For the last so many decades, we’ve been using ICD-9. ICD-9, which stands for International Classification of Diseases, 9th edition is the system of codes used to classify every disease…
From patient accounting systems to sticky notes and "cheat sheets" posted in exam rooms, ICD-9 codes permeate the health care environment, translating the information in medical records to numbers on…
One question we are asked a lot is "what are the approved manuals for the medical coding CPC exam from AAPC?" The most surprising "non change" is there is no…
Are you preparing for the medical coding CPC exam? If so, the best way to prepare is with CPC exam practice questions. You can get free questions at Medical Coding…
If you are a new coder looking to get your certification in 2014 take a deep breath! AAPC is not requiring you to be tested on ICD-10. ICD-9 is what…
Remember the new, uber-complicated system of medical codes coming soon? You know, the ones that will tell your insurance company whether this was the first, second or third time your…
While the changes in ICD-10 has more to offer but the challenges that exists are worth the effort. The providers and the coders too will need to comprehend the new…
In the past six months, hospitals have considerably increased their internal training efforts in preparation for the transition to ICD-10, according to a survey conducted by the consulting firm Health…
BuildYourEMR today announces the availability of SmartSheet10™ as a standalone solution. SmartSheet10 is an ICD-10 toolkit that provides a unique way for healthcare providers to convert their ICD-9 codes cheat…
Here is what you should check in your physician’s documentation. As the conversion takes place from ICD-9 to ICD-10 in 2013, you will not be treating the codes in a way you always did. Often, you will have more options that may need tweaking the way ...
ICD-9 2011 and ICD-10 2011 both have coding options for a malignant neoplasm of the main bronchus. Both indicate that the codes are appropriate for malignant neoplasms of the carina or hilus of lung. What’s different: ICD-9 2011 includes simply 162.2...
Denials for mismatched CPT and ICD-9 codes cost practices thousands of dollars every year. SuperCoder.com will soon help you ensure your links are correct helping you further reduce your denials rate. Plus, more code details and pictures will improve y...
You can sit back and enjoy the fall foliage spectacle — SuperCoder.com’s got your ICD-9-CM 2011, National Correct Coding Initiative 16.3, and October Medicare Physician Fee Schedule medical coding updates covered. Go ahead and search for th...
Align ‘medical necessity’ with ICD-9 instruction.
Ordering a human papillomavirus (HPV) screen with a Pap test isn’t the same as ordering a reflex HPV screen following an abnormal Pap. Although ICD-9 instruction and coverage rules might appear to be at loggerheads, our experts can show you the way out.
Question: Should the physician order a screening and/or reflex HPV Pap test (such as 87621, Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid [DNA or RNA]; papillomavirus, human, amplified probe technique) with V73.81 (Special screening examination for human papillomavirus [HPV])?
What you stand to gain: “Many ‘V’ codes are paid as part of a screening benefit for patients who have those specific benefits,” says Tina Burkhalter, billing manager with SouthEastern Pathology in Rome, Ga. On the other hand,
“tests ordered with diagnostic codes tend to go to the deductible,” she says. “We hear from patients complaining that they must pay for the HPV test because their insurer tells them we used the ‘wrong’ code.”
Medical Necessity Points to 795.0x
Although no national coverage policy exists for screening HPV testing to evaluate cervical cancer risk, many payers follow the consensus guidelines recommended by the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP).
A core ASCCP recommendation is to screen for high-risk HPV DNA in patients over the age of 20 years with a Pap cytologic result of 795.01 (Papanicolaou smear of cervix with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance [ASC-US]). The guidelines also address the role of HPV with other Pap outcomes in special populations, such as recommending reflex HPV testing for postmenopausal women with cytologic findings of 795.03 (Papanicolaou smear of cervix with low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion [LGSIL]).
Key: If your payers have adopted any or all of these guidelines, you’ll need to report the Pap findings, such as 795.01, to show...
You’ll turn to a V code when your neurologist reports ‘no effects,’ however.
When your neurologist sees a patient who had a stroke, either recently or in the distant past, he may record a number of different conditions — which makes your job more difficult. If you remember a few guidelines, you’ll select the proper ICD-9 codes for every cerebrovascular accident (CVA) case your neurologist treats.
Get Specific With 2 CVA Diagnosis Codes
When your neurologist sees a patient who has had a stroke, or CVA, he may document multiple deficiencies, both new and lingering. When the patient presents with...
Don’t be caught asleep: Patient history is one element of proper Dx coding.
Many coders hesitate to report V codes, or simply use them incorrectly, but sometimes this section of ICD-9 most accurately describes the reason for the patient’s condition....