Category: Medical Coding

4 Steps for Improved Excision Coding

4 Steps for Improved Excision Coding

Consideration of several factors, such as the type of removal, lesion size and location, pathologic results, intent, etc., is key to accurately coding dermatological lesion removal procedures. Let’s review the codes and guidelines for lesion removal by excision and how to avoid common mistakes when coding these skin procedures. Excision – Benign/Malignant Lesions (11400-11646) Excision […]
Deciphering the CPT Code Changes

Deciphering the CPT Code Changes

The American Medical Association (AMA) publishes the Current Procedural Terminology code set changes every year, usually in September, for the upcoming new year. The changes impacting CPT 2020 were released on September 4, 2019. There was a total of 394 CPT code changes, of which, 58 affect the surgery center market. 2020 CPT Code Changes […]
New Code for E-Cigarette Associated Lung Injury

New Code for E-Cigarette/Vaping Associated Lung Injury (EVALI Code)

Emergency release of the new EVALI code by CDC. On Dec. 9, 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published additional guidance regarding e-cigarette/vaping associated lung injury (EVALI Code). The new code is U07.0 (Vaping-related disorder). The CDC consulted with the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding an addition to the classification that would […]
AI Can Help Health Plans Become Member-Centric

How AI Can Help Health Plans Become Member-Centric

Improving the customer experience is no longer an idea that’s relegated to the retail or hospitality industries. Now, the idea has gained traction across many industries, including healthcare. For health plans, improving the customer experience and providing member-centric care helps drive member acquisition and retention and improve reimbursement (via a better STARS rating). With so […]
New CPT Codes for Self-Measured BP

New Year, New CPT Codes for Self-Measured BP

Guidance for using out-of-office BPs is not new. Medical evidence and clinical guidelines published over the last decade have showcased the importance of 24-hour ambulatory monitoring as the reference standard, and self-measured blood pressure monitoring (SMBP) as an acceptable alternative for obtaining BPs to diagnose and treat hypertension. And thanks to that abundance of research […]
CPT Updates

CPT Code Updates: Radiology, Emergency Medicine, and Behavioral Health Changes

Upcoming changes to the CPT code set include updates to radiology and medicine sections, effective for claims submitted on or after January 1. Radiology Updates Several radiology codes have been revised, added, or deleted: Revised Radiology Codes: 74022, 74210, 74220, 74230, 74240, 74246, 74250, 74270, 74280 New Radiology Codes: 74221 – Esophagus radiologic exam, double-contrast […]
Preparing for ICD-11

HCC Coding: Preparing for ICD-11

HCCs thrive on specificity and ICD-11 will provide a higher level of specificity than in ICD-10. For those of you who are HCC coding for hierarchical condition category (HCC) purposes, you know that HCCs are categories of related ICD-10 codes. Only selected significant conditions to drive a payment HCC coding. That means only conditions that […]