Procedure Coding
Resources
Find-A-Code Tools and Resources
Additional Links and Resources
Select the title to see a summary and a link to the full article. some articles require a subscription to view.
by Aimee L. Wilcox, CPMA, CCS-P, CST, MA, MT
The Evaluation and Management (E/M) changes made in 2021 and again in 2023 brought about new CPT codes and guidelines for reporting prolonged services. Just as Medicare disagreed with CPT in the manner in which prolonged service times should be calculated, they did so again with the new 2023 changes. Here are three things you should know when reporting prolonged services for all E/M services.
by Aimee L. Wilcox, CPMA, CCS-P, CST, MA, MT
The 2023 Evaluation and Management changes have been published and efforts are ongoing to educate coders and provider organizations on the guideline and code description changes that will impact professional coding in the facility setting. These changes required a significant revision to the guidelines and definitions of the various levels of complexity associated with the Number and Complexity of "Problems Addressed" during an encounter, which is the first element of medical decision making (MDM) and the following explanations and examples should provide a greater understanding of the changes headed our way in January.
by CMS - MLNConnects
Skilled Nursing Facility Provider Preview Reports: Review by November 14 - Help Your Patients Make Informed Health Care Decisions - Ambulance Fee Schedule: CY 2023 Ambulance Inflation Factor & Productivity Adjustment - Compliance - Implanted Spinal Neurostimulators: Document Medical Records - Claims, Pricers, & Codes...
by Aimee L. Wilcox, CPMA, CCS-P, CST, MA, MT
As the COVID-19-related public health emergency (PHE) seems to be dying down, CMS publishes the 2023 Medicare Proposed Rule that outlines more than a dozen major changes to existing programs, including some that relate to telemedicine after the PHE is declared officially over. Of the many changes, seven (7) really stand out and make us think about how the end of the PHE may affect services such as telemedicine or new E/M encounter types.
Sep 15th, 2022
Emergency Department - APC Reimbursement Method
by Christine Woolstenhulme, QMC QCC CMCS CPC CMRS
CMS pays emergency department visits through a payment method using Ambulatory Payment Classifications (APCs). Most payers also use the APC reimbursement system; however, there may be some differences in payer policies (always review your specific payer policy). APCs are the primary type of payment made under the OPPS, comprising groupings ...
Sep 8th, 2022
Are You Prepared to Avoid Repayments
by Raquel Shumway
Watchful care is needed when submitting claims.
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG), after completing an audit on a Medicare Advantage Plan in August 2022, is now demanding repayment of claims to the tune of $3,518,465. Although the payer is contesting that amount, it is possible that they may begin demanding repayments from the providers to cover their costs of repayment.
by Aimee L. Wilcox, CPMA, CCS-P, CST, MA, MT
Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAOs) have gone back and forth on whether or not to use data collected from telehealth, virtual Care, and telephone (audio-only) encounters with Medicare beneficiaries for risk adjustment reporting, but the following published documents from CMS cleared that up once and for all by providing an answer to a question specifically related to this question.
Aug 4th, 2022
Billing and Coding: Bone Mass Measurement
by Amanda Ballif
Guidance for billing, coding, and other guidelines in relation to local coverage policy L36460-Bone Mass Measurement.
by Amanda Ballif
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is soliciting public comments on proposed changes for Medicare payments under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and other Medicare Part B issues effective on January 1, 2023 and thereafter. The Calendar Year (CY) 2023 PFS proposed rule is one of several proposed rules aimed at increasing equity in health care.
Jul 21st, 2022
Addressing Trauma and Mass Violence
by Amanda Ballif
After events of mass violence, it’s easy to feel helpless, like there is little we can do. In fact, we can help individuals, families, and communities build resilience and connect with others to cope together. The SAMHSA-funded National Child Traumatic Stress Network has developed a range of resources to help children, families, educators, and communities including the following which you can access via links in this article.
Jul 20th, 2022
Accurate Coding Is The Key To Your Job - Here's Why
by Find-A-Code™
Medical billing codes dominate your day. They are the raw ingredients you use to do your job. But they are more than just numbers on an electronic form. They are also the life blood of the healthcare industry's billing capabilities.
by Aimee L. Wilcox, CPMA, CCS-P, CST, MA, MT
It appears that the end of the 1135 waivers related to the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) has begun. According to CMS, the residents of skilled nursing facilities, long-term care facilities, and inpatient hospice centers have struggled due to the effects of some of the 1135 waivers. CMS is focusing primarily on removing the 1135 blanket waivers that pertain to certain aspects of care, training, and maintenance of these facilities to ensure the weakest of our citizens are guaranteed adequate care.
by SAMSHA Newsroom
Today, agencies across the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued a joint letter to states, tribes, and jurisdictions encouraging them to prioritize and maximize their efforts to strengthen children’s mental health and well-being. The letter, signed by leaders of the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), and the Administration for Community Living (ACL), outlines HHS’ plans to support and facilitate state-level coordination across federal funding streams to advance and expand mental health services for children.
Jul 7th, 2022
New Audio-Only Telehealth Guidance to Meet HIPAA Rules
by U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Covered entities (healthcare providers and health plans) can use remote communications, called telehealth, to provide services to patients as long as they follow certain guidelines. Because certain populations may have difficulty using audio-video telehealth, HHS is now issuing this guidance on audio-only telehealth. This guidance will help ensure that individuals can continue to benefit from audio-only telehealth by clarifying how covered entities can provide telehealth services and improve public confidence that covered entities are protecting the privacy and security of patients' health information.
by CMS - MLNConnects
News - Comprehensive Error Rate Testing Program Report: Sample Reduced for Reporting Year 2023 - Men’s Health: Talk to Your Patients About Preventive Services - Compliance - Implanted Spinal Neurostimulators: Document Medical Records - Claims, Pricers, & Codes - ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Codes: Fiscal...
by CMS - MLNConnects
News - COVID-19: New Administration Code for Pfizer Pediatric Vaccine Booster Dose - - Biosimilars: Interchangeable Products May Increase Patient Access - - Critical Care Evaluation & Management Services: Comparative Billing Report in May - -...
by Aimee L. Wilcox, CPMA, CCS-P, CST, MA, MT
Have you already implemented a care management services program in your provider organization? If not, now may be the time to seriously consider doing so. Significant 2022 changes to the codes and increases in RVUs and reimbursement rates creates an opportunity not only to improve patient care for chronic conditions but will also help your practice increase revenues if done correctly.
May 26th, 2022
Care Management Billing
by Christine Woolstenhulme, QMC QCC CMCS CPC CMRS
Chronic Care Management (CCM) is taking off, and with new codes and rules, it can get confusing. According to CMS, here are a few guidelines to help you with concurrent billing of CCM services.
You can’t report complex CCM and non-complex CCM for the same patient in a calendar month
Don‘t report ...
May 19th, 2022
Methadone Take-Home Flexibilities Extension Guidance
by SAMSHA Newsroom
On March 16, 2020, SAMHSA issued an exemption to Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs) whereby a state could request “a blanket exception for all stable patients in an OTP to receive 28 days of Take-Home doses of the patient’s medication for opioid use disorder.” States could also “request up to 14 days of Take-Home medication for those patients who are less stable but who the OTP believes can safely handle this level of Take-Home medication.”
The exemption will carry on effective upon the expiration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, subject to conditions listed in this article.
May 17th, 2022
Understanding the Basics of Reporting Mammography Services
by Aimee L. Wilcox, CPMA, CCS-P, CST, MA, MT
How familiar are you with the coding and documentation requirements for screening and diagnostic mammography? What is diagnostic digital breast tomosynthesis and can you bill for it? This article review the basics of reporting screening, diagnostic, and digital breast tomosynthesis.
Select the title to see a summary and a link to the full webinar information. some webinars require a subscription to view.
Jul 7th, 2022
Dealing with the Little Coding Conundrums
by Aimee L. Wilcox, CPMA, CCS-P, CST, MA, MT
Apr 14th, 2022
Reporting Telemedicine Services by Aimee Wilcox
by Aimee L. Wilcox, CPMA, CCS-P, CST, MA, MT
Mar 29th, 2018
Coding and Auditing TeleHealth Services
by Find-A-Code™
Do you report or audit Telemedicine services now or are you considering offering them? Come and learn more about the rules and guidelines surrounding Telehealth services including, documentation requirements, eligible CPT and HCPCS Level II codes, modifiers, and the newest updates to Medicare Telehealth policies.Links and resources by topic.
Assessment Tools
Billing
CPT Coding
Coding
Compliance
HCPCS Coding
Medicare
Practice Management
Procedure Coding
suggest a resource
If you know of a resource that should be included here (links, data, etc.) please contact us.
Thank you for choosing Find-A-Code, please Sign In to remove ads.
Quick, Current, Complete - www.findacode.com