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Are You Up For ICD-9 2010? Quick Quiz Says For Sure

Surgery Coders: These 5 questions reveal if you need an ICD-9 workout.
October 1 is just around the corner, and that means you’ll soon need to be up and running with the latest ICD- 9 changes. Are you wondering where you should focus your time and energy?
Time-saver: This quiz on the new codes and the basics of […]

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Pediatric Diagnosis Coding Update: ICD-9 2010

Always used V20.2? That’s about to change, along with codes for atypical vaccine schedule, dad courtesy visit & more.

Your preventive medicine services’ diagnosis list is about to expand. Prepare your charge ticket — and your staff — for this major pediatric ICD-9 shift.
When ICD-9 2010 becomes effective on Oct. 1, you’ll welcome broader hazardous history of and pediatric birth visit codes. […]

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Medicare Forms: Are You Ready for HIPAA 5010?

New, standardized reports will show you why your claim was rejected and how to fix it.
You’ve got a few years to implement the HIPAA 5010 form, but CMS wants to make sure you’re completely ready by the time it takes effect on Jan. 1, 2012.
The 5010 form, which will make way for the ICD-10 code […]

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Cardiology Coding Education: Pacemaker Lead Check

Question: The cardiologist documented testing pacemaker leads using fluoroscopy (71090) in the hospital. Which code is appropriate for the testing?
Answer: You mention 71090 (Insertion pacemaker, fluoroscopy and radiography, radiological supervision and interpretation), which is specific to radiological supervision and interpretation at the time of device insertion. So presumably the cardiologist was testing the leads at […]

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52214 Coding Challenge: Fulguration, Then TUIBNC

Question: If my physician went to do a TUIBNC and found bleeding of prostatic varices, fulgurated them, then did the TUIBNC, can I charge the 52214 for the fulguration of the prostatic varices?
Answer: Yes. You can report both the transurethral incision of the bladder neck contracture (TUIBNC) and the fulguration of the bleeding varices your […]

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Wake Up to This New Reimbursement Opportunities for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)

Unblock $950 for genioglossus advancement with these coding & billing tips.
Coders have dealt with denials of treatments for obstructive sleep apnea for years, but proper coding should make now make genioglossus advancement —a radical OSA treatment — reimbursable.
Recently, the American Academy of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery sent letters to Wisconsin Physician Services and Anthem Blue Cross regarding their […]

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Don’t Mesh Up Your +57267 Coding

An ob-gyn doc with coding know-how tells us how to clean up our mesh claims.
Thinking of using +57267 (Insertion of mesh or other prosthesis for repair of pelvic floor defect …)? Given that +57267 can get you about $260 more, it’s a good move to consider for some claims — as long as you understand how […]

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69210? Listen Up to These 3 Cerumen Removal Coding Tactics

Check the notes from this instrumentation before you code 69210.
If your PCP is billing 69210 (Removal impacted cerumen [separate procedure], one or both ears), you can bet the auditors will be checking your documentation. If you follow these 3 tips, you can be sure you’re using the code correctly.
1. Check If Wax Is Impacted
The first thing […]

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Self-Audit Pointer: Critical Care Claims

If you’re looking to self-audit your practice’s critical care claims, consider this tip from Dr. Bruce Rappaport, who taught us all about what government and payer auditors are looking for when we heard him speak at this summer’s Specialty Coding Conference in Orlando.
If your physician has billed for critical care, look at the notes from […]

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IUD Insertion a No-Go: Which Modifier Do I Use?

Question: My ob-gyn tried to place an IUD, but the patient had a stenotic cervix. The physician could not place the device. What modifier should I use?
Answer: The answer depends on whose advice your payer follows.
According to the American Academy of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), you should report 58300 (Insertion of intrauterine device [IUD]) and […]

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