Orthopedic Coding Alert
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 total ... Read more
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 total ... 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 o... Read more
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 o... 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
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
You Be the Coder:
Golfer’s Elbow Diagnosis, Tx
Question: Encounter notes that a patient reports to the orthopedist with complaints o... Read more
Golfer’s Elbow Diagnosis, Tx
Question: Encounter notes that a patient reports to the orthopedist with complaints o... Read more
Reader Questions:
Medicare Ups Conversion Factor … Slightly
Question: Has there been any change to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) con... Read more
Medicare Ups Conversion Factor … Slightly
Question: Has there been any change to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) con... Read more
Reader Questions:
Know US Differences
Question: What's the difference between a complete and limited joint ultrasound (US)?... Read more
Know US Differences
Question: What's the difference between a complete and limited joint ultrasound (US)?... Read more
Reader Questions:
Sidestep Contusion Confusion With These Codes
Question: Our foot specialist recently examined a patient presenting with a bruise o... Read more
Sidestep Contusion Confusion With These Codes
Question: Our foot specialist recently examined a patient presenting with a bruise o... Read more
Reader Questions:
Employ Protections for Patient Signatures
Question: In our recent risk evaluation, we discovered that the electronic signatures... Read more
Employ Protections for Patient Signatures
Question: In our recent risk evaluation, we discovered that the electronic signatures... Read more
Reader Questions:
Know Which Finger Is ‘Triggered’ for Correct Dx
Question: Encounter notes indicate that a patient suffers from “L trigger finger.â€... Read more
Know Which Finger Is ‘Triggered’ for Correct Dx
Question: Encounter notes indicate that a patient suffers from “L trigger finger.â€... Read more
News You Can Use:
CPT® Presents Updated Unlisted Procedure Guidelines
Multiple unlisted procedures? You can report them all now. The latest issue of CPT® Assi... Read more
CPT® Presents Updated Unlisted Procedure Guidelines
Multiple unlisted procedures? You can report them all now. The latest issue of CPT® Assi... Read more
Condition Spotlight:
Head to Surgery Section for Some Scoliosis Treatments
Condition typically confirmed by imaging. When a patient has scoliosis, their treatment r... Read more
Head to Surgery Section for Some Scoliosis Treatments
Condition typically confirmed by imaging. When a patient has scoliosis, their treatment r... Read more
Injection Coding:
Joint Size Vital to Coding Arthrocentesis Shots
Use vague CPT® descriptors to approximate unlisted joints. Swollen or painful joints ar... Read more
Joint Size Vital to Coding Arthrocentesis Shots
Use vague CPT® descriptors to approximate unlisted joints. Swollen or painful joints ar... Read more
Reader Questions:
Use Descriptors to Decide Superficial, Deep Biopsies
Question: How should I report a bone biopsy, and how do I determine a superficial bon... Read more
Use Descriptors to Decide Superficial, Deep Biopsies
Question: How should I report a bone biopsy, and how do I determine a superficial bon... Read more
Reader Questions:
Exact Location a Necessity for Cystic Meniscus Dx
Question: Encounter notes indicate that the physician treated a patient with “cyst... Read more
Exact Location a Necessity for Cystic Meniscus Dx
Question: Encounter notes indicate that the physician treated a patient with “cyst... Read more
Reader Questions:
Levels Matter on Medicare Appeals
Question: I filed a claim for a Medicare Part B patient with my Medicare Administrati... Read more
Levels Matter on Medicare Appeals
Question: I filed a claim for a Medicare Part B patient with my Medicare Administrati... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Bilateral Rib Fractures
Question: After a level-four office evaluation and management (E/M) service for an es... Read more
Bilateral Rib Fractures
Question: After a level-four office evaluation and management (E/M) service for an es... Read more
Case Study Corner:
Put Pieces Together to Code These Vertebral Fx Scenarios
When a snowboarder falls, can you code the treatment? In last month's article “I.D. Ope... Read more
Put Pieces Together to Code These Vertebral Fx Scenarios
When a snowboarder falls, can you code the treatment? In last month's article “I.D. Ope... Read more
ICD-10 Coding:
Get Details Before Choosing Other Spondylopathy Dx
Particulars are vital on this ‘general' code set. With a pretty generic descriptor, ... Read more
Get Details Before Choosing Other Spondylopathy Dx
Particulars are vital on this ‘general' code set. With a pretty generic descriptor, ... Read more
E/M Coding:
Refresh Yourself on Recent Hospital Coding Rules Changes
Do you remember which inpatient services share codes now? The last few editions of the CP... Read more
Refresh Yourself on Recent Hospital Coding Rules Changes
Do you remember which inpatient services share codes now? The last few editions of the CP... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Capsulotomy and X-Ray Encounter
Question: An established patient suffering from rheumatoid myopathy with rheumatoid a... Read more
Capsulotomy and X-Ray Encounter
Question: An established patient suffering from rheumatoid myopathy with rheumatoid a... Read more
Reader Questions:
Remember Code First Note on Arthropathy
Question: If a patient suffers from shoulder arthropathy as a result of sickle cell d... Read more
Remember Code First Note on Arthropathy
Question: If a patient suffers from shoulder arthropathy as a result of sickle cell d... Read more
Reader Questions:
Be Specific With Complication Dx
Question: If a patient suffers from an intra- or postoperative complication involving... Read more
Be Specific With Complication Dx
Question: If a patient suffers from an intra- or postoperative complication involving... Read more
Reader Questions:
2 Effusions Mean 1 Effusion Dx Code
Question: If a patient suffers from effusion of the same ankle and foot, should I su... Read more
2 Effusions Mean 1 Effusion Dx Code
Question: If a patient suffers from effusion of the same ankle and foot, should I su... Read more
2024 MPFS:
CMS, CPT® Finally Agree on Split/Shared Visit Rules
Revision puts emphasis on substantive E/M portion. It's 2024, the year everything lined u... Read more
CMS, CPT® Finally Agree on Split/Shared Visit Rules
Revision puts emphasis on substantive E/M portion. It's 2024, the year everything lined u... Read more
CPT® 2024 Review:
Check Out This Last-Minute Code Check for 2024
New code book includes small helping of new spine codes and revisions. The 2024 CPT® cha... Read more
Check Out This Last-Minute Code Check for 2024
New code book includes small helping of new spine codes and revisions. The 2024 CPT® cha... Read more
Surgery:
I.D. Open/Closed Before Reporting Vertebral Fx Fix
Also, look for imaging studies to pinpoint fracture. When your surgeon evaluates a vert... Read more
I.D. Open/Closed Before Reporting Vertebral Fx Fix
Also, look for imaging studies to pinpoint fracture. When your surgeon evaluates a vert... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Guidance With Intervertebral Aspiration
Question: Encounter notes indicate that the surgeon performed percutaneous interverte... Read more
Guidance With Intervertebral Aspiration
Question: Encounter notes indicate that the surgeon performed percutaneous interverte... Read more
Reader Questions:
Find Anatomical Location, Then Choose Neuroplasty Code
Question: Encounter notes indicate that the surgeon performed a neuroplasty. How shou... Read more
Find Anatomical Location, Then Choose Neuroplasty Code
Question: Encounter notes indicate that the surgeon performed a neuroplasty. How shou... Read more
Reader Questions:
You’ll Have to Use Unlisted Codes for This Facet Joint Destruction
Question: Encounter notes indicate that the surgeon performed destruction of a single... Read more
You’ll Have to Use Unlisted Codes for This Facet Joint Destruction
Question: Encounter notes indicate that the surgeon performed destruction of a single... Read more
Reader Questions:
Identify This Achilles Tendon Injection Situation
Question: The patient was brought to the table and laid in prone position. Their righ... Read more
Identify This Achilles Tendon Injection Situation
Question: The patient was brought to the table and laid in prone position. Their righ... Read more
Reader Questions:
Get to the Bottom of This Osteotomy Scenario
Question: I have this very barebones operative report from one of our surgeons. Here'... Read more
Get to the Bottom of This Osteotomy Scenario
Question: I have this very barebones operative report from one of our surgeons. Here'... Read more