** The coding information and guidance are valid at the time of publishing. Learners are encouraged to research subsequent official guidance in the areas associated with the topic as they can change rapidly.
Understanding 2020’s Unexpected Updates
Blog Post: Digging into HIM & Coding
Last week, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released 12 new ICD-10-PCS codes to report the administration of therapeutic substances in the treatment of COVID-19. All these codes are in the New Technology (X) section and allow for reporting of four specific and one nonspecific substance. | Read More.
Critical Questions for Critical Care
Blog Post: Digging into HIM & Coding
This blog post has been a long time coming, as this topic has been top-of-mind since 2018, when critical care services were placed on the Office of Inspector General (OIG) work plan. Since that time, I have had an opportunity to review hundreds of critical care charts from multiple facilities. To say that I have become passionate about good critical care documentation is an understatement. Fortunately, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the American Medical Association (AMA), and other specialty societies publish a lot of guidance on critical care documentation. Although there are multiple facets to critical care billing, this article is focused on the one thing I repeatedly find lacking in charts: medical necessity.
Tips & Expertise: ICD-10-PCS for Replacement Procedures
Q: A patient with a previous hemiarthroplasty (say, right hip) comes in for a THR. Do you code the removal and replacement of the device (head/stem) and just replacement of the liner/cup? Q: How do you code polyethylene exchange of the left total knee. They took out the old one and placed a new one. Continue Reading to learn more!
Tips & Expertise: CPT Coding for Sinus Surgery
Q: Please explain again, when to report unlisted code for turbinate procedures?A: There are three turbinates: inferior, superior and middle. There are parenthetical instructions in CPT following codes 30130, 30140, 30801, 30802 and 30930 that state these codes are...
Sniffing Out Sinus CPT Coding
Blog Post: Digging into HIM & Coding
Did you know there are two separate nasal cavities, eight sinuses, and six turbinates to consider when coding sinus surgery?! This can make for quite a coding challenge! Most sinus surgeries performed are called Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS), which are procedures performed to open up sinus cavities to promote airflow and drainage. Properly coding these procedures requires understanding of sinus anatomy and being familiar with the parenthetical notes in this section of the CPT book. Here are five tips to get you started in correct code selection.
Tips & Expertise: ICD-10-PCS for GI Procedures
Q: Can you explain when the approach for laparoscopically-assisted procedure through an orifice would be used? A: This approach was added to the GI system in fiscal year 2018 to report a laparoscopically-assisted anal-pull through procedure. This procedure is...
Faxing Your Resume and Staying Humble with Deanna Upston
Publication: NEC Podcast
Haugen’s consultant, Deanna Upston catches up with creator of the Medical Coding Geeks, Brian Cui in a recent episode of the Not Elsewhere Classified (NEC) Podcast. Deanna shares her journey from medical assistant to faxing in her resume and landing her first coding job. | Read More.
Tips & Expertise: CPT for GI Endoscopy Procedures
Q: If the physician removes a polyp using cold biopsy forceps, do we bill a biopsy, snare polypectomy or an ablation?A: For this, you would bill the biopsy code. The snare polypectomy would require use of a snare and the ablation codes would be for destruction. Q: Can...
Coding Colonoscopies
Blog Post: Digging into HIM & Coding
When coding for colonoscopies for Medicare patients it is crucial to understand the following: What is a screening colonoscopy? Which codes are applicable? Is a modifier required? | Read More.
Tips & Expertise: ICD-10-PCS for Podiatry
Q: How is a double osteotomy bunionectomy coded? Does it require more than one code? A: The intent of a double osteotomy is to make two cuts in the bone – either two in the metatarsal head or one in the metatarsal head and one in the proximal phalanx – to correct...