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Internal Medicine Coding Alert

Swine Flu FAQ:
Know Thy Payer and Max Out H1N1 Benefit
Here's why charging for the vaccine supply will get the feds hot. Swine flu has swept int... Read more
Check for Diagnostic Statement Before Using 488.1
Is H1N1 presumed or confirmed? Payers want to know. Diagnosis coding for patients who def... Read more
AMA Wants You to Use CPT -- Not Templates -- to Assign Levels
Strike a balance between bean counting and example-driven coding. After circling relevant... Read more
Follow TPI Do's and Don'ts for Pay You Can Keep
Documentation detailing these injection encounters can fortify claim. Counting the right ... Read more
Reader questions:
Choosing the Best of the Migraines Dx Bunch
Question: A 46-year-old new patient presents to the internist with recurring headaches. S... Read more
Reader questions:
Neglecting 948.xx Is a No-No on Burn Claims
Question: When I am diagnosis coding for burn victims, do I need to include a code from t... Read more
Reader questions:
Nosebleed = 30901? Not So Fast
Question: The internist stops a patient's nosebleed. Is this always a procedure? South Da... Read more
Reader questions:
Remember to Represent Pressure Ulcer's Stage
Question: A 75-year-old female established Medicare patient reports to the practice for i... Read more
Reader questions:
FOBTs Can Net E/M Pay
Question: A new patient who says she has lost 15 pounds in two weeks and has severe, cons... Read more
YOU Be the Coder!:
Count Systems, Not Questions, to Tally ROS
Question: A 66-year-old new Medicare patient reports to the practice complaining of stoma... Read more
Prepare for ICD-9 2010 V Code Changes
New V codes provide coders with greater levels of specificity. The new codes for ICD-9 20... Read more
Cerumen Removal:
Here's How to Report E/M and 69210
Follow these guidelines to ensure cerumen removal payment. In a follow-up to last month's... Read more
Know When to Use Cancer Diagnosis Code V10.90
Learn how to get paid through correct cancer diagnosis code usage. The cancer diagnosis c... Read more
Follow This Path to Full NPP Benefit
Coding incident-to? Be sure care plan's in place. IM practices that don't take full advan... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Additional V Codes Offer Even More Options
Question: I've read all I can about the new V codes in ICD-9 2010. Are there any more of ... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Counseling Codes Are Not Suitable for All Payers
Question: A new 56-year-old patient with commercial insurance presents to the internist c... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Check LCD When Considering High-Risk Dx
Question: A 65-year-old established Medicare patient with regional enteritis and a family... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Contract Smarts Vital for Non-Medicare Payers
Question: A 47-year-old patient with commercial insurance reports to the internist for a ... Read more
YOU Be the Coder!:
Different Diagnoses Key Blood Draw-E/M Pay
Question: An established type II diabetic patient comes in for a blood draw for glycohemo... Read more
3 Tactics Meet Cerumen Removal Coding Head On
These tips tell you when to use (or not use) 69210. To code or not to code? That is the q... Read more
More Tips Help Determine 69210 Usage
Kris Cuddy, CPC, CIMC, independent consultant in DeWitt, Minn., says to also keep the fol... Read more
Describe Causes With 3 New Symptom Codes
Your nervousness ICD-9 code splits out irritability. Before jumping at the chance to use ... Read more
Clarification:
Omit 25 on E/M + 71020 If No Payment Problems
Medicare doesn't require a modifier with this x-ray combo. Turns out you may not need mod... Read more
Say Old Clot, Novel Flu, Halted Sedation Using ICD-9 Newbies
Chronic embolism, swine flu codes top the list of respiratory coding changes. If you've s... Read more
Reader Questions:
Could Ending 99241-99255 Pay Help Your Practice?
Question: I'm hearing that consultation codes will go away in 2010. How will this affect ... Read more
Reader Questions:
Here's When to Report Steroid Therapy History
Question: I see that ICD-9 2010 introduced a new code for personal history of inhaled ste... Read more
Reader Questions:
Does Discharge Summary Require All or Some Items?
Question: Our state Medicaid denied 99239 on the last day of the hospitalization because ... Read more
Reader Questions:
What Does Mild, Intermittent Asthma Fall Under?
Question: A patient presents with mild, intermittent asthma. What ICD-9 code should we us... Read more
Reader Questions:
What Product Code for Swine Flu Vaccine?
Question: Some patients are requesting that they receive the H1N1 flu vaccine this fall. ... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Pneumonia: 99212 or 99213?
Question: Even though pneumonia is a serious diagnosis, I think a chart supports only 992... Read more
Correctly Predict Tetanus Injection Coverage Using This Guide
Medicare isn't a big fan of reimbursing tetanus vaccines, but there are exceptions. Thin... Read more
Polish 3 Documentation Skills for Stellar Claims
Help your internist grasp key documentation elements to reduce repayments. Documentation ... Read more
Get Payment Right With Date of Service Specifics
Take your time figuring out which DOS applies for fewer claim rejections. When a patient ... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Watch Carrier Rules for 94760 + E/M
Question: Can I get paid by Medicare carriers for 94760 with any E/M code? Maine Subscrib... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Combine G Code With Dx for Requested DRE
Question: I had a Medicare beneficiary ask for a prostate exam. Our doctor dictated the e... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Use Caution for ED Visit Code With 2 Docs
Question: Sometimes when my physician sees a patient in the emergency department, she dic... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Code COPD Patients With Caution
Question: An established patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD) with ... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
9944x Covers Your Doc's Phone Visits After 7
Question: A new patient came to our office, and our physician did a complete workup, resu... Read more
YOU Be the Coder:
Gain EKG Payment by Indicating POS
Question: A patient was seen in our office for chest pain. Our physician performed an ele... Read more
Screen PSA Documentation to See When Claims Deserve a G Code
Plus, make sure you know when to support your coding with V76.44. You could be incorrectl... Read more
Use 99211 Req's for Prothrombin Time Payment
E/M specifics give hints on what's needed for this low-level test. You'll need a blend of... Read more
Protect Your 99214s, 99232s, and More With These CERT Education Musts
E/M codes need your attention to stay out of CMS trouble. In the wake of the CERT's repor... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
ABI Needs Printout to Not Be E/M
Question: Can I separately report ankle brachial index (ABI) in addition to the E/M servi... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
X-Ray of Both Wrists Always = Mod 50
Question: When coding bilateral wrist x-ray 73110 with three views, can two units be used... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Use 93017, 93018 for Stress Tests Under NP, PA
Question: How do I bill for a nurse practitioner (NP) or physician's assistant (PA) who d... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
QW Still Needed for CLIA Waived Tests
Question: Our office is currently in the process of changing from Clinical Laboratory Imp... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Use No Modifier for "Stat" Test
Question: One of my physicians wants to charge more for a 95024 because he ordered it "st... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
What to Do When Doctor Says 1 Thing, Notes Say Another
Question: How would you code this office visit? Another office refers a 49-year-old patie... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
99173 Handles Vision Screening In Office
Question: How should I code for a vision screening of both eyes which is performed in our... Read more
YOU Be the Coder:
Inpatient Now Established After Hospital Encounter
Question: My physician sees a new Medicare patient for the first time in the hospital (as... Read more
HelpYour Doc Code Dementia E/M Encounters for More Accurate Claims
Determine HPI or ROS during assessment for geriatric patients. Your... Read more
Correction:
Mod 26 Incorrect for 51701
Think you can split urine collection code 51701 into professional and technical comp... Read more
Update ROS Requirements for Smooth Coding Visit
Is your physician reviewing information? Document it. An ROS obtain... Read more
Maximize E/M Payment for Hepatitis Patients with MDM
Follow these 4 tips, and learn how to make the most of initial visit claims th... Read more
Tips for Successful Pulmonary Diagnoses Coding
Focusing on acute conditions, exacerbations can whip these claims into shape. ... Read more
NewsYou Can Use:
CMS Sends Reminder: Still Time to Join PQRI
E-prescribers may be up for a bonus. PQRI is a voluntary individual... Read more
READER QUESTIONS :
Critical Care Doesn't Always Mean Hospital
Question: My physician documented that he performed critical care services for... Read more
READER QUESTIONS :
Achieve Correct HPI Level Every Time
Question: An internal chart audit of our E/M claims shows that our history of ... Read more
READER QUESTIONS :
:Foot FBRs Differ From Soft-Tissue FBRs
Question: Our physician performed a foreign-body removal (FBR) on a patient wi... Read more
YOU Be the Coder! :
Is ROS, HPI Critical to Critical Care?
Question: Are there rules stating my physician must have a certain amount of h... Read more
Boot 250.00 for Charcot Foot, Embrace Dual Dxs
In your next education session, encourage internists to specify underlying cau... Read more
3 Do's End FOBT Miscodes, Rejections
This simple switch halts deleted code denials. If denials for G0394... Read more
Auto-Bundle Procedures to Save Money in the Long Run
Beware: Absent CCI edit doesnt make separately codeable a shoo-in. ... Read more
Asthma Attack:
Does Prolonged or High-Level E/M RepresentYour Work?
This checklist deters payback requests for insufficient +99354 time. ... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Check Strength for Depo-Medrol J Code
Question: Our doctors frequently give 60 mg Depo-Medrol. HCPCS level-II offers... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Modifier 50: Medicare Wants Single Line Entry
Question: I need some information on billing bilateral procedures. For Medicar... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Is 25 Necessary With X-Ray?
Question: An internist circled 99213 and 71020. Do I need a modifier to report... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Patients Are Not New to Practice With New Doc
Question: We hired a new physician for our practice after another physician le... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Stay Current on Tetanus Codes
Question: For tetanus shots, weve been charging 90471 and 90703. What are the ... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Count Minutes on 'Counseling Exception' Claims
Question: A new patient with diabetes meets with the internist for management ... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Is 99211 + 95117 OK?
Question: When a patient comes in for allergy injections -- and thats all t... Read more
YOU Be the Coder! Does 96116 = MMSE?
Question: I have a physician who wants to bill for a Mini Mental Status Exam (... Read more
Get Paid for IM, RD's MNT Involvement in 3 Easy Steps
E/M and preventive medicine codes are key to physician reimbursement. ... Read more
Unlock Non-Face-to-Face MNT Pay Using These Tools
Medicare MNT coverage now includes individual medical nutrition therapy (MNT) ... Read more
Subspecialty Spotlight:
Cardiology: Doppler Echo Coding Gets a Facelift for 2009
The $88 fee cut makes coding right the first time more crucial than ever. ... Read more
Look for More Info Before Marking UTI, HTN ICD-9 Codes
Perceiving due to, benign could land you with incorrect Dx. Be care... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Is 99406 OK If IM Does Treatment?
Question: Do I still need a plan and referral to support smoking cessation counseling? ... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Capture Injection With 2 Items
Question: The physician I work for has the nurse routinely give shots such as ... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Meet 3 Critical Care Criteria
Question: If a patient takes a fall in our office and requires critical care m... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Prevent Concurrent Care Denials
Question: An internist is treating an established patient with controlled type... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Replace G0394 With 82272
Question: HCPCS 2009 shows Medicare deleted G0394 (Blood occult test [e.g., gu... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Where Do You Count Forgetfulness?
Question: A patient comes in with a chief complaint of increasing forgetfulnes... Read more
YOU Be the Coder! Question & Answer :
Should You Add Breast Diagnostic to E/M?
Question: My physician saw a patient for several problems, and while in the of... Read more
Capture 'Patient Limbo' Period With These Observation Coding Steps
Internist deciding on admission? That's your signal to look at observation family. You can... Read more
Follow This FAQ to Maximize 99291 Coding
Physician 'preventing further deterioration' keys valid critical care claims. What do crit... Read more
CPT 2009:
Break Down Outpatient ESRD Into These G-Code Mirroring Cat I Codes
Using these codes for inpatient dialysis will result in claim denial. Coders, take notice:... Read more
Reader Questions:
Don't Sweat Global on Boot Dressing Changes
Question: A new Medicare patient with a diagnosis of postphlebitic syndrome reports to the... Read more
Reader Questions:
Check for E/M on Non-Scheduled Procedures
Question: An established patient with osteoporosis reports to the internist with a new com... Read more
Reader Questions:
ID Split Visits by Spotting Shared Effort
Question: The hospital admits a 78-year-old established Medicare patient suffering from ch... Read more
Reader Questions:
Want a Bonus? Check Out Medicare's E-Incentive
Question: We are in the process of rolling out our practice's new e-prescribing system. I ... Read more
Reader Questions:
Use V Codes as Primary Dx -- Sometimes
Question: Our practice recently performed a three-specimen glucose tolerance test on a Med... Read more
YOU Be the Coder:
Modifiers and Holter Monitor Claims
Question: A patient who is suffering heart palpitations reports to the internist for wavef... Read more
Understand Migraine Specifics With These 5th-Digit Pointers
0 or 1? These clues help you figure out when to use both. Pin down the proper migraine di... Read more
Pinpoint 346's 4th Digit Using These 5 Tips
These new ICD-9 codes round out your migraine coding smarts. You can provide unprecedente... Read more
Nail E/M Levels With ROS Tracking Skills
Beware: Multi-system reviews must exceed exam elements in HPI. Don't open your pra... Read more
Reader Questions:
Check Notes Before Separating E/M, Injection
Question: An established patient with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in her right wrist rep... Read more
Reader Questions:
You Will Need Dx Code for Feigned Illness
Question: Our practice recently had a new patient present with a complaint of severe low ... Read more
Reader Questions:
Fight for FluMist Pay With This Rule
Question: We have begun administering FluMist along with well checks and other immunizati... Read more
Reader Questions:
Know Your Once-In-A-Lifetime Medicare-Covered Vaccinations
Question: We have several average-risk Medicare patients scheduled to come in for pneumon... Read more
Reader Questions:
Consult CPT Errata and Update Your Manual
Question: My CPT manual says that the definition for modifier 22 is "unusual proced... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Follow-Up Visits and New Problems
Question: An established Medicare patient reports to the internist for a check-up to gaug... Read more
Medicare Update:
Feds Delete Pair of IPPE Requirements in 2009
Good news: 'Happy retirement' no longer comes with an unwelcome present.Patients who becom... Read more
Participate in PQRI for Increased Bonus Payment
Most internists can easily report on diabetes patients.Internal medicine providers interes... Read more
Steer Your Incident-To Coding Using These 4 Questions
100 percent pay possible if NPP follows internist's care plan.If you do not consider billi... Read more
Reader Questions:
Use V Code to Embody Past Heart Procedure
Question: The internist meets an established Medicare patient at the hospital and orders a... Read more
Reader Questions:
Put Away Procedure Codes for 'Buddy Taping'
Question: An established patient reports to the internist complaining of pain in her left ... Read more
Reader Questions:
Check Dwelling Status, Then Choose Cath Code
Question: The internist meets a 64-year-old female patient at the hospital; the patient re... Read more
Reader Questions:
Read Wart Removal Descriptors Carefully
Question: A new patient reports to the internist with common warts on her left hand. Encou... Read more
Reader Questions:
2 Hospital Visits: 1 E/M Service or 2?
Question: A private payer representative informed my physicians that they can bill for mor... Read more
YOU Be the Coder:
CD-9 Coding for COPD/Bronchitis
Question: A new patient reports to the internist complaining of shortness of breath and co... Read more
Pay Attention to Preservatives, Payer on Flu Shots or Risk Denials
G codes rule Medicare admin; others prefer CPT codes.Remember the different reporting rule... Read more
CPT 2009:
Update Your Injection/Infusion/ Hydration Code Set With CPT Crosswalk
AMA also alters wound repair coding language in new manual.When you're looking for an inje... Read more
CPT Update:
Heed Medicare Clarification to Code Inpatient Prolonged Services Properly
Floor/unit time will not replace face time with feds.The new CPT codes for inpatient prolo... Read more
Reader Questions:
Remember 5th Digit on New Migraine ICD-9s
Question: I am having trouble navigating the new ICD-9 codes for migraines. My encounter n... Read more
Reader Questions:
Separate E/M Service, EBV Screen When Coding
Question: A new patient reports to the internist's office complaining of a sore throat, fr... Read more
Reader Questions:
Find Medical Necessity Before Coding BP Checks
Question: An established patient with a plan of care in place for hypertension reports to ... Read more
Reader Questions:
Know When to Code Presenting Symptoms
Question: An established patient reports to the internist complaining of trouble breathing... Read more
Reader Questions:
Get Lesion Measurements Pre-Removal
Question: When the internist performs benign lesion removal, should I calculate lesion siz... Read more
YOU Be the Coder! Code Carefully on E/Ms With Coumadin Tests
Question: If a qualified nonphysician practitioner (NPP) performs a finger-stick Coumadin ... Read more
Available Years:  2009  2008  2007  2006  2005  2004  2003  2002  2001  2000  1999  1998