Category: Medical Coding

use-0074a-for-covid-19-pediatric-booster

Use 0074A for COVID-19 Pediatric Booster

Limit this code to administration of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. On May 17, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) amended the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to authorize the use of a booster dose for patients 5 through 11 years of age. The CPT® code to report administration of this […]
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 […]
dont-overlook-these-new-pla-codes

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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
proper-procedural-and-coding-training-ensure-accurate-reimbursement

Barostim Heart Failure Treatment: Coding Training

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has begun covering a portion of the device cost for Barostim Neo, a neuromodulation device for treating chronic heart failure. In late 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it would begin covering a substantial portion of the cost of implantable heart failure […]
cms-proposes-more-1k-new-diagnosis-codes

Cms proposes more than 1k new diagnosis codes

Brain illness and injury, with a focus on dementia-related diagnoses, occupy a high volume of the 1,495 proposed changes to the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code set by CMS in the fiscal year (FY) 2023 inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) proposed rule. At the same time, CMS also introduced a minimal amount of new ICD-10-PCS procedure codes, […]