Orthopedic Coding Alert

E/M FAQ:
Use This FAQ to Conquer MDM Questions
Check out this advice on how to tally number and complexity of problems. OK, we've all h... Read more
CPT® Coding:
Seal up Your Closure Coding With Level Knowledge
Here's how the definition of complex repair changed recently. Orthopedists are primarily... Read more
Fracture Care:
Try Your Ankle Fracture Knowledge Against This Quiz
Do you know how many bones are involved in a trimalleolar fracture? Fractures are one of... Read more
Reader Questions:
Untangle the Mystery of Podagra
Question: Encounter notes indicate that the provider performed a level-two office evaluati... Read more
Reader Questions:
Step to M24.57- for Foot Contracture
Question: Encounter notes indicate that the provider treated a patient with “contra... Read more
Reader Questions:
Remember Modifier on Fracture-E/M Combo
Question: Encounter notes indicate that after a level-four office-evaluation and mana... Read more
Reader Questions:
Get Spinal X-Ray Rules Straight Before Coding
Question: Encounter notes indicate that the provider performed X-rays on two areas of... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Osteoporosis With Fracture
Question: Encounter notes indicate that the provider performed an evaluation and managemen... Read more
Coding:
2021 and Beyond: Ortho Coders Still Mastering New Codes, Rules
Find out how the ortho coding world is responding to 2021 CPT® changes. A lot happened i... Read more
Coding:
2021 and Beyond: Look for More Major E/M Changes in 2023
There's also an update upcoming on musculoskeletal guidelines. If you thought 2021 was ... Read more
Condition Spotlight:
Use These Tips to Anchor Your Heel Spur Claims
Check out the surgical options your provider might employ. When your provider treats a p... Read more
Reader Questions:
Use This Code Set for Medial Malleolus Fracture
Question: Encounter notes indicate that a patient has “nondisp Fx, medial malleolus, L t... Read more
Reader Questions:
View This Advice for X-Ray Coding Success
Question: Encounter notes indicate that the provider performed an office evaluation and ma... Read more
Reader Questions:
Questions Persist on New Back Pain Codes
Question: How do I code acute or chronic lower back pain? Even with the new ICD-10 codes i... Read more
Reader Questions:
Master Lateral Malleolus Ankle Fracture Dx Codes
Question: Encounter notes indicate that the provider treated a patient with “displ Fx, l... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Olecranon Process and Ulnar Fractures
Question: Encounter notes indicate that the provider performed closed treatment of an ulna... Read more
Surgery Coding:
Know Dx, Surgical Differences on Knee Arthroscopies
Coding shifts when diagnostic becomes surgical. A common diagnostic tool in an orthopedic... Read more
Diagnostic Procedures:
Know Codes for Other Diagnostic Knee Procedures
MRI, X-ray might replace knee arthroscopy in certain situations. There's more than one w... Read more
CPT® 2022:
Don’t Minimize This Office/Outpatient E/M Change
Here's why 99211 descriptor change might seem minor … but it's not. Coders should be ca... Read more
Modifier Madness:
Use Notes to Make Modifier 78/79 Distinction
Here's which modifier requires a return to the OR. Modifiers that are close by in the C... Read more
Reader Questions:
Add Synonyms to Your Dx Coding Arsenal
Question: Encounter notes indicate that the provider performed an office/ outpatient evalu... Read more
Reader Questions:
Deepen Understanding of CPT® Changes
Question: I understand why codes are added to CPT every year, but why are codes deleted an... Read more
Reader Questions:
Stop Hammertoe Treatment Confusion
Question: I'm trying to learn more about hammertoe treatment. Can you please tell me which... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Shoot for Accurate MDM With Bullet Smarts
Question: I am still getting used to the new rules for office/outpatient evaluation and ma... Read more
CPT® 2022:
Changes Marked by New Add-ons, Revised Arthrodesis Codes
Here's how 99211 will be slightly different next year, too. The AMA has released its 2022... Read more
ICD-10 2022:
Get to Know the New Dx Codes
… and remember that the codes are in effect before 2022. Last month, we previewed the... Read more
E/M Coding:
Catch Up With Still-Evolving Office/Outpatient E/M Rules
Here's why you should keep a lookout for more tweaks to rules. Autumn is almost upon us... Read more
Reader Questions:
Answer Anesthesia Question Before Coding This Fix
Question: Encounter notes indicate that the provider performed closed treatment of the pr... Read more
Reader Questions:
Observe These Rules When Reporting Z03-Z05
Question: Should we report the observation diagnosis codes (Z03-Z05) as primary diagnoses ... Read more
Reader Questions:
Walk Straight Coding Line to ID March Fx Dx
Question: Encounter notes indicate that the provider treated a patient with a “march fr... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Multiple Hip Socket Fractures
Question: Encounter notes indicate that after the orthopedist performed a level-four offic... Read more
ICD-10 Update:
Keep an Eye out for New Low Back Pain, Spondyloarthritis Codes
WHO adds nearly 200 Dx codes for 2022. When the calendar flips to October, you're going ... Read more
Modifier Madness:
Put Success in Your Grasp With Anatomical Finger/Toe Modifier Mastery
Get specific to put patients' injuries into focus for payers. CPT® created modifiers for... Read more
FAQs:
Break Down Pathologic Fracture Coding for the Best Dx
Turn to this category for age-related osteoporosis with current pathologic fracture. Sinc... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Different Terms, Same Dx Code
Question: The orthopedist performed an office evaluation and management (E/M) service for ... Read more
Reader Questions:
Report These Codes for Ruptured Achilles Tendon Repair
Question: A patient came in with extreme pain and swelling of her left heel. She was danci... Read more
Reader Questions:
Table E/M Risk Concerns With MDM Smarts
Question: Both the Elements of Medical Decision Making (MDM) table in the 2021 CPT® Manua... Read more
Reader Questions:
Break Down Brand-New Prolonged Services Changes
Question: Our provider performed an office evaluation and management (E/M) service for a n... Read more
Fracture Care:
March Through Fracture Care Claims With This Advice
There might be a separate E/M — but don't assume it. Orthopedic coders are used to seei... Read more
E/M Coding:
Keep ED E/M Rules Separate From Office/Outpatient
The 99281-99285 code set isn't subject to 2021 updates. When your orthopedist provides ... Read more
Back to Basics:
Get a Shot of Confidence With This Injection/Infusion Advice
This guide can help you decide on the proper injection/infusion type. Before you can sele... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Surgery During Global of Another Surgery
Question: A patient reports with “double crush syndrome”; a diagnosis of a right C6 ra... Read more
Reader Questions:
Note Various 7th Character Options for Ankle Fracture
Question: The orthopedist just treated a patient who was diagnosed with a displaced bimall... Read more
Reader Questions:
Check With Payer Before Reporting Telehealth Prolonged Services
Question: Our provider performed an office evaluation and management (E/M) service over th... Read more
Reader Questions:
Go Lateral for Correct Osteoarthritis Dx
Question: Notes indicate that the provider diagnosed a patient with posttraumatic osteoart... Read more
2021 E/M Q&A:
Experts Weigh in on New Reporting Rules
Focusing on MDM has changed the calculus for coders, providers. When the AMA decided that... Read more
Surgery:
Take Extensive Debridement to the Limit for Correct Coding
Here's when you can report extensive debridement with another surgery. When a patient ha... Read more
Coding Quick Takes:
Separate Bimalleolar, Trimalleolar Fx With Coding Smarts
Here's the 2 or 3 tips you need to master these fracture codes. When a patient reports wi... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Go Deep Into Notes to I.D. Proper I&D Code
Question: After performing a level three new patient office evaluation and management (E/M... Read more
Reader Questions:
Rely on View Info for Right Rib X-Ray Code
Question: Encounter notes indicate that the provider performed rib X-rays for a patient. T... Read more
Reader Questions:
Check for Underlying Cause on Pathological Dislocations
Question: What is the difference between pathological dislocations and recurrent dislocati... Read more
E/M Coding:
2021 E/M Rules Get Initial Tweaks
Updates keep focus on 2021 office/outpatient E/M revisions. There's already change brewi... Read more
Surgery Coding:
Break Humeral Shaft Fx Coding Down Into Manageable Steps
Do you know what CPT® means by ‘open' treatment? Claims for patients that suffer hum... Read more
E/M Coding:
Song Remains the Same for Hospital Care Coding
Use 1 set of codes for initial hospital care. If you've been swept up in the changes sur... Read more
Reader Questions:
Visualize Mastering Spinal Cord Vocab
Question: I'm having trouble with some of the terminology when coding injection/drainage/a... Read more
Reader Questions:
Check for Underlying Cause on Pathological Dislocations
Question: What is the difference between pathological dislocations and recurrent dislocati... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Code Stenosis First When it Prompts Surgery
Question: An established patient presents with cervical spinal stenosis C5-C6 and degenera... Read more
News You Can Use:
AMA Modifies Office/Outpatient E/M Directives
Changes will be retroactive to January 1. The office/outpatient evaluation and management... Read more
Modifier Madness:
Explain Stopped Surgeries With 52, 53
Modifier 53 is only allowed in very specific situations. When a surgeon has to stop surge... Read more
Clinical Coding Corner:
Home in on Modifier Specifics With These Examples
Remember which modifier to use for each type of stopped procedure. Do the rules surroundi... Read more
ICD-10 Coding:
Learn Fracture Types to Expedite Dx Coding
Do you know the difference between displaced, nondisplaced fractures? A patient breaks ... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Add-Ons and Vertebral Surgery Codes
Question: Our surgeon performed percutaneous lumbosacral vertebroplasty with biopsy, which... Read more
Reader Questions:
Answer Diagnostic vs. Surgical Question Before Coding
Question: The provider conducts an office evaluation and management (E/M) service for a pa... Read more
Reader Questions:
Keep Anatomy in Mind When Deciding Compartment Syndrome Dx
Question: What is compartment syndrome, and how do I choose a diagnosis code for it? Notes... Read more
Reader Questions:
Report These E/Ms As Telehealth … for Now
Question: Can we report inpatient telehealth evaluation and management (E/M) services... Read more
Reader Questions:
Feel Safe by Understanding ‘Unsecured Communications’
Question: Our patients frequently ask if we can send them appointment reminders or bills v... Read more
CPT® 2021:
No New Codes, but New Rules Mark These Loose Body Codes
New reporting guidelines masked by lack of change in codes, descriptors. There was a lot ... Read more
E/M Coding:
As Other E/M Rules Change, Keep Abreast of Observation Rules
Remember Medicare's differing rules for 8-hour stays. People aren't talking much about ho... Read more
Procedure® Coding:
Back Up Decompression/Discography Claims With Coding Knowledge
Do you know which of these procedures is diagnostic? Codes that are listed close together... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Read Descriptors for Add-on Code Clarity
Question: Encounter notes indicate that the provider performed X-rays on a patient's left ... Read more
Reader Questions:
Get Dx Just Right on Trigger Finger Injection
Question: Encounter notes indicate that the provider saw a patient in the office for pain ... Read more
Reader Questions:
Reporting Multiple Spinal Osteotomies
Question: Encounter notes indicate that the surgeon performed an outpatient evaluation and... Read more
Reader Questions:
Cast Doubts Aside on These Splinting Queries
Question: Encounter notes indicate that the provider applied a splint from a patient's rig... Read more
CPT® 2021:
Tighten Up Shoulder Arthroscopy Coding With New Debridement Descriptors
Wording now more specific, offers clearer guidance. Sometimes, CPT® drops a completely n... Read more
E/M Coding:
Reach Separate Service Threshold on E/Ms With Minor Procedures
New year, new rules, new way to I.D. separate E/Ms with surgeries. Some coders might be h... Read more
Injections:
Keep Up With Chemodenervation for Ortho-Specific Issues
These high-paying Botox® injections treat several spinal conditions. Patients your ortho... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Use Knowledge of Condition to Get Osteolysis Dx Right the First Time
Question: Encounter notes indicate that the orthopedist performed a magnetic resonance ima... Read more
Reader Questions:
Opt for E/M on This Fracture Treatment
Question: Encounter notes indicate that the provider performed closed treatment of a fract... Read more
Reader Questions:
Follow Specific Rules for Cast Removal Coding
Question: When our provider removes a cast from a patient — boot, body, full arm/leg, sh... Read more
Reader Questions:
Get to Know Dx for Diabetes 1.5
Question: Our provider recently documented a patient as having both type 1 and type 2 diab... Read more
Reader Questions:
Exercise Caution on Consult Question
Question: Our surgeon examined a patient in the office and sent a report about the patient... Read more
Medicare Final Rule:
Conversion Rate Gets Cut in Final Rule
… but there's good news on the telehealth front. Late last year, Medicare released its ... Read more
HCPCS Primer:
Focus on G Codes for 2021 HCPCS Success
Medicare released its own high-level prolonged services code. It's 2021 and you've got al... Read more
ICD-10 Coding:
Mind the Details When Diagnosing Stress Fractures
Remember, traumatic events don't usually cause these injuries. You've had enough anxiety ... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Coding Late December/Early January E/Ms
Question: An established patient reports to the provider for an office evaluation and man... Read more
Reader Questions:
Get ePHI Hip to HIPAA
Question: Does electronic protected health information (ePHI) have to be encrypted to be H... Read more
Reader Questions:
Prevent Confusion on This Dermal Debridement
Question: Our provider just saw a patient who had a superficial linear abrasion that exten... Read more
Reader Questions:
Do This for Docs With Signature Issues
Question: What can we do our surgeon's signature is illegible? Georgia Subscriber Answ... Read more
Available Years:  2021  2020  2019  2018  2017  2016  2015  2014  2013  2012  2011  2010  2009  2008  2007  2006  2005  2004  2003  2002  2001  2000  1999