Category: Medical Coding

New Medical Coding Rules for E M Visits

New Medical Coding Rules for E M Visits

Q: Do the new 2021 coding rules for office visits apply to all payers or just Medicare and Medicaid? Also, are these rules just for office visits, or can we use them for hospital visits, nursing home services, and home visits? A: The changes to the documentation requirements are for codes 99202-99215 only and are […]
Rules Are Changing_ The Impending Transition to ICD-11

Rules Are Changing: The Impending Transition to ICD-11

The World Health Organization (WHO) updates ICD codes every 10 years to improve clinical use and acknowledge innovations in healthcare. After the tumultuous transition to the 10th revision of the International Classification of Diseases, simply mentioning the phrase “ICD-11” is liable to strike fear in the hearts of revenue cycle professionals and healthcare providers across […]
AMA Approves 2 New CPT Codes for COVID-19

AMA Approves 2 New CPT Codes for COVID-19

One of the codes, CPT Code 99072, is for reporting additional supplies used to mitigate spread of the virus. The American Medical Association (AMA) announced, Sept. 8, two new Category I CPT® codes to meet the changing needs of the healthcare industry brought about by the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). The codes were approved […]
See What’s New for ICD-10-CM

See What’s New for ICD-10-CM

Make sure your diagnosis coding is up to date by reviewing this chapter-by-chapter summary of the changes effective October 1. The future is here, and it brought diagnosis codes for hoverboard accidents. But that’s not all that’s changed in ICD-10-CM 2021, effective Oct. 1, 2020, through Sept. 30, 2021. Below are highlights from the 56-page […]
2021 CPT Code Set Simplifies E_M Coding, Adds COVID-19 Tests

2021 CPT Code Set Simplifies E/M Coding, Adds COVID-19 Tests

  The American Medical Association (AMA) implemented major changes to the 2021 Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code set in an effort to simplify coding and documentation of office visits and other outpatient evaluation and management (E/M) services. The code set released earlier today modified E/M office visit codes 99201 through 99215 to eliminate history and physical exam as […]
CPT Code for 2021

CPT Code for 2021

In the upcoming year, medical coders can anticipate a more streamlined process in adapting to the revised code set, which encompasses alterations in E/M codes and more. Notably, the CPT® Editorial Panel has sanctioned a smaller number of new codes for 2021, providing a welcomed respite. This is particularly relieving in light of the comprehensive […]
2021 E_M Guideline and Leveling Changes

2021 E/M Guideline and Leveling Changes

Providers need a mechanism to be accurately reimbursed for the time and effort that they expend in providing care. Evaluation and Management (E/M) leveling has been the standard method in which to provide appropriate, defensible payments for services. However, it has been successfully argued that the 1995 and 1997 E/M guidelines in place today are […]

10 Weird ICD-10 Codes

In this article, we going to discuss the 10 weird ICD-10 codes that most physicians haven’t had to use yet. W55.21 – Bitten By Cow ICD Code W55.21 is a non-billable code. To code a diagnosis of this type, you must use specify a 7th character that describes the diagnosis ‘bitten by cow’ in more detail. The […]
Do ICD-10 Codes Accurately Reflect COVID-19 Symptoms

Do ICD-10 Codes Accurately Reflect COVID-19 Symptoms?

Although the integration of big data into health care has been increasing in recent years, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has brought this practice to the forefront, as many hospitals and care facilities struggle to keep accurate and timely records of COVID-19 cases while adhering to changing procedures implemented at the federal level. “The use of […]
AMA Announces New CPT Codes for Coronavirus Testing

AMA Announces New CPT Codes for Coronavirus Testing

The American Medical Association (AMA) has recently expanded its Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code set to include four additional codes for coronavirus testing. These new codes facilitate providers in reporting a wider range of laboratory tests for the novel coronavirus on medical claims. The newly introduced CPT codes are as follows: •86408: SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody […]