Anesthesiologist / Coding Challenge

Burn Coding: Calculate Total Body Surface Area (TBSA)

Investigate your physician’s documentation to determine the body area percentage actually debrided. Question: My anesthesiologist administered anesthesia for a burn excision on the leg of a middle-aged adult male, but he didn’t give clear notes on the patient’s affected body surface area. How do I code for this? Kansas Subscriber Answer: You will start by coding 01952 (Anesthesia [...] Related articles:

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  3. Coding Challenge: Foot Foreign Body Removal Vs. Soft-Tissue FBRQuestion: Our physician performed a foreign-body removal (FBR) on a...

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February 17, 2010
Hot Coding Topics / modifier LT / modifier RT / Oig

Coding Compliance: OIG Targets Transforaminal Epidural Injections

Verify that you’re counting injections and levels correctly to keep claims clean. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) Work Plan for 2010 includes a closer look at Medicare payments for transforaminal epidural injections. The Work Plan specifically states, “We will review Medicare claims to determine the appropriateness of Medicare Part B payments for transforaminal epidural injections.” Stay [...] Related articles:

  1. Save Time Coding Facet Injections With This Coding Tool Hint: Location, number and substance are key. Several factors...
  2. Anesthesia Coding Education: Combined Spinal EpiduralQuestion: Our anesthesiologists sometimes mark our C-section tickets as “combined...
  3. Trigger Point Injection Coding: Count Targets, Not Shots Become the top TPI gun in your coding department...

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February 17, 2010
Provider News

Physician Fee Schedule Update: An Extension for the Temporary Conversion Fix?

Fear not: The CF may stay until autumn, but the current snow storm is delaying the official word. Practices that were looking for a permanent change to the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula before March 1 may come up empty-handed. However, Congress appears to be planning to offer an extension of the pay cuts that you’re [...] Related articles:

  1. Proposed 2010 Physician Fee Schedule: A Closer Look21.5 percent cut looms for your services Last week, Coding...
  2. SGR Update: What’s Up With That 21 Percent Physician Pay Cut? Here’s what you should be watching on Capitol Hill....
  3. CMS Issues Corrections to 2009 Physician Fee Schedule Final RuleIt’s that time of year again — time to get...

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February 17, 2010