ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert

Added Code Pairs:

Spinal surgery codes: 22100-22865

Vascular injection procedures (selective and superselective catheter placements): 36251-36254

Insertion of intravascular vena cava filters: 37191-37193

Liver transplants: 47135-47136

Craniectomy and craniotomy codes: 61345-61576; with tissue grafts 20926

Neurostimulators, shunts and epidural catheters 61850-61880, 62350-62355

Lumbar laminectomy: 63001-63051

Vertebral corpectomy: 63082-63090

Excision of laminectomy: 63276-63290

Excision of intraspinal lesion: 63300-063307

Repair of meningocele: 63700-63710

Neuroplasty: 64704-64722

Neurorrhaphy: 64858-64911

Advanced imaging: 74175, 75635, 73076

Auditory function and speech testing: 92620-92621, 92571-92572

Nerve conduction studies: 95885, 958856

Deleted Code Pairs

• 29848 (Endoscopy, wrist, surgical, with release of transverse carpal ligament) with 26055 (Tendon sheath incision [e.g., for trigger finger])
• 64721 (Neuroplasty and/or transposition; median nerve at carpal tunnel) with 25000 (Incision, extensor tendon sheath, wrist [e.g., deQuervains disease])
• 76513 (Ophthalmic ultrasound, diagnostic; anterior segment ultrasound, immersion [water bath] B-scan or high resolution biomicroscopy) with 92133 (Scanning computerized ophthalmic diagnostic imaging, posterior segment with interpretation and report, unilateral or bilateral; optic nerve) and with 92134 (Scanning computerized ophthalmic diagnostic imaging, posterior segment, with interpretation and report, unilateral or bilateral; retina)
• 92133 (Scanning computerized ophthalmic diagnostic imaging, posterior segment, with interpretation and report, unilateral or bilateral; optic nerve) and 92134 (Scanning computerized ophthalmic diagnostic imaging, posterior segment, with interpretation and report, unilateral or bilateral; retina) with 92132 (Scanning computerized ophthalmic diagnostic imaging, anterior segment, with interpretation and report, unilateral or bilateral)

You'll want to monitor the CMS proposal to delay the compliance deadline for ICD-10 conversion by one year to October 1, 2014.

Based on feedback from numerous physician groups that they could not comply by the October 2013 deadline, CMS had hinted earlier that they would consider a delay. Although not yet official, this step opens the door for a one year extension. HHS believes the change in the compliance date for ICD-10, as proposed in this rule, would give providers and other covered entities more time to prepare and fully test their systems to ensure a smooth and coordinated transition among all industry segments, says Michael A. Granovsky, MD, FACEP, CPC, President of LogixHealth, a medical coding and billing company in Bedford, MA.

Editor's note: The full proposed rule, CMS-0040-P, may be viewed at www.ofr.gov/inspection.aspx.