Tag: medical-coding

Hundreds of New ICD-10-CM Codes

Hundreds of New ICD-10-CM Codes Effective Oct. 1

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released on June 20 the new ICD-10-CM codes descriptions, tables and index, and addendum for fiscal year 2020. There are 273 additions, 21 deletions, and 30 revisions, effective Oct. 1, 2019, which will increase the code set from 71,932 to 72,184 diagnoses. Chapter Review The majority of changes to new […]
AMA on Evaluation and Management Service Codes Guidelines

AMA on Evaluation and Management Service Codes Guidelines

Medical coders who were unsure what documentation non-Medicare payers would expect in light of the Patients Over Paperwork Initiative now have more to go on. The initiative reduced documentation requirements for outpatient evaluation and management service codes (CPT® 99201-99215) provided to Medicare Part B patients beginning in 2021. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) indicated in their initiative that, although […]
CMS To Revamp Coding For New Medical Technology

CMS To Revamp Coding For New Medical Technology

Dive Brief CMS Administrator Seema Verma announced Thursday the agency will overhaul coding regulations that she argues have hindered beneficiary access to new medical technology. Medical device companies will now be able to apply for a new permanent Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code twice a year, instead of annually. CMS also recently eliminated […]
Medicare Payments For Top 10 ASC Codes

Medicare Payments For Top 10 ASC Codes Through 2019

Medicare payments for the top 10 current procedural terminology codes performed by ASCs are expected to remain relatively stable in 2019 compared to 2018, according to VMG Health. 66984: Cataract surgery with insertion of intraocular lens prosthesis (one-stage procedure), manual or mechanical technique Estimated 2017 payments: $1,172 Estimated 2018 payments: $1,206 Estimated 2019 payments: $1,182 45380: […]
5 Medical Billing Trends

5 Medical Billing Trends

The global medical billing outsourcing market is poised to expand for years to come as medical practices face challenges related to multiple payers and medical code representation, and large practices consolidate, according to a new report by Grand View Research. Five billing trends, based on the report: The global medical billing outsourcing market is projected to reach […]
Psychiatric Facilities

Psychiatric Facilities Could See Payments of $75 Million In 2020

CMS has released the inpatient psychiatric facility proposed rule. Approximately $75million is projected to be paid to inpatient psychiatric facilities (IPF), according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed 2020 inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) released on April 19. IPF-PPS applies to inpatient services for psychiatric hospitals and distinct psychiatric units of […]
HCPCS and CPT Codes

What’s New In 2019 For CMS

This year’s reporting for the Quality Payment Program will affect the 2021 payment year. Kevin J. Corcoran, COE, CPC, CPMA, FNAO, delivered his annual update at Hawaiian Eye 2019, highlighting changes CMS would be making this year for coding, payment issues, regulatory matters, administrative issues and reimbursement issues. The Medicare Physician Fee Schedule did not […]
Moderate Sedation Coding

Moderate Sedation Coding

Moderate sedation coding, also sometimes referred to as conscious sedation, is a drug-induced depression of consciousness. A patient who has been sedated in this way is relaxed and generally insensitive to pain, but remains awake and able to respond to verbal instruction. If medically necessary and properly documented, moderate sedation is a separately reported service. […]