Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert
Chill out with ICD-9s
PDF
The biggest change stemming from this new memo seems to be that CMS is leaning on physicians to supply actual ICD9 Codes instead of narrative diagnoses to labs as in the past, says consultant Quin Buechner with ProActive Consultants in Cumberland, Wis.
The old approach made it easier for physicians to give diagnoses such as "suspected scarlet fever," and then the lab could code whatever diagnosis it came up with based on the lab results, Buechner says. Now labs will be held to a higher standard of accuracy, and that in turn will put pressure on physicians.
Buechner says he always asks his clients: "Who is it you really want to assign the diagnosis to your patient? A lab tech receptionist?" Or would you rather have one of your own certified coders do it, "so you can rely on it?"
Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert
- National Correct Coding Initiative:
Version 9.2 Promises Big Changes for Cardiology Coding
Heads up, cardiologists: If you're repositioning a pacemaker or electrode, you won't be able to [...] - Diagnosis Codes:
Providing ICD-9s for Lab Claims Just Became Your Job, CMS Says 'No' to Suspected Diagnoses
When you order labs, you don't always know what diagnosis the patient will end up [...] - Chill out with ICD-9s
The biggest change stemming from this new memo seems to be that CMS is leaning [...] - Studies & Surveys:
Billing, Malpractice Concerns Scare Soon-to-Be-Docs, A Quarter of Med School Students Wouldn't Do It Again - Studies & Surveys:
Physicians Capacity at the Breaking Point, Study Says, Medicare Patients Wait Longer for Fewer Services
Patients are waiting longer for appointments, and doctors don't have enough time with each patient.
That's [...] - NCCI:
Mutually Exclusive Edits Threaten Reimbursement
The July release of the National Correct Coding Initiative includes only 111 mutually exclusive edits [...] - Hematology:
New Edits Clarify: Don't Bill Consultation on Slides
Billing for hematology just became a puzzle again, thanks to a raft of new National [...] - Coverage:
Medicare Expands PET Scan Coverage
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services continues to make it possible to bill for [...] - Physician's Notes:
Dueling Proposals Compete to Reform Medicare, Physicians Caught in the Crossfire