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Internal Medicine Coding Alert

Influenza Vaccine Update:
Strengthen Your Influenza Coding Knowledge With 90630
Heads up: The code is now FDA-approved, so expect payments Although the influenza vacc... Read more
NGS Update:
MAC To Readjust Denials for Routine Foot Care and Nail Debridement
Watch out for scenarios where Medicare is denying payments for preoperative tests, too. ... Read more
ICD-10:
ICD-10 Transition Sailing Smooth For Most Practices
Some potential issues, however, may remain to be analyzed. If you asked medical practi... Read more
Clip and Save:
Influenza Coding Made Easy with These Handy Tips
As flu season drags on, you will need to be quick on your toes to get your coding right ... Read more
Consultations:
Remove Cloud Of Doubts In Consultation Coding
Confirm with your payer before billing if it follows Medicare rules. Medicare doesn&rs... Read more
Reader Question:
"No Charge" Visits Count Toward Established Patient Status
Question: Our internal medicine specialist saw a patient during a quick assessment ... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Learn if You Need an Anesthesia Modifier With Procedural Code
Question: We had a young patient who came into our office for an ingrown toenail (1... Read more
ICD-10 Claims Processing:
Denials for Immunization Encounters To Be Readjusted Soon
Good news: You now stand better chance for winning appeals. If you have been recently ... Read more
ICD-10:
Begin A Fresh Phase of ICD-10 Training After Implementation
Coders, clinicians must continue learning ICD-10 coding. With all of the delays to the... Read more
Diagnosis Coding:
Utilize The Grace Period To Strengthen ICD-10 Implementation
Be ready to use ICD-10 or claims won’t fly. Amid the ocean of information CMS ha... Read more
Compliance:
CMS: Inaccurate E/M Coding Remains a Growing Problem
Part B error rate is worse this year than last. No matter where you look, you’re... Read more
Reader Question:
Report Site Specific Codes for Abscess Drainage
Question: Our internal medicine physician recently performed incision and drainage ... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Suture Removal
   Question: Our internist recently performed suture removal in the off... Read more
CPT® 2016 Update:
Get Prepared For Internal Medicine Code Changes in CPT® 2016
Stay tuned for reimbursement answers. September is here, and with it comes the annual ... Read more
Influenza Coding:
Flu Vaccine Coding Becomes Easier with These Expert Tips
From immunizations to diagnoses, get the lowdown on flu patients. It’s that time... Read more
ICD-10 Update:
Sebaceous Cyst: Simple One-to-One Transition
Pilar cysts and trichilemmal cysts have different diagnosis code If your physician dia... Read more
Reader Question:
Think Before Coding E/M with Every Surgery
Question: Can I charge for a 99213 and a 17250 on the same day at the same visit if... Read more
Reader Question:
Location of Cast Determines Removal or Bivalving Code Choice
Question: Presenting complaint: Patient states that he was scratching inside of his... Read more
Reader Question:
Coding Suture Removal
Question: Our internist recently performed suture removal in the office for an esta... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Learn How To Report Reconstruction with Nail Plate Avulsion
Question: Our internal medicine specialist reconstructed the nail bed on a patient&... Read more
Preventive Care:
Proper Coding of G0446 Key To Successful CVD Therapy Claim Submission
Hint: Check CCI when service is performed with other same day services. If your intern... Read more
Immunotherapy:
Get Your Allergy Coding on Track Using This Expert Advice
Hint: Use size of the vial as the guiding factor to number of units to be billed. Even... Read more
ICD-10 Update:
Allergic Rhinitis: One-to-One Transition in ICD-10
Vasomotor rhinitis can be reported with a specific code in ICD-10. When reporting a di... Read more
Reader Questions:
Reporting Options For Immobilization of Thumb
Question: Our internal medicine specialist recently saw a patient with gamekeeper&r... Read more
Reader Questions:
Reporting Multiple Paring or Cutting Codes? Think Again
Question: Our internist recently removed some hyperkeratotic lesions that a patient... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Differentiate Between Simple and Complicated Procedures For FBR
Question: Our internal medicine specialist recently removed a glass splinter from a... Read more
Behavioral Counseling:
Thorough Understanding of G0445 Ensures HIBC Reporting Success
Hint: Don’t forget to report appropriate diagnosis codes to support medical necess... Read more
Payer Pointers:
Clear Out Some Coding Misconceptions with Advice Direct from NGS
Look out for guidance with MDM, X{EPSU}, PQRS, and more. If you are not knowing on how... Read more
ICD-10 Update:
Reporting Infectious Mononucleosis in ICD-10
Zip from a single code in ICD-9 to 16 highly specific ICD-10 codes. When you begin usi... Read more
Reader Question:
Use PFSH To Decide E/M Code Level
Question: I have a claim in front of me that is giving me pause, because I cannot d... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Follow Integumentary Codes For Wart Removal From Buccal Sulcus
Question: Our Internal medicine physician recently removed ten lesions of verucca v... Read more
Preventive Services:
Polish Your ECG with Preventive Services Coding with These 2 Scenarios
Hint: Identify level of ECG service performed to nail the right code. When your intern... Read more
CPT® Coding Strategies:
Know the Bilateral Clause With 69210 For Cerumen Removal Cases
Hint: Check payer preference prior to using modifier 50. You might have noted that CPT... Read more
ICD-10 Update:
Look Into 4 ICD-10 Code Utilization For Impacted Cerumen
Hint: Check documentation to know if the condition is unilateral or bilateral. If your... Read more
Reader Questions:
Reporting Blister Drainage With an I&D Code
Question: Our clinician recently performed drainage of fluid that was collected in ... Read more
Reader Questions:
Understand if College Physicals Are a Covered Service
Question: Our internal medicine physician performs school and college physicals on ... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Include Foot Care Evaluation For LOPS With Other E/M Services
Question: Recently, I tried billing G0245 with an E/M code for a diabetic patient t... Read more
CPT® Coding:
Understand The Difference Between Simple And Complicated Pilonidal I&D or Lose $90
Look for instances when you can report an additional E/M. When your internal medicine ... Read more
Case Study:
3 Scenarios To Perfect Your Smoking Cessation Reporting
Consider between using HCPCS codes and CPT® codes appropriately. You may think tha... Read more
ICD-10 Update:
Pilonidal Cyst and Sinus: Use More Specific Options for Reporting in ICD-10
Hint: Watch for presence of abscess as you did in ICD-9. When your physician diagnoses... Read more
Reader Questions:
Payer Preference Important in Base Laceration Repair Code Selection
Question: If our provider used a tissue adhesive instead of placing a suture, can this p... Read more
Reader Questions:
Same Day Office and Hospital Visits
Question:  We have several patients that we see in the office then they are admitte... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Exploration But Foreign Body Not Found? Here's What You Should Do
Question: Our internist recently saw a patient who came in complaining of some discomfor... Read more
Preventive Medicine:
Report Annual Wellness Visit With Appropriate Payer Rules
Hint: Use correct modifiers when reporting other same day services. When your internal... Read more
CPT ® Coding Strategies:
Skin Lesion Removal Reporting: Biopsy and Excision
Hint: Watch for site-specific biopsy codes to report in lieu of skin biopsy. When your... Read more
ICD-10 Update:
Onychomycosis Reporting in ICD-10
Hint: Watch for other conditions of the nail. If your clinician identifies a condition... Read more
Reader Questions:
Reporting E/M With Vaccine Codes For New Patients? Not Always
Question: Our internist recently administered varicella vaccine to a new 23-year-ol... Read more
Reader Questions:
Billing Incident-to Patients as New Patients May Not Be Correct
Question: If one of our internists referred a patient to one of our NPs for primary... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Include Documentation Supporting Medical Necessity of Callus Removal
Question: Our internal medicine specialist recently excised a callous on a patient&... Read more
Incision and Drainage:
Inability To Document Complicated I&D Could Result In $90 Loss
Watch for instances when you can report an additional E/M. When your clinician perform... Read more
Preventive Counseling:
Preventive Medicine Counseling Made Easy
Hint: Counseling codes cannot be used for patients with existing illness. When your in... Read more
ICD-10:
Use One-to-one Transition Code For Chronic Laryngitis
Hint: Don’t forget to report exposure to tobacco or infectious agents separately. ... Read more
Reader Questions:
Billing Incident-to Patients as New Patients? Think Again
Question: If one of our internists referred a patient to one of our NPs for primary... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Reporting E/M With Physical Examinations
Question: Our internal medicine specialist recently saw a patient for his routine p... Read more
Screening:
New Code G0472 For Hepatitis C Virus Screening
Hint: Repeated screening is allowed annually for high risk patients. When your physici... Read more
Mythbuster:
Trigger Point Injection (TPI) Reporting Made Easy
Warning: Watch for bundling edits when reporting other codes with TPI. When you are re... Read more
ICD-10 Update:
ICD-10 Regime Presents More Reporting Choices For IBS With K58
Hint: You use the same diagnosis code for spastic colon. When your clinician diagnoses... Read more
Reader Question:
Coverage For Two Annual Physicals? Think Again
Question:  A patient came to our internist for a school physical as he was required... Read more
Reader Question:
Appropriate HCPCS Codes For Home Health Care Services
Question: Our internist recently contacted a home health care agency to plan and pr... Read more
You Be the Coder:
E/M With Flu Vaccinations: Not Always
Question: If our clinician administered a flu vaccination to a patient, is it possi... Read more
Immunizations:
Report Successful Pneumococcal Vaccination Service With This Expert Advice
Use different administration codes for Medicare patients. When your internal medicine ... Read more
Preventive Counseling:
New HCPCS Code For Obesity Group Counseling in 2015
Hint: Use appropriate ICD-9 or ICD-10 codes to support the medical necessity. When you... Read more
ICD-10 Update:
Pick Up 'N' Series Crossover Options For UTI
Don’t forget to additionally report causative organism. When reporting a diagnos... Read more
Reader question:
Home Health Care and Billing Appropriate HCPCS Codes
Question: Our internist recently contacted a home health care agency to plan and provide... Read more
Reader Question:
Count Days of Treatment to Select Anticoagulant Management Code
Question: We have a patient that comes into the office and requires anticoagulant m... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Routinely Reporting E/M With 11721 Not Advised
Question: If our internal medicine provider performs a procedure like the debrideme... Read more
Preventive Medicine Service:
Become Efficient With Preventive Visit Reporting
Report separately for problem oriented a problem visit on the same calendar date. When... Read more
Mythbusters:
Tackle These HPV Administration Myths To Avoid Losing Reimbursement
Find out what you should report when the patient decides against immunization. You mig... Read more
ICD-10 Update:
Precise Documentation Required For Reporting Complications of Herpes Zoster
Otitis externa is reported with a more generalized code choice. When reporting a diagn... Read more
Reader Question:
Hemostasis and Reporting Excision Code
Question: Our physician recently removed a cyst in the pre-auricular area. The cyst... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Same Day Injection and Cerumen Removal Are Bundled
Question: Our internal medicine specialist recently performed cerumen removal and p... Read more
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