Internal Medicine Coding Alert
Coding Quiz Answers
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Answer 1. False. Before supplying a procedure or ICD-9 code for lesion excision, you should always wait for the pathology report. Answer 2. True. For instance, if the internist removes a 0.5-cm malignant lesion from a patient's chest, you should report 11600 (Excision, malignant lesion including margins, trunk, arms, or legs; excised diameter 0.5 cm or less). Answer 3. False. Prior to the procedure, your physician should measure the lesion's diameter in addition to the lesion's "most narrow margins," according to CPT guidelines. Answer 4. False. When the doctor removes several lesions from the same area on the patient's body, you should bill each procedure separately. Most payers require you to use a modifier, such as modifier -59 (Distinct procedural service).
Internal Medicine Coding Alert
- Are You Losing $275 on Lesion Excision Coding? We Can Help
Why your 11400-11646 reporting may not measure up
When your internist excises a lesion (11400-11646), you [...] - Get the Pay You Deserve With Multiple Lesion Removals
Experts say you have to know which modifiers to use
If a patient presents to your [...] - You Be The Coder:
Concurrent Care With Pulmonologist
Question: In our multi-specialty group, an internist and pulmonologist wanted to bill for concurrent care [...] - Coding Quiz Bone Up on Your Lesion Excision Reporting
To ensure you know a lesion's pathology and size, test your coding knowledge of codes [...] - News You Can Use:
Say Goodbye to Your Coding Grace Periods
Tip: Review the Federal Register to update charge forms
CMS has scrapped the 90-day grace period [...] - Let the Right Answers Earn You $70 for Observation Care
Experts show when to choose 99218 instead of 99212
Reporting established patient codes (99212-99215) when your [...] - Coding Quiz Answers
Answer 1. False. Before supplying a procedure or ICD-9 code for lesion excision, you should [...] - Reader Question:
Report 99341-99345 for Home Visits
Question: How should we report home visits?
New Jersey Subscriber Answer: You should code home visits [...] - Reader Question:
Preventive Medicine = Carve-Out Coding
Question: A Medicare patient had a preventive visit (99397), E/M (99213-25), vaginal cancer screening (G0101) [...] - Reader Question:
Bill Established Patients Under Incident-To
Question: Do you have any tips for reporting a non-physician practitioner's service to Medicare when [...] - Reader Question:
Patient Presence Means E/M Payment
Question: The internist spent more than an hour with a family discussing an elderly patient's [...] - Reader Question:
Use 99385 for Sports Physicals
Question: Recently our internist performed a sports physical for an established patient's son. Should we [...] - Reader Question:
Get Specific With E Codes
Question: When should we use E codes? Do they help us receive reimbursement?
Arizona Subscriber
Answer: Although [...] - Reader Question:
No More Starred Procedures Means More Modifiers
Question: What's the practical significance of losing the starred designation in CPT 2004? For example, [...] - Reader Question:
Medicare Says 11719 Is Routine
Question: A Medicare patient presented with a painful ingrown toenail. The internist trimmed the nail. [...] - Get ABNs, or Risk Picking Up Patient Tabs
Without ABNs, unpaid Medicare bills may become your problem
If you aren't obtaining advance beneficiary notices [...] - ABNs:
What to Change, What to Leave Alone
Got an itch to make a switch on an ABN? Proceed with caution
When it [...] - You Be The Expert:
ABNs and Uncovered Medicare Services
Question: Our office obtains advance beneficiary notices each time there is some doubt about whether [...] - Reader Question:
Follow the CMS Definition of 'Deliver'
Question: Since the purpose of an ABN is to inform the patient about a service, [...]