Category: Medical Coding

COVID-19 Antigen Testing

New CPT Code Expands COVID-19 Coding, Billing to Antigen Tests

The AMA’s new Category I CPT code will allow for COVID-19 coding and billing of antigen tests performed on patients suspected of being infected by the novel coronavirus. The American Medical Association (AMA) recently updated Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) to enable proper COVID-19 coding and billing of antigen tests performed on patients suspected of being infected with […]
Codes for COVID-19 Patients

19 Codes Used for COVID-19 Patients

  At the onset of the pandemic, increasing use of three codes — 31500 for emergency intubations, 99291 for intensive care unit treatment and 99233 for complex hospital visits — reflected rising numbers of COVID-19 patients, according to Tony Mira, president and CEO of Anesthesia Business Consultants. ABC coding teams have captured a wide range of […]
COVID19 ICD-10-CM-Codes

ICD-10-CM Codes Spark Great Interest

Over the past few months, the folks at ICD10monitor have seen an increase in website searches regarding two specific ICD-10-CM codes: U07.1 (COVID-19) and F32.9 (Major depressive disorder, unspecified). Some say that this is a sign of the times, and that may be absolutely true, considering what has gone on in the past four months […]
ICD-10-PCS New Codes

ICD-10-PCS 2021 Adds 544 New Codes

  The 2021 ICD-10-PCS files are now available. Inpatient coders will have 544 new codes to work with beginning Oct. 1, 2020, as well as changes to tables and the index. New PCS Codes Additions include several codes for: Insertion of radioactive element into various body sites, by various approaches Fragmentation of various veins and arteries Removal […]
Telemedicine Takes Healthcare Into the 21st Century

Telemedicine Takes Healthcare Into the 21st Century

  Update your understanding of how to code telehealth services now and in the future. Without telehealth, the COVID-19 pandemic could be much worse. Imagine if practitioners were not able to socially distance their infected patients from their healthy patients. Think of all the people who would not seek medical attention if it meant leaving […]
COVID-19 Specimen Collection and Testing

COVID-19 Specimen Collection and Testing

How to code Medicare Part B claims for reimbursement. These past few months have been a whirlwind for everyone, but it’s fair to say medical coders have been hit with a category 5 hurricane. New codes and revised guidelines have been whirring about, making our heads spin. And now we have another new CPT® code […]
Future of Telehealth

Telehealth is the Future- and the Future has Arrived

For several years, we’ve seen Medicare and the American Medical Association’s Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) manual slowly approach the age of telehealth. Despite a lot of discussion and many headlines during each of the past few years, the codes and coverage embracing the modern age of medicine have lagged far behind the technology. This isn’t […]
Diagnosis Coding for COVID-19

Diagnosis Coding for COVID-19: Better to be Lucky Than Good

  Stakeholders need to work collaboratively to ensure that diagnostic information is complete and accurate. The COVID-19 pandemic has created many overwhelming and heartbreaking medical challenges. In theory, the easiest task is accurate diagnosis coding for suspected exposure, confirmed and presumed cases, and possible disease. The new ICD-10-CM codes are few and clearly defined.  However, […]