During an emergency meeting in response to the COVID-19 crisis, the American Medical Association (AMA) convened the CPT Editorial Panel to approve a new pair of Category 1 CPT codes. These two new codes are effective immediately, according to the AMA. “The new codes are intended for use as the industry standard for accurate reporting and […]
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced rapid changes on the way physician practices operate. To help doctors navigate the shifting landscape, the AMA has released guidance on issues related to the pandemic, including new Medicare policies, answers to patient concerns and, most recently, advice on coding for COVID-19 testing, treatment and telemedicine services. Resources include […]
The patient has COVID-19? How is the infection manifesting? You need a code for that detail. The rapidity with which our medical world is evolving is unbelievable. I know that aiming for optimal documentation is a worthy goal, but I recognize that right now, my clinical colleagues have more important things to do than […]
As an effort to understand what changes hospitals are making in response to COVID-19, HBI is currently surveying revenue cycle professionals on how their organizations have altered, might alter, or will not alter revenue cycle processes. The following are highlights of HBI survey results as of April 3, 2020. We will continue to update these […]
The President signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act on Friday, March 27, formalizing a piece of legislation meant to support and stimulate the economy in the midst of the global pandemic, to the tune of over $2 trillion. This article will address provisions of the CARES Act that will assist […]
Clinical diagnostic laboratories can identify specimen collection for COVID-19 testing using two new HCPCS Level II codes, effective March 1, 2020. Check Patient Location Before Coding Medicare posted these new COVID-19 specimen collection codes in a March 31, 2020, special edition MLN Connects and in a last-minute revision to the April 2020 HCPCS Level II […]
The American Medical Association has published a COVID-19 coding scenario guide that includes a number of coding scenarios for physicians treating COVID-19 patients. The COVID-19 scenarios presented include: Patient comes to office for E/M visit, is tested for COVID-19 during the visit. Patient comes to office for E/M visit re: COVID-19 and is directed to […]
Last week, I encouraged you all to comply with the recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This week, I would like to share some thoughts about how we can improve our health and maintain our sanity while working remotely and practicing social distancing. My first concern is that sitting is […]
A case in point is the information infrastructure of the American healthcare system, which will play a critical role in understanding and battling the COVID-19 pandemic. Just as the capacity of some national health systems have been overwhelmed by the number of COVID-19 cases—most notably in Italy—healthcare providers and professionals in the U.S. run the risk […]
COVID-19 is affecting all aspects of healthcare and has even led the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to take the unprecedented step of introducing a new code, outside of its usual time cycle, which negates the code introduced just weeks ago. Usually, new ICD codes are introduced to healthcare after months of deliberation […]