ClaimsTip 3: Here’s DOS advice for archived samples. You can’t...
  3. Are You Up For ICD-9 2010? Quick Quiz Says For Sure Surgery Coders: These 5 questions reveal if you need an...

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December 5, 2009
Provider News

Coding News Travels to Florida for 2010 Updates

Do you have a question about how you should code in 2010? Write us and we’ll ask the experts. Princesses have their castles, but the big news in Orlando this weekend is that the Coding Queens are coming to town! This week in Orlando, nationally known coding & billing experts like Marvel Hammer, Melanie Witt, Leslie Johnson [...] Related articles:

  1. CCI 15.2 News: 3,500 New Code Pairs, Plus Modifier Status Changes CPT continues to add new codes, and the Correct Coding...
  2. News Flash: Over 300,000 New Code Pair Edits from CCIExtra! CCI also creates a few welcome deletions. If you...
  3. AboutCoding News is the essential digest of updates and advice...

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December 4, 2009
E/M / Hot Coding Topics / modifier 26

ED Coding Education: FAST Exams

Watch It: If you fly through FAST exam coding, you could miss vital info When your physician performs a FAST (focused assessment by sonography for trauma) examination, be sure to go through the notes slowly or you could miss one of the three common codes. FAST exam patients are almost always in some physical trauma, which requires [...] Related articles:

  1. Coding for OB Ultrasounds and Annual ExamsCoding for OB Ultrasounds Are you confused about ultrasound coding?...
  2. Radiology Coding Education: Is 76705 OK for Back?Question: For a lower back ultrasound of a soft tissue...
  3. Pediatric PE Coding: Look Out for These Documentation Misses Here’s why oral thrush could be a major issue....

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December 2, 2009
Pain Management / Toolkit

Pain Management Coding: TPI Do’s and Don’ts for Pay You Can Keep

Sample ICD-9 codes to support medical necessity for trigger point injections. Counting the right items, knowing insurer-allowed diagnoses, and documenting affected muscles will get your trigger point injection (TPI) claims paid while protecting you from paybacks. Further, knowing each insurers’ covered diagnoses for TPIs is vital to healthy coding. √ Do Count Muscles Injected Coders should report 20552 (Injection[s]; single [...] Related articles:

  1. Trigger Point Injection Coding: Count Targets, Not Shots Become the top TPI gun in your coding department...
  2. Dx Coding Moves That Stop Denials for Chronic Pain ClaimsTip: Code prior conditions in these cases. Imagine your pain...
  3. Pain Management Coding Update: Facet Joint Injection CPT Changes for 2010Pain management, anesthesia, orthopedic, physiatry & neurology coders get ready...

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December 2, 2009
Coding Challenge / Pain Management

How Do I Code an Epidural Blood Patch on Same Day as L&D

Don’t forget to double-check these 2 things to find the correct code. Question: How do I code an epidural blood patch procedure on the same day as labor and delivery? Should I include a modifier? Answer: Administering a blood patch on the same day as labor and delivery is unusual because most physicians try to manage spinal [...] Related articles:

  1. 64450 or 64421: Which Code to Tap for TAP Block?Question: What exactly is a “tap block,” and what code...
  2. How Do I Code Blood Draw Plus E/M?Question: An established type II diabetic patient comes in for...
  3. Will S Code Pay Off for Cord Blood Collection?Question: My ob-gyn did cord blood collection. I have these...

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December 2, 2009