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Coding and Healthcare Newsletters

Anesthesia Basics:
Mind P Modifiers or Leave Money on the Table
Tip: Document the one that applies, even if you won’t be reimbursed. One aspect of anes... Read more
News You Can Use:
Review New Rules for Reporting Multiple Unlisted Procedures
Also, make note of the modifiers you can now use with unlisted codes. If your provider h... Read more
HIPAA Help Desk:
Learn These 3 Truths and 3 Myths About PHI
Hint: Proper PHI scrubbing enables elimination of a record’s protected status. From pat... Read more
CPT®:
Ace Holter Monitoring Reporting Every Time With Expert Advice
The date of service differs for component versus global codes. When a cardiologist perfor... Read more
FAQs:
Transform Your Hypotension Coding With 4 FAQs
Report I95.0 for idiopathic hypotension. You will find at least six codes for hypotension... Read more
Revenue:
Stop Denials in Their Tracks With These Handy Tips
Make sure team members communicate clearly with one another. Denials can be a major threa... Read more
Reimbursement:
Join WCA In Their Fight Against Optum Per Diem Payment
Wisconsin OCI to scrutinize whether Optum limits access to quality chiropractic care. ... Read more
Coding:
Wield Your Imaging Edge With the New X-ray CPT® Codes for 2016
Enjoy wider range of Code choices for spinal X-rays. There’s a lot to learn from... Read more
Reimbursement:
Make the Most of 0.5 Percent Increase in Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
Noncompliance with EHR and PQRS to affect the non participating providers. Get ready f... Read more
Procedure Coding:
Answer These Questions to Code Lesion Removals Correctly
Always wait on pathology report before deciding on malignancy. Dermatology coders look... Read more
Case Study Corner:
Improve Lesion Removal Smarts with These Scenarios
You might be able to report a separate E/M in some instances. Check out these case stu... Read more
Compliance:
Make Medicare Status Change Before 2017
Remember: Participating providers receive five percent higher fees for services. As th... Read more
Procedure Focus:
Use These 6 Tips to Code Hearing Tests Successfully
Start by knowing what’s included in an E/M visit. If your practice includes an audiolo... Read more
Coding Quiz:
Evaluate Your E/M and Spirometry Procedure Coding Knowledge
Find out if your coding skills are on point. As a pulmonology coder, evaluation and man... Read more
Specialty Spotlight:
Take a Second Look at MDM Table
Does data factor into this ED E/M claim? Given the recent and extensive changes to the ev... Read more
Inpatient Facility:
3 Ways to Make More Strategic Decisions For Your Rehab Facility
Making time for training pays off in unexpected ways. Growing up in Kentucky, Renee Ki... Read more
ABNs:
Prevent Lost Revenue for Uncovered Procedures
Meet with your patients to improve ABN success. Good news, rehab providers: A signed a... Read more
Regulations:
Final Rule Roundup
Get a breakdown of the key provisions in the final rules that will impact your practice ... Read more
ICD-10 Coding:
Follow These Steps to Burn Coding Success
Corrosion or burn? Here’s why it matters. Patients who report to the ED with burns have... Read more
E/M Coding:
Take a Second Look at MDM Table
Does data factor into this ED E/M claim? Given the recent and extensive changes to the ev... Read more
Cybersecurity:
Stay on Top of Cyber Threats As You Introduce New Tech and Services
Bookmark the HC3 webpage for quick access to federal guidance. With the rise of telehea... Read more
Condition Spotlight:
Shine Light On 3 Ways to Improve Your Colonoscopy Coding
Also: review the differences between modifiers 52 and 53. Colonoscopy coding, while commo... Read more
Inpatient Coding:
Look to This Guidance to Improve Your Inpatient Coding
Keep up with changes in hospital E/M codes. The evaluation and management (E/M) revisions... Read more
Practice Management:
Address Apathy and Burnout, Apply These Expert Tips
Also: learn how to extend the advice to remote workers. No matter the size of your practi... Read more
Condition Spotlight:
Avoid Hangups When Coding Hemorrhoids
Location and count are key to correctly coding hemorrhoids. When the surgeon removes one ... Read more
E/M Coding:
Follow These 5 Tips to Solidify Your Inpatient Care Coding
Stay on top of the hospital E/M revisions. For the last year, you have been using a rev... Read more
Compliance:
Maintain Telehealth Compliance in Your Post-PHE Practice
Vendors under contract are also obligated to adhere to HIPAA rules. Telehealth services ... Read more
HIPAA:
Measure Your Disaster Smarts With 10 Tough Privacy Questions
Remember, HIPAA applies to volunteers, too. When a natural disaster strikes, the last thi... Read more
Artificial Intelligence:
Get Ready for These AI Updates in CPT® 2023
Hint: Analyzing data is just one piece of the AI puzzle. There’s no denying that artifi... Read more
Revenue Booster:
Bolster Your Email Security with 10 Top Tips
Hint: Quiz staff on phishing ploys. Even the most tech-savvy folks get duped by email phi... Read more
Diagnosis Coding:
Master 7th Character Selection Injuries and Complications
Don’t look to aftercare Z codes when caring for an injury. Knowing which seventh... Read more
Expect More 7th Character Options for Fractures
When it comes to fractures, your Chapter 19 seventh character options expand to allow yo... Read more
Coding Quiz:
Can You Assign the Correct 7th Character in These Scenarios?
Take note of expanded options for fractures. While “D” for subsequent enco... Read more
Medicade:
Dreaded 80-20 Rule Finalized Without Enough Changes
Medicaid rates are far too low to support the policy. The news about the Medicaid 80-20 ... Read more
Reimbursement:
The 80-20 Rule Could Have Been Worse
Extended timeline, potential exemptions for small and rural providers may lessen the damag... Read more
Regulations:
Feds Issue Rules On Non-Competes, Overtime Threshold
Don’t be so sure that non-solicitation label will save you. Medicare doesn’t have t... Read more
ICD-10:
Final Word on ICD-10 Yet to Come
Start learning your way around the ICD-10 manual. What’s next? Ever since the su... Read more
Hospice Coding:
Don't Delay: Prepare Hospice Coding Staff for Increased Focus on Diagnosis Coding
CMS asks for your input about terminal illness, related conditions definitions. Your h... Read more
Managed Care:
Counties Covered By MA Hospice Plans Will Nearly Double In 2022
Don’t make the mistake of thinking you won’t be affected if you don’t operate in one... Read more
VBID:
5 Medicare Advantage Plans To Offer Hospice Benefit
Tip: Remember you have to bill both the managed care plan and Medicare for VBID carve-in ... Read more
Regulations:
HOPE Tool Continues Path To Implementation
November Care Compare refresh, new HQRP resources also discussed in forum. Just because... Read more
Knowledge Refresh:
Brush Up on Warm Weather Coding Scenarios
Hint: Anaphylactic shock is a factor in insect bite coding. It seems to be getting warmer... Read more
Specialty Focus:
Rely on These Tips When Using the Neoplasm Table
Check out these best practices to help you locate the right code every time. Even exper... Read more
Diagnosis Deep Dive:
Take on the Nitty-Gritty Details of Coding Pericarditis
Report I30.1 for infective pericarditis. When you encounter pericarditis in the documenta... Read more
Policy/Reimbursement:
Is the Current Pause of QIO Reviews a Lull Before the Storm?
Check with the QIOs for your denied claims status before you take to appeals. In a yet... Read more
Policy/ reimbursement:
Are You Ready for the MACRA Overhaul of the Existing Payment Systems?
AMA wants the implementation to be postponed to July 2017. Get ready for transition to... Read more
Procedure Coding:
Make These Codes Count for School, Sports, Work Physicals
Maintain your coding fitness with preventive E/M codes. If your practice is like most int... Read more
Billing:
Use These Reciprocity Rules When Your Physician Is Away
Know the dos and don'ts of reciprocal billing. Every practice has its procedures for prov... Read more
ICD-10 Coding:
Take These Steps, Get Relief from Pressure Ulcer Coding
Sequencing, site, laterality, severity key to L89 specificity. As a coder, you've probabl... Read more
Quality:
Brace Yourself for Focused Surveys And Compliance Probes
Scrutiny of quality of care likely to reach new highs in 2016. The Centers for Medicar... Read more
MDS 3.0:
Heed These Changes to CAT Specs
Revisions are effective Oct. 1, 2016. Delirium and cognition loss are among the Care A... Read more
ICD-10:
Nail Down Your Understanding of ‘With’ to Boost Coding Success
Hint: Don’t depend on the alphabetic index when searching for ‘with.’ The ICD-10-C... Read more
News You Can Use:
Should Your Facility Invest in Gaming?
Get a glimpse of a near future where resident activities turn virtual. People of all ages... Read more
Industry Updates:
CMS Announces Changes to SFF Program
Beware of more, expanded enforcement actions. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Ser... Read more
Reimbursement:
Get Ready For 2024 With These Quality Updates
Pocket 7 top QPP and MSSP policies for next year. The 2023 rulemaking cycle was a banner... Read more
Know These 2 QPP Policies That Didn’t Get Finalized
Hint: Just because something is proposed, doesn’t mean CMS follows through on it. There... Read more
Enforcement:
OIG Targets Medicare Fraudsters in Latest Report
Post-COVID fallout continues to be a problem. If you need a reminder of why your practi... Read more
Multiple Procedures:
Focus on Debridement Types Before Adding 59
Remember, anatomical area is not an issue for these services. When a physician perform... Read more
News You Can Use:
Note New POS to Nail 'Off-Campus' Coding
Anticipate imminent changes in payment for off-campus provider-based clinics. As of Ja... Read more
Catastrophe/Disasters:
Prepare for the Worst with Modifier CR Smarts
President must make declaration before you can use modifier. While no one wants to thi... Read more
Condition Spotlight:
Move Quickly to Diagnose Patients With Movement/ Mobility Issues
Do you know what fasciculation is? There’s a diagnosis code for it. Patients who report... Read more
E/M Coding:
Find Clarity Amidst MDM Coding Confusion
Hint: Look to MACs for guideline help. The gray areas inherent to medical decision makin... Read more
Cybersecurity:
Stay on Top of Cyber Threats As You Introduce New Tech and Services
Bookmark the HC3 webpage for quick access to federal guidance. With the rise of telehea... Read more
Condition Spotlight:
Take This Avice to Correctly Code TBI Dx
Knowing diffuse, focal TBI definitions critical. Patients reporting to the surgeon with s... Read more
Condition Spotlight:
TBI Surgery Depends on Injury Specifics
TBI treatments range from medication to major surgery. When a patient suffers a traumatic... Read more
Compliance:
Final Rule Aims to Improve Interoperability and Access to Care
Plus: Feds finalize new API requirements and a MIPS measure, too. After the pandemic reve... Read more
Item Focus:
M1340: Use 6 Pointers To Know which Wounds Make the Surgical Wounds Cut
Hint: Look to the OASIS Q&As when you’re stuck with this item. It’s no... Read more
Tool:
Answer Common M1340 Questions with this Chart
Stay up-to-date for greatest accuracy. OASIS item M1340 — Does this patient have... Read more
OASIS-C1:
Prepare to Move Forward with OASIS-C1
New assessment form will go into effect before ICD-10. If you’ve been looking fo... Read more
Gynecology:
Do You Know Whether the LEEP Was a Conization or Biopsy? Follow 3 Steps
Solve potential problems by asking, “Did the ob-gyn remove part of the endocervix?” L... Read more
Coding Quiz:
Test Yourself: Pregnant Patient Annual Exams
Be cautious about what you use for your primary diagnosis. To ethically maximize your ob... Read more
Unlisted Procedures:
Here’s How to Ease Your Unlisted Procedure Coding Process
Key: Reports should use simple, straightforward language. If you’ve ever filed an ob-... Read more
Infusion Coding:
Get the Answers to Your IAC Coding Questions
Good news: They’re a whole lot easier to manage than their IV counterparts. It’s eas... Read more
E/M Coding:
Know These 4 Things to Bill 99211 Correctly
And learn these three reasons for not reporting it. When one of your clinical staff membe... Read more
Care Management:
Remember These 5 Rules for Successful TCM Documentation
Don’t let intimidating, extensive guidelines get in the way of clear coding. When a pat... Read more
Procedure Focus:
Sharpen Your Retina Injectable Rx Coding Skills
Follow these steps to ensure proper payment for drug injections. Although many of your t... Read more
Modifiers:
Be Wise in the Ways of Billing Wastage With -JW and -JZ
Also: Use this clinical example to help you calculate drug waste. Even the most experie... Read more
News You Can Use:
Review New Rules for Reporting Multiple Unlisted Procedures
Also, make note of the modifiers you can now use with unlisted codes. If your provider h... Read more
Reimbursement:
8 Things Your Optometry Practice Must Know About MACRA & MIPS in 2017
Good news: 2017 is a ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ card. Confused about what the ... Read more
Revenue Boost:
Is Your Practice's Optical Shop As Profitable As It Can Be?
This 6-question test says for sure. If you’re like most optometry practices, you... Read more
Revenue Boost:
Are Remakes Eating Away at Your Optical's Profits?
You don’t shell out for the cost of remakes immediately, but if you have a high re... Read more
CPT® Coding Strategies:
Perfect Your Dentoalveolar Excision Coding With These 3 Useful Tips
Hint: Don’t leave $240 on the table by failure to identify right type of repair. ... Read more
ICD-10 Coding:
Decide From Two Options When Reporting Diagnosis of Xerostomia
Hint: Don’t forget to report additional codes to identify alcohol or tobacco use. ... Read more
Medicare News:
Be Informed About OIG's Takedown of Those Receiving Kickbacks
Latest technology and data analysis helps capture more than 300 offenders. If you are ... Read more
Surgery:
Take These Tips to Tackle TKR Coding Head-On
A single surgical code doesn’t mean TKR is easy to report. When a patient requires tota... Read more
E/M Coding:
Answer the How, What, When, and Why for Preoperative Evaluations
Don’t forget to check for comorbid conditions. Knowing how to navigate and select all... Read more
Compliance:
Final Rule Aims to Improve Interoperability and Access to Care
Plus: Feds finalize new API requirements and a MIPS measure, too. After the pandemic re... Read more
ICD-10:
Breeze Through Spring With Denial-Proof Allergy Dx Coding
Debunk these three myths to sail through allergy diagnosis codes. With allergy season in ... Read more
News You Can Use:
Review New Rules for Reporting Multiple Unlisted Procedures
Also, make note of the modifiers you can now use with unlisted codes. If your provider h... Read more
Compliance:
Discover 4 Ways To Overcome Telehealth Compliance Obstacles
Contracted vendors are also obligated to adhere to HIPAA rules. Telehealth services have... Read more
ICD-10-CM Coding:
Try Out These 2 Demanding ICD-10-CM Surgical Setting Scenarios
Use all guidelines at your disposal for post-surgical complications Getting to the bottom... Read more
Modifiers:
Learn The Ropes of Modifier 53 Coding for Terminated Biopsies
Consider a number of variables, including use of CT guidance. Biopsy coding can become a ... Read more
CPT® Coding:
Get Answers to 4 Pertinent Skin Biopsy Questions
Use these FAQs as a reference for your future skin biopsy claims. Any general surgery cod... Read more
Interventional PM:
Put Nerve Blocks, Pain Pumps on PM List
There are several types of nerve blocks for interventional PM. Patients reporting to the ... Read more
Q&A:
Get Your Incident-to Pay While You Still Can
When 2020 ends, so might incident-to. While incident-to might be on its way out, the bill... Read more
Compliance:
Feds Primed to Find Fraud in Opioid Prescribing
Get all your procedures in place to prevent trouble. As 2020 kicks off, PM practices find... Read more
E/M Coding:
Heed This Expert Insight to Correctly Code for Time
Compare these auditor red flags with your practice’s processes. Even for the most seaso... Read more
Revenue Booster:
Boost Your Health IT Checklist With These 10 Resources
See how each agency factors into the HIT equation. Navigating the regulatory waters of h... Read more
Part B Coding Coach:
Ease the Suffering With This Low Back Pain Coding Primer
Hint: Review ICD-10 guidance on coding back injuries. If you find coding low back pain ch... Read more
CPT® Coding:
Remove These 2 Myths for Super-Clean Skin Biopsy Claims
And use this clever coding trick when your provider performs multiple biopsies. Knowing h... Read more
Practice Safety:
Keep Your Staff, Patients Safe With These Lab Precautions
Hint: Follow OSHA, but also have policies in place customized to your practice. Every l... Read more
Reimbursement:
Avoid These 8 Common Medicare Billing Errors to Keep Pay Flowing
Watch those dates of service, MAC addresses, and more. Your provider documented a claim... Read more
ICD-10:
Review These Skin-Related Terms and Conditions
Find guidance on selecting the correct dermatitis codes. As medical coders, you understan... Read more
Condition Spotlight:
Never Again Get Lost While Coding Pharyngitis
Hint: Exposure to smoking may be relevant. Coding pharyngitis may seem cut-and-dried, but... Read more
Practice Management:
Think Twice Before Waiving Co-Pays
See how a simple financial accommodation can cause a huge headache. Healthcare practitio... Read more
Condition Spotlight:
Handle Your Heel Spur Claims Like a Pro
Tip: Calcaneal spurs and heel spurs are one and the same. If your podiatrist performs sur... Read more
Image Coding:
Analyze This Ankle Arthrography Procedure
Find out how to code this arthrogram in your podiatry practice. When traditional joint X-... Read more
Revenue:
Capture These Tips to Stall Denials
Make sure your billing team feels empowered to communicate well. Denials easily cross t... Read more
Best Practices:
Consider These Tips to Monitor Employee Productivity
Hint: Look at workers’ records over a defined period of time. Practice managers know th... Read more
Documentation:
Study These Strategies for Setting Up a Solid CDI Process
Realize the benefits of regular self-audits. Comprehensive clinical documentation is the ... Read more
Training and Education:
Don’t Skimp On Sanction Policymaking, Feds Warn
Tip: Make employee training match duties. Stopping a data breach incident and retrievin... Read more
Condition Spotlight:
Learn to Differentiate Among Headache Codes
Also: review the latest additions to the migraine code set. Headaches come and go, and ma... Read more
ICD-10 Coding:
Navigate These Scenarios, Keep Your Pharyngitis Coding on Track
Hint: Exposure to smoking may be relevant. Coding pharyngitis may seem cut-and-dried, b... Read more
Practice Management:
Upgrade Your Understanding of Transgender Patient Care
Pronoun mismatches can lead to denials. Patients are always looking for healthcare prov... Read more
CPT® 2017:
Alter Your Psychotherapy Reporting Skills in 2017 Using These 3 Scenarios
Hint: Check CCI when reporting family therapy with individual therapy. As you get read... Read more
CPT® Coding:
Get Set to Refresh Family Therapy Reporting Beginning New Year
Hint: Report family codes only if time component is satisfied. As you make way for CPT... Read more
Collections:
Understand the Do's and Don'ts for Handling Nonpaying Patients
Try ‘hard’ collection as your last option. You might be familiar with situ... Read more
Condition Spotlight:
Understand Acute vs. Chronic Pulmonary Edema Coding
Pay attention to parent code notes. Several conditions in the ICD-10-CM code set are cla... Read more
Coding Quiz:
Evaluate Your E/M and Spirometry Procedure Coding Knowledge
Find out if your coding skills are on point. As a pulmonology coder, evaluation and manag... Read more
HIPAA:
OCR Warns Entities About Prioritizing Cybersecurity
Key stakeholders met to discuss ‘interconnectedness’ of U.S. healthcare system. Wit... Read more
CPT® 101:
Don’t Go to Extremes Coding Upper Extremity MRIs
Review the guidelines to know which contrast administration counts. Radiologists use mag... Read more
Payers:
Acknowledge the Need for Strong Relationships with Payers
Getting glimpses of the payer experience is a good first step. While providers may not b... Read more
Modifier Mania:
Recognize When to Modify Radiology Codes With 26 and TC
Do you need 26/TC for professional- or technical-only codes? Radiologists often perform... Read more
Artificial Intelligence:
Use AI to Tackle Your Claims Backlog With These 3 Tips
Remember to review the tech’s code choices. Revenue cycle teams handle thousands of med... Read more
Prior Authorization:
Final Rule Aims to Improve Interoperability and Access to Care
Plus: Feds finalize new API requirements and a MIPS measure, too. After the pandemic re... Read more
Cybersecurity Corner:
Recognizing the Fallout of the Change Healthcare Ransomware Attack
Find out if new regulations could be in store. On Feb. 21, 2024, Change Healthcare fell v... Read more
Ask an Expert:
Learn How To Apply +G2211 in Your Urology Office
Gain some clarity on this useful code. If you’re a typical urology coder, you may find ... Read more
Transurethral Coding Review:
Top Up Your Transurethral Treatment Coding Skills With These Scenarios
Paying attention to what is included and excluded is key. Many transurethral procedures a... Read more
Payers:
Acknowledge the Need for Strong Relationships With Payers
Getting glimpses of the payer experience is a good first step. Though healthcare provide... Read more

Anesthesia Basics:
Mind P Modifiers or Leave Money on the Table
Tip: Document the one that applies, even if you won’t be reimbursed. One aspect of anes... Read more
News You Can Use:
Review New Rules for Reporting Multiple Unlisted Procedures
Also, make note of the modifiers you can now use with unlisted codes. If your provider h... Read more
HIPAA Help Desk:
Learn These 3 Truths and 3 Myths About PHI
Hint: Proper PHI scrubbing enables elimination of a record’s protected status. From pat... Read more
CPT®:
Ace Holter Monitoring Reporting Every Time With Expert Advice
The date of service differs for component versus global codes. When a cardiologist perfor... Read more
FAQs:
Transform Your Hypotension Coding With 4 FAQs
Report I95.0 for idiopathic hypotension. You will find at least six codes for hypotension... Read more
Revenue:
Stop Denials in Their Tracks With These Handy Tips
Make sure team members communicate clearly with one another. Denials can be a major threa... Read more
Reimbursement:
Join WCA In Their Fight Against Optum Per Diem Payment
Wisconsin OCI to scrutinize whether Optum limits access to quality chiropractic care. ... Read more
Coding:
Wield Your Imaging Edge With the New X-ray CPT® Codes for 2016
Enjoy wider range of Code choices for spinal X-rays. There’s a lot to learn from... Read more
Reimbursement:
Make the Most of 0.5 Percent Increase in Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
Noncompliance with EHR and PQRS to affect the non participating providers. Get ready f... Read more
Procedure Coding:
Answer These Questions to Code Lesion Removals Correctly
Always wait on pathology report before deciding on malignancy. Dermatology coders look... Read more
Case Study Corner:
Improve Lesion Removal Smarts with These Scenarios
You might be able to report a separate E/M in some instances. Check out these case stu... Read more
Compliance:
Make Medicare Status Change Before 2017
Remember: Participating providers receive five percent higher fees for services. As th... Read more
Procedure Focus:
Use These 6 Tips to Code Hearing Tests Successfully
Start by knowing what’s included in an E/M visit. If your practice includes an audiolo... Read more
Coding Quiz:
Evaluate Your E/M and Spirometry Procedure Coding Knowledge
Find out if your coding skills are on point. As a pulmonology coder, evaluation and man... Read more
Specialty Spotlight:
Take a Second Look at MDM Table
Does data factor into this ED E/M claim? Given the recent and extensive changes to the ev... Read more
Inpatient Facility:
3 Ways to Make More Strategic Decisions For Your Rehab Facility
Making time for training pays off in unexpected ways. Growing up in Kentucky, Renee Ki... Read more
ABNs:
Prevent Lost Revenue for Uncovered Procedures
Meet with your patients to improve ABN success. Good news, rehab providers: A signed a... Read more
Regulations:
Final Rule Roundup
Get a breakdown of the key provisions in the final rules that will impact your practice ... Read more
ICD-10 Coding:
Follow These Steps to Burn Coding Success
Corrosion or burn? Here’s why it matters. Patients who report to the ED with burns have... Read more
E/M Coding:
Take a Second Look at MDM Table
Does data factor into this ED E/M claim? Given the recent and extensive changes to the ev... Read more
Cybersecurity:
Stay on Top of Cyber Threats As You Introduce New Tech and Services
Bookmark the HC3 webpage for quick access to federal guidance. With the rise of telehea... Read more
Condition Spotlight:
Shine Light On 3 Ways to Improve Your Colonoscopy Coding
Also: review the differences between modifiers 52 and 53. Colonoscopy coding, while commo... Read more
Inpatient Coding:
Look to This Guidance to Improve Your Inpatient Coding
Keep up with changes in hospital E/M codes. The evaluation and management (E/M) revisions... Read more
Practice Management:
Address Apathy and Burnout, Apply These Expert Tips
Also: learn how to extend the advice to remote workers. No matter the size of your practi... Read more
Condition Spotlight:
Avoid Hangups When Coding Hemorrhoids
Location and count are key to correctly coding hemorrhoids. When the surgeon removes one ... Read more
E/M Coding:
Follow These 5 Tips to Solidify Your Inpatient Care Coding
Stay on top of the hospital E/M revisions. For the last year, you have been using a rev... Read more
Compliance:
Maintain Telehealth Compliance in Your Post-PHE Practice
Vendors under contract are also obligated to adhere to HIPAA rules. Telehealth services ... Read more
HIPAA:
Measure Your Disaster Smarts With 10 Tough Privacy Questions
Remember, HIPAA applies to volunteers, too. When a natural disaster strikes, the last thi... Read more
Artificial Intelligence:
Get Ready for These AI Updates in CPT® 2023
Hint: Analyzing data is just one piece of the AI puzzle. There’s no denying that artifi... Read more
Revenue Booster:
Bolster Your Email Security with 10 Top Tips
Hint: Quiz staff on phishing ploys. Even the most tech-savvy folks get duped by email phi... Read more
Diagnosis Coding:
Master 7th Character Selection Injuries and Complications
Don’t look to aftercare Z codes when caring for an injury. Knowing which seventh... Read more
Expect More 7th Character Options for Fractures
When it comes to fractures, your Chapter 19 seventh character options expand to allow yo... Read more
Coding Quiz:
Can You Assign the Correct 7th Character in These Scenarios?
Take note of expanded options for fractures. While “D” for subsequent enco... Read more
Medicade:
Dreaded 80-20 Rule Finalized Without Enough Changes
Medicaid rates are far too low to support the policy. The news about the Medicaid 80-20 ... Read more
Reimbursement:
The 80-20 Rule Could Have Been Worse
Extended timeline, potential exemptions for small and rural providers may lessen the damag... Read more
Regulations:
Feds Issue Rules On Non-Competes, Overtime Threshold
Don’t be so sure that non-solicitation label will save you. Medicare doesn’t have t... Read more
ICD-10:
Final Word on ICD-10 Yet to Come
Start learning your way around the ICD-10 manual. What’s next? Ever since the su... Read more
Hospice Coding:
Don't Delay: Prepare Hospice Coding Staff for Increased Focus on Diagnosis Coding
CMS asks for your input about terminal illness, related conditions definitions. Your h... Read more
Managed Care:
Counties Covered By MA Hospice Plans Will Nearly Double In 2022
Don’t make the mistake of thinking you won’t be affected if you don’t operate in one... Read more
VBID:
5 Medicare Advantage Plans To Offer Hospice Benefit
Tip: Remember you have to bill both the managed care plan and Medicare for VBID carve-in ... Read more
Regulations:
HOPE Tool Continues Path To Implementation
November Care Compare refresh, new HQRP resources also discussed in forum. Just because... Read more
Knowledge Refresh:
Brush Up on Warm Weather Coding Scenarios
Hint: Anaphylactic shock is a factor in insect bite coding. It seems to be getting warmer... Read more
Specialty Focus:
Rely on These Tips When Using the Neoplasm Table
Check out these best practices to help you locate the right code every time. Even exper... Read more
Diagnosis Deep Dive:
Take on the Nitty-Gritty Details of Coding Pericarditis
Report I30.1 for infective pericarditis. When you encounter pericarditis in the documenta... Read more
Policy/Reimbursement:
Is the Current Pause of QIO Reviews a Lull Before the Storm?
Check with the QIOs for your denied claims status before you take to appeals. In a yet... Read more
Policy/ reimbursement:
Are You Ready for the MACRA Overhaul of the Existing Payment Systems?
AMA wants the implementation to be postponed to July 2017. Get ready for transition to... Read more
Procedure Coding:
Make These Codes Count for School, Sports, Work Physicals
Maintain your coding fitness with preventive E/M codes. If your practice is like most int... Read more
Billing:
Use These Reciprocity Rules When Your Physician Is Away
Know the dos and don'ts of reciprocal billing. Every practice has its procedures for prov... Read more
ICD-10 Coding:
Take These Steps, Get Relief from Pressure Ulcer Coding
Sequencing, site, laterality, severity key to L89 specificity. As a coder, you've probabl... Read more
Quality:
Brace Yourself for Focused Surveys And Compliance Probes
Scrutiny of quality of care likely to reach new highs in 2016. The Centers for Medicar... Read more
MDS 3.0:
Heed These Changes to CAT Specs
Revisions are effective Oct. 1, 2016. Delirium and cognition loss are among the Care A... Read more
ICD-10:
Nail Down Your Understanding of ‘With’ to Boost Coding Success
Hint: Don’t depend on the alphabetic index when searching for ‘with.’ The ICD-10-C... Read more
News You Can Use:
Should Your Facility Invest in Gaming?
Get a glimpse of a near future where resident activities turn virtual. People of all ages... Read more
Industry Updates:
CMS Announces Changes to SFF Program
Beware of more, expanded enforcement actions. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Ser... Read more
Reimbursement:
Get Ready For 2024 With These Quality Updates
Pocket 7 top QPP and MSSP policies for next year. The 2023 rulemaking cycle was a banner... Read more
Know These 2 QPP Policies That Didn’t Get Finalized
Hint: Just because something is proposed, doesn’t mean CMS follows through on it. There... Read more
Enforcement:
OIG Targets Medicare Fraudsters in Latest Report
Post-COVID fallout continues to be a problem. If you need a reminder of why your practi... Read more
Multiple Procedures:
Focus on Debridement Types Before Adding 59
Remember, anatomical area is not an issue for these services. When a physician perform... Read more
News You Can Use:
Note New POS to Nail 'Off-Campus' Coding
Anticipate imminent changes in payment for off-campus provider-based clinics. As of Ja... Read more
Catastrophe/Disasters:
Prepare for the Worst with Modifier CR Smarts
President must make declaration before you can use modifier. While no one wants to thi... Read more
Condition Spotlight:
Move Quickly to Diagnose Patients With Movement/ Mobility Issues
Do you know what fasciculation is? There’s a diagnosis code for it. Patients who report... Read more
E/M Coding:
Find Clarity Amidst MDM Coding Confusion
Hint: Look to MACs for guideline help. The gray areas inherent to medical decision makin... Read more
Cybersecurity:
Stay on Top of Cyber Threats As You Introduce New Tech and Services
Bookmark the HC3 webpage for quick access to federal guidance. With the rise of telehea... Read more
Condition Spotlight:
Take This Avice to Correctly Code TBI Dx
Knowing diffuse, focal TBI definitions critical. Patients reporting to the surgeon with s... Read more
Condition Spotlight:
TBI Surgery Depends on Injury Specifics
TBI treatments range from medication to major surgery. When a patient suffers a traumatic... Read more
Compliance:
Final Rule Aims to Improve Interoperability and Access to Care
Plus: Feds finalize new API requirements and a MIPS measure, too. After the pandemic reve... Read more
Item Focus:
M1340: Use 6 Pointers To Know which Wounds Make the Surgical Wounds Cut
Hint: Look to the OASIS Q&As when you’re stuck with this item. It’s no... Read more
Tool:
Answer Common M1340 Questions with this Chart
Stay up-to-date for greatest accuracy. OASIS item M1340 — Does this patient have... Read more
OASIS-C1:
Prepare to Move Forward with OASIS-C1
New assessment form will go into effect before ICD-10. If you’ve been looking fo... Read more
Gynecology:
Do You Know Whether the LEEP Was a Conization or Biopsy? Follow 3 Steps
Solve potential problems by asking, “Did the ob-gyn remove part of the endocervix?” L... Read more
Coding Quiz:
Test Yourself: Pregnant Patient Annual Exams
Be cautious about what you use for your primary diagnosis. To ethically maximize your ob... Read more
Unlisted Procedures:
Here’s How to Ease Your Unlisted Procedure Coding Process
Key: Reports should use simple, straightforward language. If you’ve ever filed an ob-... Read more
Infusion Coding:
Get the Answers to Your IAC Coding Questions
Good news: They’re a whole lot easier to manage than their IV counterparts. It’s eas... Read more
E/M Coding:
Know These 4 Things to Bill 99211 Correctly
And learn these three reasons for not reporting it. When one of your clinical staff membe... Read more
Care Management:
Remember These 5 Rules for Successful TCM Documentation
Don’t let intimidating, extensive guidelines get in the way of clear coding. When a pat... Read more
Procedure Focus:
Sharpen Your Retina Injectable Rx Coding Skills
Follow these steps to ensure proper payment for drug injections. Although many of your t... Read more
Modifiers:
Be Wise in the Ways of Billing Wastage With -JW and -JZ
Also: Use this clinical example to help you calculate drug waste. Even the most experie... Read more
News You Can Use:
Review New Rules for Reporting Multiple Unlisted Procedures
Also, make note of the modifiers you can now use with unlisted codes. If your provider h... Read more
Reimbursement:
8 Things Your Optometry Practice Must Know About MACRA & MIPS in 2017
Good news: 2017 is a ‘Get Out of Jail Free’ card. Confused about what the ... Read more
Revenue Boost:
Is Your Practice's Optical Shop As Profitable As It Can Be?
This 6-question test says for sure. If you’re like most optometry practices, you... Read more
Revenue Boost:
Are Remakes Eating Away at Your Optical's Profits?
You don’t shell out for the cost of remakes immediately, but if you have a high re... Read more
CPT® Coding Strategies:
Perfect Your Dentoalveolar Excision Coding With These 3 Useful Tips
Hint: Don’t leave $240 on the table by failure to identify right type of repair. ... Read more
ICD-10 Coding:
Decide From Two Options When Reporting Diagnosis of Xerostomia
Hint: Don’t forget to report additional codes to identify alcohol or tobacco use. ... Read more
Medicare News:
Be Informed About OIG's Takedown of Those Receiving Kickbacks
Latest technology and data analysis helps capture more than 300 offenders. If you are ... Read more
Surgery:
Take These Tips to Tackle TKR Coding Head-On
A single surgical code doesn’t mean TKR is easy to report. When a patient requires tota... Read more
E/M Coding:
Answer the How, What, When, and Why for Preoperative Evaluations
Don’t forget to check for comorbid conditions. Knowing how to navigate and select all... Read more
Compliance:
Final Rule Aims to Improve Interoperability and Access to Care
Plus: Feds finalize new API requirements and a MIPS measure, too. After the pandemic re... Read more
ICD-10:
Breeze Through Spring With Denial-Proof Allergy Dx Coding
Debunk these three myths to sail through allergy diagnosis codes. With allergy season in ... Read more
News You Can Use:
Review New Rules for Reporting Multiple Unlisted Procedures
Also, make note of the modifiers you can now use with unlisted codes. If your provider h... Read more
Compliance:
Discover 4 Ways To Overcome Telehealth Compliance Obstacles
Contracted vendors are also obligated to adhere to HIPAA rules. Telehealth services have... Read more
ICD-10-CM Coding:
Try Out These 2 Demanding ICD-10-CM Surgical Setting Scenarios
Use all guidelines at your disposal for post-surgical complications Getting to the bottom... Read more
Modifiers:
Learn The Ropes of Modifier 53 Coding for Terminated Biopsies
Consider a number of variables, including use of CT guidance. Biopsy coding can become a ... Read more
CPT® Coding:
Get Answers to 4 Pertinent Skin Biopsy Questions
Use these FAQs as a reference for your future skin biopsy claims. Any general surgery cod... Read more
Interventional PM:
Put Nerve Blocks, Pain Pumps on PM List
There are several types of nerve blocks for interventional PM. Patients reporting to the ... Read more
Q&A:
Get Your Incident-to Pay While You Still Can
When 2020 ends, so might incident-to. While incident-to might be on its way out, the bill... Read more
Compliance:
Feds Primed to Find Fraud in Opioid Prescribing
Get all your procedures in place to prevent trouble. As 2020 kicks off, PM practices find... Read more
E/M Coding:
Heed This Expert Insight to Correctly Code for Time
Compare these auditor red flags with your practice’s processes. Even for the most seaso... Read more
Revenue Booster:
Boost Your Health IT Checklist With These 10 Resources
See how each agency factors into the HIT equation. Navigating the regulatory waters of h... Read more
Part B Coding Coach:
Ease the Suffering With This Low Back Pain Coding Primer
Hint: Review ICD-10 guidance on coding back injuries. If you find coding low back pain ch... Read more
CPT® Coding:
Remove These 2 Myths for Super-Clean Skin Biopsy Claims
And use this clever coding trick when your provider performs multiple biopsies. Knowing h... Read more
Practice Safety:
Keep Your Staff, Patients Safe With These Lab Precautions
Hint: Follow OSHA, but also have policies in place customized to your practice. Every l... Read more
Reimbursement:
Avoid These 8 Common Medicare Billing Errors to Keep Pay Flowing
Watch those dates of service, MAC addresses, and more. Your provider documented a claim... Read more
ICD-10:
Review These Skin-Related Terms and Conditions
Find guidance on selecting the correct dermatitis codes. As medical coders, you understan... Read more
Condition Spotlight:
Never Again Get Lost While Coding Pharyngitis
Hint: Exposure to smoking may be relevant. Coding pharyngitis may seem cut-and-dried, but... Read more
Practice Management:
Think Twice Before Waiving Co-Pays
See how a simple financial accommodation can cause a huge headache. Healthcare practitio... Read more
Condition Spotlight:
Handle Your Heel Spur Claims Like a Pro
Tip: Calcaneal spurs and heel spurs are one and the same. If your podiatrist performs sur... Read more
Image Coding:
Analyze This Ankle Arthrography Procedure
Find out how to code this arthrogram in your podiatry practice. When traditional joint X-... Read more
Revenue:
Capture These Tips to Stall Denials
Make sure your billing team feels empowered to communicate well. Denials easily cross t... Read more
Best Practices:
Consider These Tips to Monitor Employee Productivity
Hint: Look at workers’ records over a defined period of time. Practice managers know th... Read more
Documentation:
Study These Strategies for Setting Up a Solid CDI Process
Realize the benefits of regular self-audits. Comprehensive clinical documentation is the ... Read more
Training and Education:
Don’t Skimp On Sanction Policymaking, Feds Warn
Tip: Make employee training match duties. Stopping a data breach incident and retrievin... Read more
Condition Spotlight:
Learn to Differentiate Among Headache Codes
Also: review the latest additions to the migraine code set. Headaches come and go, and ma... Read more
ICD-10 Coding:
Navigate These Scenarios, Keep Your Pharyngitis Coding on Track
Hint: Exposure to smoking may be relevant. Coding pharyngitis may seem cut-and-dried, b... Read more
Practice Management:
Upgrade Your Understanding of Transgender Patient Care
Pronoun mismatches can lead to denials. Patients are always looking for healthcare prov... Read more
CPT® 2017:
Alter Your Psychotherapy Reporting Skills in 2017 Using These 3 Scenarios
Hint: Check CCI when reporting family therapy with individual therapy. As you get read... Read more
CPT® Coding:
Get Set to Refresh Family Therapy Reporting Beginning New Year
Hint: Report family codes only if time component is satisfied. As you make way for CPT... Read more
Collections:
Understand the Do's and Don'ts for Handling Nonpaying Patients
Try ‘hard’ collection as your last option. You might be familiar with situ... Read more
Condition Spotlight:
Understand Acute vs. Chronic Pulmonary Edema Coding
Pay attention to parent code notes. Several conditions in the ICD-10-CM code set are cla... Read more
Coding Quiz:
Evaluate Your E/M and Spirometry Procedure Coding Knowledge
Find out if your coding skills are on point. As a pulmonology coder, evaluation and manag... Read more
HIPAA:
OCR Warns Entities About Prioritizing Cybersecurity
Key stakeholders met to discuss ‘interconnectedness’ of U.S. healthcare system. Wit... Read more
CPT® 101:
Don’t Go to Extremes Coding Upper Extremity MRIs
Review the guidelines to know which contrast administration counts. Radiologists use mag... Read more
Payers:
Acknowledge the Need for Strong Relationships with Payers
Getting glimpses of the payer experience is a good first step. While providers may not b... Read more
Modifier Mania:
Recognize When to Modify Radiology Codes With 26 and TC
Do you need 26/TC for professional- or technical-only codes? Radiologists often perform... Read more
Artificial Intelligence:
Use AI to Tackle Your Claims Backlog With These 3 Tips
Remember to review the tech’s code choices. Revenue cycle teams handle thousands of med... Read more
Prior Authorization:
Final Rule Aims to Improve Interoperability and Access to Care
Plus: Feds finalize new API requirements and a MIPS measure, too. After the pandemic re... Read more
Cybersecurity Corner:
Recognizing the Fallout of the Change Healthcare Ransomware Attack
Find out if new regulations could be in store. On Feb. 21, 2024, Change Healthcare fell v... Read more
Ask an Expert:
Learn How To Apply +G2211 in Your Urology Office
Gain some clarity on this useful code. If you’re a typical urology coder, you may find ... Read more
Transurethral Coding Review:
Top Up Your Transurethral Treatment Coding Skills With These Scenarios
Paying attention to what is included and excluded is key. Many transurethral procedures a... Read more
Payers:
Acknowledge the Need for Strong Relationships With Payers
Getting glimpses of the payer experience is a good first step. Though healthcare provide... Read more