Pain Management Coding Alert
Know Patient's Dominant Hand to Nail Hemiplegia Dx
PDF
Question: The physician performs a level-three evaluation and management (E/M) service for an established patient. Notes indicate that the patient has “flaccid hemiplegia.” How should I report this encounter? Indiana Subscriber Answer: It depends on the patient’s dominant hand; ICD-10 code choice hinges on this detail. On the claim, you’ll report 99213 (Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient, which requires at least 2 of these 3 key components: an expanded problem focused history; an expanded problem focused examination; medical decision making of low complexity…) for the E/M. Then, you’ll choose one of the following diagnoses, depending on the patient: Remember spastic, flaccid hemiplegia differences: A couple of conditions that could trip up coders when it comes to selecting diagnosis codes are spastic and flaccid hemiplegia; they have different diagnosis codes, but their symptoms can be similar. If a patient suffers from spastic hemiplegia, you’ll choose from one of the following ICD-10 codes, depending on the patient: The difference between the two lies in the tone of the paralyzed muscles. In spastic hemiplegia, the muscle tone increases and the muscles stiffen. In flaccid hemiplegia, there is loss of muscle tone and the body becomes limp. Spastic hemiplegia reflects a primarily upper motor neuron dysfunction that develops sometime after the original brain injury; whereas a flaccid hemiplegia typically occurs in the acute phase of the original brain injury.
Pain Management Coding Alert
- Testing:
Max Out Pay with Evoked Potential Study Smarts
CTS, ALS, MG patients often need short-latency studies. Coders should hold onto any evoked potential [...] - MACRA:
Get Used to New Quality Reporting Measures Now
As PQRS exits the stage, MIPS makes its debut. Despite assumptions to the contrary, the [...] - Compliance:
ABN Update Adds New Language to Document
In June, you should start using a slightly different ABN. If you haven’t already checked [...] - You Be the Coder:
Know Patient's Dominant Hand to Nail Hemiplegia Dx
Question: The physician performs a level-three evaluation and management (E/M) service for an established patient. Notes [...] - Reader Question:
Choose This Diagnosis Code for Mixed CP
Question: Our physician treated a patient in the observation unit of the local hospital for complications [...] - Reader Question:
Yes, You Can (Sometimes) Report Pre-EEG E/M
Question: If our physician performs an E/M service and then performs an electroencephalogram (EEG), can you [...] - Reader Question:
If You Code 99221/99238 Combo, Expect Trouble
Question: Can you ever report 99221 and 99238 on the same day under for the same [...]