AAPC’s senior VP of products answers more of your questions about coding for office and other outpatient services. Ever since the release of the new 2021 evaluation and management (E/M) guidelines for office and other outpatient services, AAPC has been conducting numerous trainings through webinars, virtual workshops, conference sessions, online courses, and multiple articles in […]
Deciding which code to use starts with determining each payer’s policy. The Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) has two principal subsystems, referred to as Level I and Level II. Knowing when to use HCPCS Level I codes versus HCPCS Level II codes can be confusing, mainly because many services are described by both code […]
Implement periodic external audits to ensure your claims are accurate and will hold up to payer scrutiny. The year 2020 was unequivocally the year of healthcare changes. We had multiple ICD-10-CM, CPT®, and payer coding guideline changes associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. We had the new American Medical Association (AMA) and Centers for Medicare […]
The application of this code will not result in additional payment for a billed E/M visit service. In its February MLN Connects newsletter, CMS reminds providers that HCPCS add-on code G2211 (visit complexity inherent to E/M associated with medical care services that serve as the continuing focal point for all needed healthcare services and/or with medical care […]
Physicians will soon start having an easier time — and perhaps get paid more money — when they code for evaluation and management (E/M) services, thanks to the American Medical Association (AMA). The first major changes to the definitions for E/M services will be in effect as of January 1, 2021, with all payers expected […]
After some delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, CMS has released the final rule for the 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. The final rule unveiled by CMS yesterday evening will dictate how much Medicare physicians get paid for delivering care starting January 1, 2021. In the rule, CMS finalized a conversion factor of $32.41, which is a […]
Coding professionals face a new landscape in today’s evolving job market where productivity and results are the main drivers behind the operational and financial health of the organizations they support. With artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing (NLP) advancing at a rapid rate, it is imperative that coding professionals remain competitive and are equipped […]
As 2020 winds down, typically everyone from newscasters to sports reporters to anyone with a Twitter handle will write a “Year in Review” article, adding their predictions for the upcoming year. So we thought we would do the same – take a look back and also a look ahead. 2020 has been a fascinating year. […]
For several years, we’ve seen Medicare and the American Medical Association’s Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) manual slowly approach the age of telehealth. Despite a lot of discussion and many headlines during each of the past few years, the codes and coverage embracing the modern age of medicine have lagged far behind the technology. This isn’t […]
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 […]