Spring brings Coding Clinic Guidance. Spring has sprung, and that brings the first American Hospital Association (AHA) Coding Clinic on ICD-10-CM/PCS issue of 2022. There are a wide range of topics and guidance. Now that we are receiving biannual coding updates, we begin April this year with some new codes, and some changes that are […]
Medical Coding Updates and Insights Unveiled Effective April 1, 2022, the HCPCS Level II code set, which is employed to record medical services and provisions, will encompass the integration of 37 novel codes. Furthermore, the second quarter revision encompasses the elimination of five codes and a refinement of the description for one modifier. Lay Terms […]
Dodge denials for drug testing by knowing which details demand attention. How often do you experience denials when it comes to your definitive drug testing? If the answer is often, this article may provide some answers to why that might be happening. Many payer policies have very clear guidelines, both medical and reimbursement, that dictate […]
FAQs for CPT Changes in 2022 – AAPC’s senior VP of products answers frequently asked questions about new, revised, and deleted CPT® codes for 2022. This month, I will answer questions asked during my Nov. 23, 2021, webinar 2022 CPT® Coding Updates. This webinar shed light on CPT® code updates, why codes were updated, how […]
Validating the shift to higher office visit levels and the impact of the 2021 E&M guidelines. Between 2019 and the end of 2021, a lot changed. Not only did the COVID-19 pandemic impact the way in which physicians and hospitals saw patients, but the introduction of the new 2021 Evaluation and Management (E&M) guidelines was […]
On Feb. 11, the World Health Organization (WHO) released ICD-11 2022. This is the official version of the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) coding set that WHO member countries will be implementing worldwide. In fact, according to the WHO release announcement, 35 countries are already using ICD-11. The WHO began developing […]
There are three new codes in the care management section of the CPT codebook, covering principal care management and chronic care management services. Here’s what physicians need to know about them. Principal Care Management Services New CPT codes have been added in 2022 to describe “Principal Care Management Services.” These codes are like chronic care […]
Coding professionals should familiarize themselves with three new measures in particular. In 2009, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented a quality data reporting program for hospital outpatient services. The Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting Program (Hospital OQR) is a pay-for-quality data reporting program mandated by the Tax Relief and Health Care Act […]
The heart of the principal diagnosis selection is pivotal to accuracy and compliance. Since February is known as “National Heart Month,” a discussion on the heart of inpatient coding is appropriate, that being the “principal diagnosis.” When learning inpatient coding, a large amount of time is spent on understanding the guidelines, conventions, and application of […]
The organization released new CPT codes for Pfizer’s pediatric COVID-19 vaccine once FDA grants emergency use authorization for children between six months and five years of age. The American Medical Association (AMA) has updated the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code set to include a new code for administering pediatric doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine in […]