If you are unable to see the message below, click here to view.
Trouble viewing? See it online! Wednesday, November 21, 2018
 

CE Articles
Select the most specific CPT codes and modifiers for anesthesia services

Outpatient procedures involving anesthesia should be reported using five-digit CPT codes as well as applicable hospital modifiers. Review types of anesthesia administration and documentation elements required for accurate code assignment.

Note: To access this free article, make sure you first register here if you do not have a paid subscription.
Decipher documentation and code for TKA in the outpatient setting
Beginning in 2018, total knee arthroplasty (TKA) was removed from the Inpatient Only List and assigned a comprehensive APC payment. Outpatient coders need to ensure they are assigning the correct CPT codes for TKA to reduce their hospital’s risk of audits. 
Recognize -X{EPSU} modifier rules despite CMS maintaining optional reporting
It's been more than three years since CMS introduced a subset of modifiers it wants providers to report instead of modifier -59 (distinct procedural service), but they're still optional as barely any new guidance has been released.
Healthcare News: OIG says Novitas overpaid hospitals an estimated $7.2 million for IMRT services
Findings from an Office of Inspector General (OIG) audit show that Novitas Solutions Inc. overpaid hospitals for intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) services provided to nearly all sampled Medicare beneficiaries over a 30-month period, resulting in overpayments of at least $7.2 million.
Q&A: CPT coding for selective and nonselective wound debridement
Q: How are selective and nonselective wound debridement procedures documented in the medical record and coded using CPT codes?
 

New on JustCoding.com

Platinum members can access new clinical condition encyclopedia entries for fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, Zika virus, and Down syndrome. If you are not a Platinum member and you want to upgrade your account, please call customer service at 800-650-6787.

Free quiz

Test your knowledge with this week’s free quiz, which features CPT codes for surgery of the foot and toes.

Mini poll

What do you look forward to most at Thanksgiving?

Click here to share your answer.

Coder productivity survey

Tell us about your coding productivity metrics for a chance to win a free webinar!

Click here to complete the survey and see how your organization compares to others. Respondents may also opt-in for a chance to win a free HCPro revenue cycle webinar.
 

SelectCoder Tip of the Week

 
ICD-10-CM codes from category L97.- (non-pressure chronic ulcer of the lower limb, not elsewhere classified) may be coded without their underlying cause, if unknown. If the underlying cause is known, sequence the underlying cause prior to the ulcer code. More than one L97.- code may be used on a claim/record depending on the number of ulcers, cause of the ulcers, and location on the lower limb. The same code may only be used once.
 
Interested in more coding tips and claim validation tools? Click here to sign up for a demo or to learn more about SelectCoder. 
 

    

SIGN UP | FORWARD | SPONSOR
 
 

Platinum Newsletters

Platinum members can view the latest stories from Briefings on APCs and Briefings on Coding Compliance Strategies. 
 

Product Spotlight

2019 CPT Update Webinar: Prepare for New Coding, Documentation Requirements

Join expert speaker Peggy S. Blue, MPH, CCS, CCS-P, CPC, CEMC, as she guides participants through the changes and explains what they’ll need to know to accurately report codes and reduce the chance of denials.

Blue will review each section of the CPT Manual and highlight pertinent details for coders, including updates for radiology, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal codes.

For more information or to order, call 800-650-6787 or visit the HCPro Healthcare Marketplace.
 

Contact Us

Sarah Gould
Editor
JustCoding News: Outpatient
editor@justcoding.com


HCPro
35 Village Road, Suite 200
Middleton, MA 01949
800-650-6787
http://www.hcpro.com
 

New to JustCoding?

Click the following links to:
 

JustCoding's Member Spotlight

This month we are pleased to introduce Deborah Clinard, CPC.Deborah has 12 years of experience as a coder and currently works as a practice manager at Women’s and Children’s Specialists, LLC, in Nashville, Tennessee.

What has been most rewarding about your job?

The most rewarding part of being a practice manager is getting to help others and the appreciation that comes from my colleagues and patients.

What is most challenging about your job?

One of the most challenging parts of the job is learning the quirks of a computer system and how to get around them. It takes diligence and attention-to-detail to be a successful medical coder. Another challenging aspect is keeping up with the constant industry changes. It is critical for coding professionals to stay on top of these changes to avoid documenting inaccurate information. 

Continue reading the member spotlight here.
 

Career Center

Post your open positions or find your next career move with the HCPro Career Center.