Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert
Mutually Exclusive Edits Threaten Reimbursement
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The July release of the National Correct Coding Initiative includes only 111 mutually exclusive edits as compared to the 3,698 non-mutually exclusive edits it adds.
In one mutually exclusive edit, new CPT 29873 (Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; with lateral release) became much harder to bill with excision-debridement codes 11010-11012. You can use a modifier to override this edit.
The NCCI also makes new code 49419, for insertion of intraperitoneal cannula or catheter, mutually exclusive with similar codes 49420 and 49421.
Also, 76070 (Computed tomography, bone mineral density study, one or more sites; axial skeleton) is mutually exclusive with 76075 (Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, bone density study, one or more sites; axial skeleton). And both 76070 and 76075 are mutually exclusive with 78350 (Bone density study; one or more sites, single photon absorptiometry).
New code 76071 (Computed tomography, bone mineral density study; appendicular skeleton) is mutually exclusive with G0130 (Single energy x-ray absorptiometry).
Morphometric analysis code 88358, for tumors, has become mutually exclusive with +88313 (Special stains; Group II, all other, except immunocytochemistry and immunoperoxidase stains, each).
New code 92610 (Evaluation of oral and pharyngeal swallowing function) is now mutually exclusive with a number of other new codes for evaluative and therapeutic services: 92611, 92612, 92614 and 92616.
Meanwhile, 93797 (Physician services for outpatient cardiac rehabilitation; without continuous ECG monitoring) and 93798 (... with continuous ECG monitoring) became mutually exclusive with cardiography codes 93017, 93018 and 93025, and 93797 also became mutually exclusive with 93015.
Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert
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Mutually Exclusive Edits Threaten Reimbursement
The July release of the National Correct Coding Initiative includes only 111 mutually exclusive edits [...] - Hematology:
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