ICD-9 / Toolkit

ICD-9 Sequencing: Ace Late Effects Diagnosis Coding With This Flow Chart

Combination codes for stroke late effects won’t always cover all the details. Proper sequencing is essential when coding for late effects, so use this handy chart to sequence your codes correctly every time. Chart provided by Lisa Selman-Holman, JD, BSN, RN, HCS-D, COS-C, consultant and principal of Selman-Holman & Associates and CoDR — Coding Done Right in Denton, Texas. For easy [...] Related articles:

  1. Flow Chart: Tame the Diabetes Diagnosis Coding Beast When coding for diabetes (250.xx), the fourth and fifth...
  2. Our Flow Chart Does the Incident-To Decision Making for YouSuppose your nonphysician practitioner sees a patient on a day...
  3. Flow Chart: Select the Correct Pediatric Critical Care CodeThis flow chart solves location, transport, age dilemmas to land...

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January 13, 2010
Toolkit

Keep All the Urodynamics Codes Straight With This Handy Cheat Sheet

Knowing the differences between the tests is your key to proper code choice. When your urologist says he performed urodynamics tests, you need to dig deeper into his documentation for clues about which code to report. Tack this overview up by your computer to help you quickly choose the right code every time. • In a simple [...] Related articles:

  1. Urology CPT 2010: 3 New Codes, 2 Deletions Change Your Urodynamics CodingUrodynamics income will go down by half, experts calculate. You will...
  2. CPT 2010 Update: Urogynecology CodingRemember, supervision requirements still apply to new codes. CPT 2010...
  3. Urology Coding: TURP, Urodynamics and Stone RemovalTURP 101: Use This Comprehensive Guide to Master TURP Coding...

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January 8, 2010
HCPCS / Oncology / Toolkit

Oncology Billing Toolkit: Factor 8 HCPCS Changes Into Your Superbill

Watch those Taxotere units, or kiss 95 percent of your reimbursement goodbye. A brand new list of HCPCS codes — including docetaxel and bevacizumab updates — goes into effect Jan. 1 and our 8-step superbill maintenance plan will stop denials in their tracks for 2010. Not using the proper codes will lead to claim rejection, which means “not receiving the proper [...] Related articles:

  1. 2 New HCPCS Codes for H1N1 Vaccine AdministrationPlus: New Bevacizumab code is effective Oct. 1. If you’re...
  2. Check New HCPCS Codes to Keep Pain Management Claims on TrackCatch the changes to botulinum toxin and neurostimulator electrode codes....
  3. Which HCPCS Code Should I Use for Eovist MRI contrast? Question: Which HCPCS code should I use to report...

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January 7, 2010
CPT 2010 / Pain Management / Toolkit

CPT 2010 Code Selection Chart for Paravertebral Facet Joint Injections

CPT 2010 introduces a slew of new codes for paravertebral facet injections, so why not consult our handy flow chart to help you select the correct code? © Neurology Coding Alert. To read the full article on the new facet joint injection codes for 2010, download your 2 FREE sample issues here. Was it painful for you to [...] Related articles:

  1. Pain Management Coding Update: Facet Joint Injection CPT Changes for 2010Pain management, anesthesia, orthopedic, physiatry & neurology coders get ready...
  2. Facet Joint Injection Coding for 2010Marvel Hammer’s Quick Start Guide to changes you’ll face in...
  3. Save Time Coding Facet Injections With This Coding Tool Hint: Location, number and substance are key. Several factors...

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December 10, 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
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
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
Medicare / Toolkit

Coder’s Navigation Tool: 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule

It’s that time of year coders — yes, time to comb through pages and pages and pages of the final 2010 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. We’ve got a handy place to start. If you want a quick overview of fee schedule’s financial impact on your physician practice’s specialty, go here and scroll to page 1171. There, [...] Related articles:

  1. Proposed 2010 Physician Fee Schedule: A Closer Look21.5 percent cut looms for your services Last week, Coding...
  2. How Obama’s Medicare Cuts Hit Physician Reimbursement  The budget released Thursday suggests we cut $300 billion from...
  3. CMS Issues Corrections to 2009 Physician Fee Schedule Final RuleIt’s that time of year again — time to get...

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November 8, 2009
Toolkit

Your New Patient Packet Toolkit

How to use technology to speed up new patient check-in. Not enough hours in the day? Are you always looking for ways to save time? Many medical offices report that sending out new patient packets in advance of the patient’s visit greatly reduces the number of incidents at patient check-in and saves time. “Normally, it would take [...] Related articles:

  1. Front Desk Data Tracking ChecklistClean data means more than just a healthy bottom line....
  2. Dependent-Child Billing & the Birthday Rule Our easy key tells you when the birthday rule...
  3. Checklist Gets You Clean Claims Boost accuracy and payup. Has your office ever received...

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October 28, 2009
RAC / radiology / Toolkit

Radiology Billing Checklist: Rules for Additional Tests without Treating Physician’s Order

Keep these additional test rules at your fingertips if your want to keep auditors out of your hair. The Office of Inspector General and Recovery Audit Contractors are out to audit non-compliant ultrasound claims, so knowing the rules is more important than ever. And we’ve got a link and a handy checklist to keep you out [...] Related articles:

  1. OIG Slaps Radiology Practice With Record $2 Million PenaltyThink it’s okay to provide diagnostic tests without physician orders?...
  2. Documentation Checklist for Complex Radiology Treatment Planning (77263) Think you know all you need to know about...
  3. 3 Big Fee Schedule Changes for Radiology Coding & BillingCapture additional $2,305 for Bilateral 50593 by Applying Fee Schedule...

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October 21, 2009
Toolkit

Toolkit: Chart Cardiology’s CCI 15.3 Changes At-a-Glance

Hang on to this handy table to avoid cath placement coding temptations. Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) 15.3 offered long lists of new edits, but we’ve boiled them down to the ones that affect cardiology coders and billers most. Cardiology Coders: A CCC™ Exam Prep Training Camp is coming to a city near you. Related articles:Take Heart, Cardiology Coders: CCI [...] Related articles:

  1. Take Heart, Cardiology Coders: CCI Deletions Overturn 93296 Denials Go back to the future. 3 months of denials...
  2. Glide Through Neoplasm Coding With This At-a-Glance GlossaryUnderstand primary and secondary malignancies before coding biopsies. Next time...
  3. Where Anesthesia Coders Go Wrong With CS Cath Placement   Your doc needs to do this to get...

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October 15, 2009