Reference Books

[Patricia L Diaz]

Need some help on this dilemma...Our office will be relocating within the next year, I have heard that reference books such as CPT/ICD-9/HCPCS and so on, should be kept even though they are from previous years and are not being used.

Does anyone know what/if there are any guidlines or links that can help me to determine weather I drag these books with me, or just the ones that I use for the current year???

Any feedback will be helpful!

[sgarrett]

I don't know of any specific rules or guidelines but you might need a set for each year that you could have to go back and appeal a claim or if a payer attempts to recoup several years back and you need the reference materials. Of course, recoupment rules are different in each state for the commercial payers. Government payers (Medicare, Medicaid, TriCare, etc.) don't have any recoupment limitations that I'm aware of.

I personally have a copy of CPT/HCPCS/ICD9 for the last five years. No specific reason for five years...just the number I picked.

[Patricia L Diaz]

Thanks Susan this is pretty much the way I was thinking on this matter...I appreciate you taking the time to respond!