Primary Care Coding Alert
Jen Godreau's Top 3 AAPC Takeaways
Thousands of American Academy of Professional Coders members gathered in Jacksonville, Fla. for 3 jam-packed days of coding advice, camaraderie, and learning. Coders' biggest struggle was narrowing down which sessions to attend. For those of you who wonder what you missed and for coders who couldn't make this year's national conference, here's a sneak peak at the documentation improving tips and scenario solutions experts offered. These are my top 3: 1. Eliminate stress with a wacky dance. Seriously, psychologist Dr. Farris Jordan demonstrated how responding to computer melt downs with a pseudo Church Lady strut can turn that frown to belly rolls. 2. Timesaving method boosts discharge management pay by $31. "I was never seeing a note with discharge management time," reported nurse practitioner Kerin Draak, MS, RN, WHNP-BC, CPC, CEMC, COBGC, in "Hospital Coding ... Making the Rounds". Boost 99238 to 99239 every legit time with a checkbox for "More than 30 minutes". 3. Use 496 (Chronic airway obstruction, not elsewhere classified) only when documentation in the medical record does not specify the type of COPD being treated, said Jill Young, CPC, CEDC, CIMC, in "Advance ICD-9 CM". Base code selection on the terms documented, such as COPD with asthma (493.2x) or COPD with acute bronchitis (491.22).
Primary Care Coding Alert
- Family Practice Coding Alert:
Bone Density Scans Boost Revenue If You've Got the Correct Combo
DEXA, SEXA, CT: Use a unique code for each to firm up pay.Paying attention to [...] - Auditing:
Is the Problem New to a Partner's Patient?
You've hunted for new problem specifics; we've found the details for you.Your FP gets more [...] - MPFS:
Up 2, After Down 22
After a week of 1994 rates, CMS increases conversion factor.MACs distributed substantially lower Medicare payments [...] - Fast Tips:
Jen Godreau's Top 3 AAPC Takeaways
Thousands of American Academy of Professional Coders members gathered in Jacksonville, Fla. for 3 jam-packed [...] - You Be the Coder:
Cyst Expression: I&D or Excision?
Question: Documentation reads, "The cyst was excised after performing a central incision directly on the [...] - Reader Questions:
Change to '70' Code for New Prevnar Vaccine
Question: We started receiving Prevnar 13 vaccine instead of Prevnar 7. Do I use the [...] - Reader Questions:
Limit Prolonged Services to Highest Category in 1 Instance
Question:Can the prolonged codes (+99354, Prolonged physician service in the office or other outpatient setting [...] - Reader Questions:
Autism Screenings Falls Under 96110
Question:Is there a CPT code for administering the M-CHAT screening? Do we need to include [...] - Reader Questions:
Any PFSH Item Fulfills Category
Question:When a new patient is seen in our office, the patient is required to fill [...] - Reader Questions:
Look for Local Txt to Up Sunburn Pay
Question:A patient comes in with swelling and minor blisters on the tops of his feet. [...]
