Review the changes to ensure that ICD-10-CM codes are reported accurately On July 5th, The National Center for Health Statistics released the 2024 update to the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting. It is recommended that medical coders and auditors review these guidelines on an annual basis to ensure accurate reporting of patient conditions […]
Ensure that you are aware of the contrast between the two, and which one takes precedence over the other. Both cardiac arrest and cardiac shock are medical emergencies that require immediate attention and treatment. These ailments can have severe consequences and may result in fatality if not treated promptly. In medical coding, it is critical […]
In the 2024 ICD-10-CM, there are noteworthy changes to the SDoH codes Z55-Z65 that are worth mentioning. Instead of discussing minor formatting and grammatical adjustments made by CMS, I will concentrate on the significant changes. Here are the updates. ● Under the category of problems related to social environment (Z60.8), the ICD-10-CM now includes more […]
Risk adjustment coding plays a vital role in the healthcare sector by capturing and documenting the severity of patient conditions. Its primary purpose is to guarantee precise reimbursement and risk adjustment scores. Given the ever-changing healthcare landscape, it is imperative for healthcare providers and coding professionals to remain adaptable and well-informed about the evolving requirements. […]
On Friday, June 16, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) unveiled the ICD-10-CM codes for the upcoming fiscal year 2024 (FY 2024). This latest release introduces 395 new additions, removes 25 codes, and includes 13 revised codes. The removals are a result of the expansion of diagnosis codes. In total, there will be […]
Medical coding is a crucial aspect of the healthcare industry. It involves the transformation of medical diagnoses, procedures, and services into universal codes that can be easily understood and processed by healthcare providers and insurance companies. Despite its importance, medical coding is not without its challenges. Here are some of the top challenges faced by medical coders […]
Prepare for the upcoming release of the ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS codes for the 2024 fiscal year (FY) – the latest development in the coding world. These codes are expected to be released soon, allowing facilities and vendors to make necessary preparations for implementation by October 1, 2023. In the meantime, it’s crucial to review and […]
The 1995 and 1997 Documentation Guidelines and the 2023 CPT® E/M Services Guidelines are not drastically different when compared side by side. Some hospitals and coding and billing entities may believe that the new 2023 CPT® evaluation and management (E/M) services guidelines and code changes simplify the coding, billing, and auditing processes. However, it is […]
According to a research letter published in top journal, the attempt by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to alleviate the EHR documentation burden on physicians has not yielded the anticipated outcomes. At the beginning of 2021, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) revised the evaluation and management (E/M) coding requirements for outpatient […]
The relationship between medical coding and patient care may not initially appear connected, and they may even seem like complete opposites. While medical coding focuses on billing and revenue, patient care revolves around providing care to individuals. An from leading E-magazine’s recent article emphasized this distinction, asserting that prioritizing care is essential over coding. However, […]