Tag: Coding guidelines

2023-CPT-Code-Set

2023 CPT Code Set, Aims to Reduce E/M Coding Burden

The 2023 CPT code set will update the rest of the E/M code section after significant changes in 2021, as well as revise AI and virtual care codes. The American Medical Association (AMA) has released the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code set for 2023, which contains updates that aim to reduce medical coding burden for […]
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CMS Finalizes Additional Payment for New COVID-19 Treatments

CMS’ Fourth COVID-19 Interim Final Rule with Comment Period (IFC-4) includes additional payment for new COVID-19 treatments, price transparency requirements for COVID-19 diagnostic tests, and coverage for potential vaccines among other provisions. Most provisions of IFC-4 became effective November 2. Hospital Payment for New COVID-19 Treatments The New COVID-19 Treatments Add-on Payment (NCTAP) will provide additional Medicare […]
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Coding Denials: Back to Basics

Coding must be supported by documentation, but also by the Official Coding Guidelines. While preparing for a clinical validation presentation on acute kidney injury denials, I took inventory of the most common denials and recoveries obtained by payers. It came as no surprise that sepsis, severe malnutrition, and encephalopathy were at the top of the […]
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COVID-19 Specimen Collection Codes

Clinical diagnostic laboratories can identify specimen collection for COVID-19 testing using two new HCPCS Level II codes, effective March 1, 2020. Check Patient Location Before Coding Medicare posted these new COVID-19  specimen collection codes in a March 31, 2020, special edition MLN Connects and in a last-minute revision to the April 2020 HCPCS Level II […]
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The Dilemma of Coding and Reporting Deep-Tissue Pressure Injury

Confusion and apprehension surround new guidelines for deep-tissue pressure injury. The release of the 2020 Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting (OCG) has resulted in confusion and apprehension surrounding the intent of the new guideline related to the new ICD-10-CM codes for pressure-induced deep-tissue damage, or deep-tissue pressure injury (L89.-6). The ambiguity stems from what […]
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10 Tips To Prepare Practices For E/M Office Visit Codes Changes

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has taken steps to overhaul codes used for Evaluation and Management (EM) office visit codes. The initiative aims to reduce documentation burdens that interfere with patient care, the American Medical Association says. The professional organization for the nation’s physicians is providing a series of educational materials to support […]
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Updates to the 2020 ICD-10-CM Guidelines

Cliff notes for the FY20 ICD-10-CM Guidelines for Coding and Reporting. EDITOR’S NOTE: Senior healthcare consultant Laurie Johnson reported this story live during Aug. 13 edition of Talk Ten Tuesday. The following is an edited transcript of her reporting. Last week, I announced that the 2020 ICD-10-CM guidelines were finally released on Aug. 6, 2019. I […]
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