General Surgery Coding Alert - 2006 Issue 2
ONCOLOGY: Confused By Cancer Care Demo Project? Help Is At Hand
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Article Overview
This article covers a Medicare oncology demonstration project affecting evaluation and management visits for certain cancer patients. It is aimed at oncology and hematology billing staff, coders, and practice managers who need to understand the broad reporting workflow, documentation expectations, and how supporting worksheets or templates may help practices manage the program.
Why This Topic Matters
The article is relevant to practices that bill oncology E/M services and need to recognize a special demonstration reporting process tied to specific cancer diagnoses. It also highlights operational issues that affect charge capture, documentation, and coordination with physician guideline selection.
Article Sections
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Tips to capture demonstration reimbursement
An overview of the demonstration project and the general billing workflow used to identify qualifying visits. The section focuses on practice-level setup and reporting concerns.
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CMS and ASCO support materials
Discussion of guidance materials issued by federal and specialty organizations, including worksheets and related information resources. The section explains how these materials are intended to support documentation and data collection.
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Documentation and guideline source requirements
Coverage of the documentation elements practices need to capture for the program, including physician guideline source notation and worksheet handling. It also addresses how practices may organize chart documentation for eligible patients.
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Disease state, original diagnosis, and coding issues
A look at how disease-state information is handled for qualifying cases and the types of data-entry or code-list issues that may arise. The section also notes a reported coding inconsistency needing clarification.
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Practice workflow for identifying eligible patients
Operational suggestions for tracking patients, preparing templates, and coordinating staff responsibilities before visits. The section emphasizes process planning and software support.
What You Will Learn
- How the oncology demonstration project affects reporting for qualifying visits
- What kinds of organizational guidance and worksheets are associated with the program
- What documentation elements practices are expected to capture
- How practices can organize workflow to identify and prepare eligible patients
- What operational issues can complicate implementation of the demonstration project
Who Should Read This
- Oncology coders
- Hematology practice billers
- Revenue cycle staff
- Practice managers
- Physician documentation staff
Codes Discussed
Code Ranges Discussed
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