HCPCS / Pain Management / Provider News

Check New HCPCS Codes to Keep Pain Management Claims on Track

Catch the changes to botulinum toxin and neurostimulator electrode codes. As a pain management coder, you’re facing new CPT codes for posterior intrafacet implants, paravertebral facet joint injections, and sacroplasty. While preparing to implement these additions, don’t overlook HCPCS changes for botulinum toxin injections and implantable neurostimulator electrodes. Pay Attention to Botox Units A new code for botulinum [...] Related articles:

  1. Botox Wastage: How Do I Code It Correctly? Question: My pain management physician treated a patient’s migraine...
  2. HCPCS 2010: CMS Debuts New J CodesSynvisc, penicillin get new codes — along with injectibles for neurology,...
  3. Pain Management Coding: TPI Do’s and Don’ts for Pay You Can KeepSample ICD-9 codes to support medical necessity for trigger point...

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December 8, 2009
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
CPT 2010 / Hot Coding Topics / radiology

Celebrate CT Colonography’s 2010 Move to Category I

But don’t assume the new codes will yield improved fees. Virtual colonoscopy coverage may be a mixed bag, but the AMA showed some confidence in the service by moving its codes from temporary Category III status to full-fledged Category I in 2010. The switch from Category III to Category I does offer some hope of better reimbursement [...] Related articles:

  1. New CPT Codes for Cardiac CT, Imaging Appear for 2010Plus: Say goodbye to two perfusion codes. If you’ve ever...
  2. Virtual Colonoscopy Reimbursement: Still ‘Virtual’ For Now Many cancer clinicians are all for virtual colonoscopy because...
  3. Don’t Wait for CPT: Maximize Virtual Colonoscopy Payment Now Learn whether to file an ABN with 0066T, 0067T....

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November 30, 2009
CPT 2010 / Hot Coding Topics

Urology CPT 2010: 3 New Codes, 2 Deletions Change Your Urodynamics Coding

Urodynamics income will go down by half, experts calculate. You will have three new urodynamics codes to learn starting Jan. 1. CPT 2010 adds the following codes: • 51727 — Complex cystometrogram (ie, calibrated electronic equipment); with urethral pressure profile studies (ie, urethral closure pressure profile), any technique • 51728 — … with voiding pressure studies (ie, bladder voiding pressure), any technique • 51729 — … [...] Related articles:

  1. Urology Coding: TURP, Urodynamics and Stone RemovalTURP 101: Use This Comprehensive Guide to Master TURP Coding...
  2. Urology Coder’s ICD-9 2010 UpdateGet Ready Now for Urinary Diversion, Renal Disease Dx Changes...
  3. Is this Biopsy Mistake Costing Your Urology Practice $400 Per Claim? Tip: Look beyond the term ‘fulguration’ when you choose...

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November 21, 2009
CMS / CPT / Medicare / Provider News

Medicare Changes to 2010 CPT Inpatient Consultation Codes

Prevent 99251-99245 denials in 2010 with this checklist. Multiple physicians using the same hospital codes sounds like a recipe for denials, but that’s what Medicare is instructing physician inpatient consultants and care coordinators to do. Whether carriers will kick out these submissions as coordination of care or inpatient admit limiting admit edits is contractor specific, Charles [...] Related articles:

  1. Medicare 2010 CPT Consultation Code ChangesNew rules for consult coding straight from the AMA Meeting...
  2. Medicare’s Consult Rule Trickle Down Effect And what it means for pediatric practices. A report...
  3. Proposed 2010 MPFS: $26 More for ‘Welcome to Medicare’ ExamCMS welcomed health care providers to an July 9 open...

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November 13, 2009
CPT 2010 / Hot Coding Topics

From the AMA in Chicago: CPT 2010 Out of Order Codes

Here’s where you can find a full list of resequenced codes. Notice that new sign in your CPT book? No, that hash mark’s not to delete a message or to sign into a conference; it’s to alert you to an out of order code. The “#” works like a flashing yellow light: Slow down, there might be [...] Related articles:

  1. 2010 Tumor Excision Coding: Lesion Vs. Chunk SizeStraight from the AMA in Chicago — answers to your lesion...
  2. Lesion Excision Coding Challenge: 2 Lesions, 1 CutQuestion: Our nonphysician practitioner (NPP) discovers a pair of benign...
  3. Radiology Billing Checklist: Rules for Additional Tests without Treating Physician’s OrderKeep these additional test rules at your fingertips if your...

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November 11, 2009
Provider News

HCPCS 2010: CMS Debuts New J Codes

Synvisc, penicillin get new codes — along with injectibles for neurology, bleeding. Hot on the heels of the new CPT codes, CMS follows suit by publishing the 2010 HCPCS code set, posted on the CMS Web site on Nov. 3. You’ll find scores of changes. What follows is a small sampling of what you’ll face in 2010: Synvisc: HCPCS will [...] Related articles:

  1. Which HCPCS Code Should I Use for Eovist MRI contrast? Question: Which HCPCS code should I use to report...
  2. 2 New HCPCS Codes for H1N1 Vaccine AdministrationPlus: New Bevacizumab code is effective Oct. 1. If you’re...
  3. 2010 CPT Category II & III Codes You Might Miss Yes, our CPT books are fountains of knowledge, but...

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November 10, 2009
Coding Challenge / modifier 59

Cardiology Coding Question: Separate Reporting for 37204

Question: Should I separately report right and left bronchial artery embolization? Answer: You should report 37204 (Transcatheter occlusion or embolization [e.g., for tumor destruction, to achieve hemostasis, to occlude a vascular malformation], percutaneous, any method, non-central nervous system, non-head or neck) twice for right and left lung embolization at the same encounter. In addition, if the cardiologist [...] Related articles:

  1. Cardiology Coding Education: Pacemaker Lead Check Question: The cardiologist documented testing pacemaker leads using fluoroscopy...
  2. 2 New 2010 CPT Codes for High-Tech Cardiology ServicesSteer clear of Cat. I codes for intravascular spectroscopy — here’s...
  3. OB or Not OB: That’s the Ultrasound Coding QuestionQuestion: For an ultrasound, the radiologist documented measurements of the uterus,...

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November 7, 2009
Cardiology / Hot Coding Topics

2 New 2010 CPT Codes for High-Tech Cardiology Services

Steer clear of Cat. I codes for intravascular spectroscopy — here’s where to look instead. The CPT update season is fast approaching. Warm up for the changes coming your way with a look at new-for-2010 Category III codes aimed at diagnosing coronary artery disease. Match 0206T to MCG One of the new Category III codes with a Jan. 1 [...] Related articles:

  1. Cardiology ICD-9 for 2010: All-New Embolism Codes & More A 453.x facelift will require you to hunt for...
  2. Cardiology CPT 2009 Crash Course: Device Monitoring Our programming eval guide can put your 93279-93285 fears...
  3. New CPT Codes for Cardiac CT, Imaging Appear for 2010Plus: Say goodbye to two perfusion codes. If you’ve ever...

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November 7, 2009
Hot Coding Topics

Track Payer’s Preferred H1N1 Admin Code — or Risk Rejections

Code 488.1 does not = confirmed lab. Swine flu has made an early arrival in several states and in your 2009 preventive and sick coding. To avoid denials for H1N1 vaccination administration, you’re going to have to check which of three administration code options your major payers want. “Some payers want you to use the new [...] Related articles:

  1. 2 New HCPCS Codes for H1N1 Vaccine AdministrationPlus: New Bevacizumab code is effective Oct. 1. If you’re...
  2. Correct ICD-9 Coding for H1N1 (Swine Flu) Before you carry your swine flu diagnosis over to...
  3. Capture Vaccine Admin Without Charging Products These VFC FAQs help you report the seemingly impossible....

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November 3, 2009
CPT / Hot Coding Topics

New CPT Codes for Cardiac CT, Imaging Appear for 2010

Plus: Say goodbye to two perfusion codes. If you’ve ever wondered whether Medicare actually pays attention to CPT’s Category III codes, the AMA offers an answer with the release of the new codes included in CPT 2010. First and foremost, CPT will delete the Category III cardiac computed tomography (CT) imaging codes 0144T-0151T and replace them with [...] Related articles:

  1. Cardiac Anesthesia Workshop: Coding for TEE Discover if your transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) anesthesia is payable...
  2. 2010 CPT Category II & III Codes You Might Miss Yes, our CPT books are fountains of knowledge, but...
  3. Break Down Outpatient ESRD Into These G-Code Mirroring Cat I Codes We tell you the inpatient dialysis codes that trigger...

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October 27, 2009
CPT / modifier 22 / Provider News

Surgical Coding Update: 21930, 21931 & More Debut for CPT 2010

Tumor excision codes get specific. Will surgical oncology practices take a reimbursement hit? We’re starting to learn what new CPT codes we’ll be using come January 1, 2010. Coding News will keep you posted over the coming weeks, along with analysis from coding experts around the country so that you know what to expect for your practice’s [...] Related articles:

  1. Pain Management Coding Update: Facet Joint Injection CPT Changes for 2010Pain management, anesthesia, orthopedic, physiatry & neurology coders get ready...
  2. 141 New ICD-9 Codes Debut for 2010 Like a passel of fresh-faced debutantes, the new ICD-9...
  3. Surgical Coding: Modifiers 58, 78, and 79SURGICAL MODIFIER CHOICES Surgery Modifier Choices are Key to Surgery...

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October 27, 2009
Coder's Cranium

ASC Coding Education: Knee Diagnoses & Procedures

Choose this ICD-9 code if you see ‘jumper’s knee’ in the orthopedic surgeon’s note. Here’s a handy introduction to common ICD-9 codes related to the knee, along with examples of CPT codes for procedures physicians perform to treat knee diagnoses. Chondromalacia Patella Chondromalacia patella (717.7) is also known as “patellofemoral syndrome” or “runner’s knee.” This condition results when [...] Related articles:

  1. Orthopedic Coding Quick Start Guide: ASC Shoulder ProceduresShoulder ICD-9 and CPT codes you’ll most likely see in...
  2. Test Yourself: Total Knee Replacement (TKR) Coding Can you tackle an op note like this one...
  3. Anesthesia Coding Education: Sciatic Nerve Block & Same-Day General AnesthesiaQuestion: My anesthesiologist performed a sciatic nerve block for a...

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October 17, 2009
Hot Coding Topics / modifier 54 / modifier 57

Fracture Care Coding: Mark Manipulation, Make $100+ More Per Encounter

No maybes here: Answer this question wrong and you will code incorrectly. When your ED physician performs fracture care for a patient, be ready to pounce on evidence of manipulation, as CPT often breaks fracture care codes along the manipulation line. The $kinny: Let’s say the physician performs closed treatment on a fractured collarbone; if she uses [...] Related articles:

  1. How Do I Code This Multiple Fracture Accident Patient?Question: A 30-year-old female presents to a rural ED with...
  2. Sort Out This ER, Then Assumed Care ScenarioQuestion: My orthopedist treated a patient who was first seen...
  3. Weber B Fracture Repair: 27786, 27788 or 27792?Question: Which CPT and ICD-9 codes should we report when...

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October 12, 2009