Category: Blog

preventive-medicine-versus-em-codes-the-same-day-coding-dilemma

Preventive Medicine Versus E&M Codes

Choosing a proper office visit code can become confusing unless one understands the rules separating preventive medicine and evaluation and management (E&M) coding. Problem-oriented E&M services, office, and other outpatient visit codes 99202-99215 (along with hospital, observation, and consultative encounters) are for patients who present with signs, symptoms, conditions, diagnoses and/or problems that need to […]
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Don’t Overlook These New PLA Codes

A quarterly update for the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CLFS), issued May 4, includes nine new CPT® codes for proprietary laboratory analyses (PLAs). Medical coding and billing staff that process claims for lab testing should be aware of these codes and pricing. 9 New PLA Codes The following PLA (type of service 5) codes are […]
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Bridge the gaps between payer and provider by automating your revenue cycle

The health care industry is rapidly evolving. COVID-19 has uncovered a litany of flaws in health care systems, leading to massive changes in the way patients, providers, and payers communicate and operate. One of the highest impact changes in the industry is the widespread shift from a traditional fee-for-service reimbursement system to value-based care. Instead […]
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how-to-build-icd-10-pcs-codes-from-op-reports

How to Build ICD-10-PCS Codes From Op Reports

Arrive at the correct procedure code by breaking down the operative report. Even seasoned coding professionals occasionally find it challenging to assign the appropriate ICD-10-PCS codes from the operative report. Mastering the procedural coding system used in the inpatient hospital setting takes practice. Medical coders reporting inpatient services should start by reading the operative report, […]
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cms-considers-use-covid-19-claims-fy-2023-rate-setting

CMS considers use of covid-19 claims for fy 2023 rate setting

CMS released the fiscal year (FY) 2023 inpatient prospective payment system proposed rule with proposals for new calculations for FY 2023 rate setting. Although CMS is proposing to use FY 2021 data for FY 2023 Medicare Severity Diagnosis-Related Groups (MS-DRG) rate setting, the agency wants a modified methodology to account for the historical and potential […]
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7 data breaches affecting patient billing info

  In the last six months, several payers, providers and revenue cycle vendors began warning patients about data breaches that affected medical billing information. Here is a breakdown of seven instances: Adaptive Health Integrations, a company providing healthcare billing services, suffered a breach in October that exposed 510,574 individuals’ data. The incident is the third-largest […]
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cms-hhs-finalize-2023-notice-of-benefits-payment-parameters

CMS, HHS Finalize 2023 Notice of Benefits, Payment Parameters

  CMS and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the 2023 Notice of Benefits and Payment Parameters Final Rule, which includes standardized plan options, changes to network adequacy reviews, refinements to the Affordable Care Act’s essential health benefits nondiscrimination policy, and other changes. “The recent Open Enrollment Period demonstrated the demand for […]
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ama-announces-cpt-update-covid-19-booster-candidates

AMA announces CPT update for COVID-19 booster candidates

The American Medical Association (AMA) today announced an editorial update to Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®), the nation’s leading medical terminology code set for describing health care procedures and services, that includes newly assigned provisional CPT codes for COVID-19 booster candidates from Pfizer and Sanofi-GlaxoSmithKline. The Pfizer booster candidate is proposed for use in children ages […]
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cms-aims-eliminate-delays-new-medicare-coverage-and-expand-special-enrollment-periods

CMS aims to eliminate delays in new Medicare coverage, expand special enrollment periods

The Biden administration wants to close the gap before new Medicare beneficiaries can get coverage and expand use of special enrollment periods. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule Friday that updated Medicare enrollment and eligibility rules. One of the key proposals is to provide Medicare coverage a month immediately […]
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