Urology Coding Alert - eNewsletter

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Urology Coding Alert – an AAPC eNewsletter

It happens — a chart comes across your desk that leaves you scratching your head. What urology coder doesn’t get stumped once in a while? 

  • How do I code a diagnostic laparoscopy when my surgeon intended to perform a laparoscopic robotic sacrocolpopexy?
  • What code should I use for laser ablation of mesh in the urethra?
  • What CPT® codes should I submit for “robotic exploration of retroperitoneum with biopsy of periureteral mass/para-caval mass”?

The above questions are but a few of the uncertainties we clear up for you in Urology Coding Alert.

Prevent Denials and Secure Full Pay for Your Urology Services

Sharpen your urology coding skills as our experts break down reporting challenges involving Botox for bladder spasms, prostate biopsies for Medicare claims, Martius flap procedures, E/M visits, and more.

Your monthly e-subscription to provides you with timely coverage of code and guideline updates. Our team also debunks coding myths, outlines the differences between similar urology services, and guides you through complicated reporting scenarios.

Because uncertainty goes with the territory, every issue of this indispensable resource packs real-world solutions to questions from urology coders like you.

5 Reasons You Should Subscribe to Urology Coding Alert

  • Trusted Advice: Count on the accuracy of articles reviewed by respected urologist and consultant Michael A. Ferragamo, MD, FACS.
  • Modifier Helper: Hone your modifier know-how as our veteran coding educators demonstrate proper modifier use and break down challenging concepts into easy-to-understand terms.
  • Timesaver: Quickly find information in our urology coding archive, packed with thousands of urology coding how-to guides, case studies, refreshers, and reporting tips.
  • ICD-10-CM Support: Keep your diagnosis coding on course with ICD-10 coding tutorials specific to urology and the conditions you see in your practice.
  • Annual CEUs: Learn and earn with 6 CEUs included in your annual subscription to Urology Coding Alert. CEUs may be applied toward maintaining your CPC or CUC.

Newsletters are regular and timely publications written by subject matter experts with their fingers on the pulse of your industry.

In the case of coding newsletters, your subscription will give you all the latest information you need, plus a refresher on things you might have learned but forgotten.

Coding newsletters feature real reader questions, interviews, and guidance from experts. You’ll find clinical scenarios and expert advice to explain code choice and guide you through the code selection process. A specialty-specific newsletter promotes accurate coding, leading to higher revenues and less time and money wasted on justifying billing.

Non-coding healthcare newsletters provide up-to-the-minute news on changes in federal regulations governing reimbursement and legislative developments. You’ll find ways to navigate often dense government-speak and learn how to apply regulatory changes to your practice or agency.

The knowledge disseminated in each newsletter issue can help protect your practice or business from costly mistakes and even help boost your revenue with guidance on the best ways to:

  • Code challenging scenarios or use modifiers correctly
  • Stay on top of the latest news and regulatory changes pertaining to the healthcare market
  • Learn how to ethically optimize your reporting to avoid undercoding and missed opportunities

Healthcare Business Monthly is a broad-scope publication that provides information on a range of topics, including human-interest stories based on coders. It also covers healthcare issues beyond coding, compliance, or post-acute care — such as front-desk etiquette, keeping the office clean, etc.

Coding newsletters, more focused than Healthcare Business Monthly, exclusive cover coding, billing, and regulations for the title specialty.

Non-coding healthcare newsletters dig into the regulatory news pertaining to healthcare. These are up-to-the-minute publications. You won’t find such in-depth information for compliance, practice management, MDS, home health, or hospice in Healthcare Business Monthly.

AAPC coding newsletters will help new coders get up to speed on the job. The articles cover several in-specialty topics each month and delve into the specifics of coding procedures and services. A new coder could get information on a coding scenario in a newsletter before they encounter it in the workplace, which is a huge asset.

Coding newsletters provide more exposure to the news you need, and the quizzes offer an opportunity to apply your coding knowledge in a low-stakes situation. Newsletter articles and reader questions add to and reinforce coder training. You’ll find expert opinions and advice from trusted and experienced sources that can help you understand the nuances of the profession.

Throughout the year, all newsletters contain updates to codes and coding guidelines that are vital to new and veteran coders. From articles on code changes and quarterly National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) edits to discussions of ad-hoc guideline changes issued by CMS and other agencies, newsletters keep coders informed and current. Having a specialty-focused publication addressing and analyzing updates is an important tool for every coder.

For instance, NCCI edits are often applied behind the scenes to coding software, and coders may be staring at a denial without realizing why. Newsletter articles will update coders to the edits that affect their practices the most and translate them into practical advice. That way, even veteran coders will be aware.

Secondly, there is so much to remember in coding that everyone occasionally forgets how to report something. The newsletter provides a monthly refresher on coding topics that a veteran coder might not have seen in a while.

Finally, most AAPC coding newsletters provide coders with regular AAPC CEU opportunities that can help keep your credentials current.

CPT® is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association. All rights reserved.

Most coding newsletters are specific to a medical specialty, and coders working in those specialties should obviously subscribe to newsletters aligned with their professional interests.
 
Several newsletters feature subject matter that crosses specialty lines. E/M Coding Alert, ICD-10 Coding Alert, and Health Information Compliance, for example, all contain articles and reader questions applicable to most specialties, practices, and institutions.

You’ll also find newsletters dedicated to compliance, practice management, skilled nursing facility, home health, hospice, and Medicare Part B. These newsletters are beneficial to practice managers, billing/coding staff, Minimum Data Set nurses, clinicians, and administrators.

Category

eNewsletter Title

Frequency

Medical Coding

Anesthesia Coding Alert

Monthly

Cardiology Coding Alert

Monthly

E/M Coding Alert

Monthly

ED Coding Alert

Monthly

Gastroenterology Coding Alert

Monthly

General Surgery Coding Alert

Monthly

ICD-10 Coding Alert

Monthly

Neurology and Pain Management Coding Alert

Monthly

Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Monthly

Ob-gyn Coding Alert

Monthly

Oncology/Hematology Coding Alert

Monthly

Optometry/Ophthalmology Coding Alert

Monthly

Orthopedic Coding Alert

Monthly

Otolaryngology Coding Alert

Monthly

Path/Lab Coding Alert

Monthly

Pediatric Coding Alert

Monthly

Podiatry Coding and Billing Alert

Monthly

Primary Care Coding Alert

Monthly

Pulmonology Coding Alert

Monthly

Radiology Coding Alert

Monthly

Urology Coding Alert

Monthly

Compliance

Health Information Compliance Alert

Monthly

Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement

Biweekly

Part B Insider

Monthly

Practice Management Alert

Monthly

Post-Acute

Home Care Week

Weekly

Hospice Insider

Monthly

MDS Alert

Monthly

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AAPC newsletters are all available in full-color electronic format. The “flipbook” format functions like an online magazine. You’ll be able to click on live links in articles to go directly to resource websites, and you can do keyword searches of the newsletter.

Articles in an eNewsletter can be downloaded to your computer and then printed.

Newsletters monthly issue date varies from month to month. Different newsletter may or may not be published on the same date of the month.

Fees paid for any subscription term are paid in advance and are not refundable in whole or in part. You may terminate your subscription at any time and continue using the services until the expiration of your pre-paid term.

How to Cancel: You may terminate your subscription by contacting AAPC via phone or email. To ensure that your credit card does not get charged, please make your cancelation request at least two business days prior to the end date of your subscription term.

You will not be able to log in to your account to view a newsletter once your subscription expires. If you decide to end your subscription but would like to refer to past articles, you should download the articles prior to the expiration of your subscription.

Learn when to report P9612 versus 51701. Sometimes your urologist may need to insert a non-indwelling bladder catheter. In this case, you would report this service with code 51701 (Insertion of non-indwelling bladder catheter (eg, straight catheterization for residual urine)). However, if you don’t know how to appropriately report an evaluation and management (E/M) service with 51701, you could be [...]

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For patients under 28 days of age with a UTI, report P39.3. Reporting the correct code for a urinary tract infection (UTI) can be tricky. For example, you need to know when it’s appropriate to use the site not specified code, as well as when you can report the signs and symptoms. Follow five tips to make sure you report [...]

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Don’t just resubmit to correct a denial. Submitting duplicate claims is a big mistake you don’t want to make in your practice. Provider outreach and education consultants Michelle Coleman, CPC, and Arlene Dunphy, CPC, from the Medicare Administrative Contractor (MAC) National Government Services (NGS), recently identified some ways you can avoid this mistake in the webinar “How to Avoid Duplicate [...]

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Question: According to the documentation, the urologist placed a direct visual internal urethrotomy (DVIU) scope 20-French through the urethra up to the bladder neck where the tight area was visualized. They passed a 0.035 guidewire through this without any difficulty. It was probably opened enough that it could have accommodated one 0.035 guidewire. With the guidewire in place, the urologist took [...]

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Question: The patient had Fournier’s gangrene wounds. After informed consent was signed, the patient was brought to the operating room. General anesthesia was induced. The patient was placed in the dorsal lithotomy position, the wound VAC was removed, and the patient was prepped and draped in the usual sterile fashion. Time-out was performed. The wound measured 12x7 cm and inspection of [...]

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Question: Once the patient was under anesthesia, my urologist inserted the tip of a flexible cystoscope into the urethra and slowly glided it up and into the bladder. My urologist examined the urethra and injected sterile saline water into the bladder to improve the view of the bladder wall. My urologist advanced the scope into each ureter, performing a ureteroscopy all the [...]

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