The handbook's format and style of presentation follows that of previous editions inspired by the Faye Brown approach to coding instruction. The handbook is authored by Nelly Leon-Chisen, RHIA, Director of Coding and Classification at the AHA.
Fiscal year 2021 code updates, including new information on COVID-19, vaping-related disorder, history of diabetes mellitus or hypertension, immunodeficiency, cytokine release syndrome,cerebrospinal fluid leak, intracranial hypotension, neonatal cerebral infarction, and “chronic stroke”
Up-to-date guidance on coding signs and symptoms, diseases, disorders, procedures, conditions, complications of care, long-term care, and more
Reflects the Official Coding Guidelines
Over 200 chapter-based and final review exercises
Built-in workbook of case summary exercises
More than 50 four-color illustrations of anatomy, common disorders, and procedures
Select the title to see a summary and a link to the full article.
May 25th, 2021
PCS Coding for Ankle Fracture - Look Deeper Into the Codes!
By Christine Woolstenhulme, QCC, QMCS, CPC, CMRS | Published May 25th, 2021
If you're looking for ankle fractures in ICD-10-PCS, you may need to look a little deeper. Let's take a look at coding an ankle fracture such as a trimalleolar fracture. PCS coding can be confusing as it is nothing like CPT coding; with CPT we can simply code an ankle ...
By Christine Woolstenhulme, QCC, QMCS, CPC, CMRS | Published March 16th, 2021
13. Diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99)
Code: Description:M05.7A Rheumatoid arthritis with rheumatoid factor of other specified site without organ or systems involvementM05.8A Other rheumatoid arthritis with rheumatoid factor of other specified siteM06.0A ...
By Christine Woolstenhulme, QCC, QMCS, CPC, CMRS | Published March 16th, 2021
18. Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)
Code: Description:R51.0 Headache with orthostatic component, not elsewhere classifiedR51.9 Headache, unspecifiedR74.01 Elevation of levels of liver transaminase levelsR74.02 ...
By Christine Woolstenhulme, QCC, QMCS, CPC, CMRS | Published March 16th, 2021
20. External causes of morbidity (V00-Y99)
Code: Description:V00.031A Pedestrian on foot injured in collision with rider of standing electric scooter, initial encounterV00.031D Pedestrian on foot injured in collision with rider of standing electric scooter, subsequent encounterV00.031S Pedestrian on foot injured ...
By Christine Woolstenhulme, QCC, QMCS, CPC, CMRS | Published October 28th, 2020
Just about any large clinic you visit will have non-physician practitioners, or NPPs. These will include physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and clinical nurses for example. Practices and clinics can bill under the NPPs if they are credentialed with the payer, but the reimbursement is only 85% of the fee schedule. There ...
By Christine Woolstenhulme, QCC, QMCS, CPC, CMRS | Published August 10th, 2020
Coding for pain management can get confusing. How many injections, the location, and when to use a modifier are all common questions. This article will cover some of the most common injections used in pain management.
Trigger Point Injections
Trigger point injections are reported by how many muscles are treated using an ...
By Christine Woolstenhulme, QCC, QMCS, CPC, CMRS | Published July 14th, 2020
The National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) edits were developed by CMS to help promote proper coding and control improper coding that leads to incorrect payments with part B claims. It is important to understand that NCCI edits do not include every possible code combination or every type of un-bundling combination. With that ...
Do ICD-10 Updates Have Your Heart Beating Irregularly? Check Out the New Atrial Fibrillation Codes
By Aimee Wilcox, CPMA, CCS-P, CST, MA, MT, Director of Content | Published October 1st, 2019
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common type of abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia). It is caused by a disorder in the heart’s electrical system. AF is the result of abnormal contractions of the atria (upper two chambers of the heart) causing them to quiver and beat out of sync with ...
By Namas | Published August 16th, 2019 - Last Review/Update August 20th, 2019
Medical ID Theft
"So, do you guys think you can do something with that?" John asked angrily at our first meeting with him in August 2017 as he slammed a stack of medical bills, EOBs and collection letters - three inches high - down in front of my partner and I. ...
The OIG Work Plan: What Is It and Why Should I Care?
By Namas | Published August 9th, 2019 - Last Review/Update August 14th, 2019
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) founded its Office of Inspector General (OIG) in 1976 and tasked it with the responsibility to combat waste, fraud, and abuse within Medicare, Medicaid, and the other HHS programs. With approximately 1,600 employees, HHS OIG is the largest inspector general's office within ...
By BC Advantage | Published July 12th, 2019 - Last Review/Update July 30th, 2019
Last year was historic for HIPAA enforcement. The HHS Office of Civil Rights collected a record $23.5 million in settlements and judgments against providers guilty of HIPAA violations. To avoid becoming part of that unwanted statistic, it’s important to pay extra close attention to five key areas of HIPAA vulnerability.
Take ...
How to Properly Report Monitoring Patients Taking Blood-thinning Medications
By Wyn Staheli, Director of Research | Published June 18th, 2019 - Last Review/Update June 19th, 2019
Codes 93792 and 93792, which were added effective January 1, 2019, have specific guidelines that need to be followed. This article provides some guidance and tips on properly reporting these services.
Q/A: If Orthopedic Tests are Negative, do You List Them in Your Treatment Notes?
By Wyn Staheli, Director of Research | Published May 6th, 2019
Question: If orthopedic tests are negative, do you need to still list them in your treatment notes?
Answer: Yes. Any tests which are performed by a healthcare provider, regardless of the result, should be documented in the patient record. This record is the only way that a reviewer or another provider ...
By Aimee Wilcox, CPMA, CCS-P, CST, MA, MT, Director of Content | Published March 18th, 2019
If you've ever taken piano lessons, you know that the thumb is considered the first finger of the hand. Anatomically, it is also referred to as the first phalanx (finger). However, when you are coding an x-ray of the thumb, images are captured of the thumb, hand, wrist, and all ...
Nine New Codes for Fine Needle Aspirations (FNA) in 2019
By Aimee Wilcox, CPMA, CCS-P, CST, MA, MT, Director of Content | Published January 4th, 2019
If your practice performs a lot of fine needle aspirations (FNA), you probably have the code options memorized (10021 without image guidance and 10022 with image guidance). However, the 2019 CPT codes now include nine (9) new FNA codes (10004-10012), one deleted FNA code (10022) and one revised FNA code ...
Wolters Kluwer provides unit and package pricing for multiple drug price types: Average Wholesale Price (AWP), Wholesale Acquisition Cost (WAC), Direct Price (DP), Manufacturer's Suggested Wholesale Price (SWP), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Federal Upper Limit (CMS FUL), Average Average Wholesale Price (AAWP), Generic Equivalent Average Price (GEAP). Average...
Documentation: Face to Face for Home Health Certification
By Christine Woolstenhulme, QCC, QMCS, CPC, CMRS | Published July 9th, 2018
As a physician, you are responsible for providing appropriate, accurate supporting documentation of your face-to-face encounters (FTF) with your patients regarding home health care.
Analysis of the recent errors identified by the Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) Review Contractor shows a continuing increase in denials related to documentation for the FTF. The ...
Should ROM Testing be Reported with Evaluation and Management Services?
By Aimee Wilcox, CPMA, CCS-P, CST, MA, MT, Director of Content | Published January 9th, 2018
Reporting the performance of range of motion testing (95851-95852) at the same encounter of an Evaluation and Management (EM) service, produces an NCCI edit resulting in payment for the EM service and denial of the ROM testing. Read the article to learn what other codes ROM testing is considered incidental to.
CMS Finalizes Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Model Changes, Cancels Episode Payment Models & Cardiac Rehabilitation Incentive Payment Model
By Find-A-Code | Published December 26th, 2017
According to CMS:
On November 30, CMS finalized the cancellation of the mandatory hip fracture and cardiac bundled payment models that were to be operated by the CMS Innovation Center and implemented changes to the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) Model. These changes will offer greater flexibility and choice for ...
By Christine Woolstenhulme, QCC, QMCS, CPC, CMRS | Published December 12th, 2017
The exact level of the subluxation must be specified in the documentation to substantiate payment of a claim.
You may document the exact bones such as C3, C3 or the area if it implies only certain bones such as the Occipito-atlantal - Occiput, and C1 (Atlas).
C1 is the first vertebra known as the atlas. The axis-form is ...
Documentation: Face to Face for Home Health Certification
By Christine Woolstenhulme, QCC, QMCS, CPC, CMRS | Published February 27th, 2017 - Last Review/Update August 16th, 2017
As a physician, you are responsible for providing appropriate, accurate supporting documentation of your face-to-face encounters (FTF) with your patients regarding home health care.
Analysis of the recent errors identified by the Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) Review Contractor shows a continuing increase in denials related to documentation for the FTF. ...
Correct Coding: Braces (Orthoses) Attached to Wheelchairs
By Christine Woolstenhulme, QCC, QMCS, CPC, CMRS | Published December 4th, 2014 - Last Review/Update August 9th, 2017
Joint DME MAC and PDAC Publication
Recently, claims for braces attached to wheelchairs have been submitted using HCPCS code K0108 - WHEELCHAIR COMPONENT OR ACCESSORY, NOT OTHERWISE SPECIFIED. K0108 is not the correct HCPCS code to use for these items.
CMS has clarified the distinction between braces (orthoses) and durable medical equipment (DME) under Medicare Part ...
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