Category: Medical Coding

ICD-10-PCS Updates

ICD-10-PCS Changes: 20 Codes Deleted For FY 2020

CMS has provided ICD-10-PCS updates for fiscal year 2020 that include 2,056 deletions. Here are 20 of the deleted codes: 0370046 – Dilation of right internal mammary artery, bifurcation, with drug-eluting intraluminal device, open approach 0372046 – Dilation of innominate artery, bifurcation, with drug-eluting intraluminal device, open approach 0374056 – Dilation of left subclavian artery, bifurcation, with […]
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CPT code 99201

Understanding Why 99201 Will be Deleted

An overview of the proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule: The proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) rule for 2020 was officially released on Aug. 14, 2019, encompassing various elements. Among these are proposals such as adjusting the PFS conversion factor to $36.09, introducing new HCPCS codes for bundled episode-of-care treatment for opioid use disorders, revising […]
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E/M coding and reporting

Evaluation and Management Codes…Why Bother?

Denials and how to not get discouraged with evaluation and management codes, and how to appeal There Is Little More Frustrating To Chiropractors And Billers Than Evaluation And Management Codes: While the service is required both clinically and documentation-wise, it is being bundled more and more often by third-party payers. If both the chiropractic manipulative […]
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temporary CPT codes

Hospitals Urge CMS To Eliminate ‘Temporary CPT Codes’ For Non-physician Services

The American Hospital Association is calling on CMS to eliminate some “temporary CPT codes” to ensure that coding and documentation requirements are consistent for outpatient billing. Hospitals use healthcare procedure coding system level 2 codes primarily to bill for products, supplies and services not included in current procedural terminology codes, according to CMS. This includes billing […]
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Evaluation and Management Services

More Changes Ahead for Evaluation and Management Services

Changes to payment, coding, and documentation policies for evaluation and management (E/M) services finalized in the 2019 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) final rule are necessary to align with the American Medical Association’s (AMA) revisions to the 2021 CPT code set for office/outpatient E/M visits, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The proposed policy changes for E/M visits are […]
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Advanced Imaging Claims Codes

Advanced Imaging Claims Require New Modifiers and G Codes

January 1, 2020, marks the start of the Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) program educational and operations testing period, at which time Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) will begin accepting AUC-related modifiers on claims for advanced diagnostic imaging services furnished to Medicare Part B patients. The voluntary participation period ends December 31, 2019. Know AUC Program Requirements […]
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Endoscopic Sinus Codes

CMS Proposes Payment Changes to Endoscopic Sinus Codes

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing major payment changes to sinus endoscopy services. The 2020 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) proposed rule (page 53) includes the following excerpt: What Does This Mean for Physicians? This means CMS is looking to apply the multiple endoscopy rules, as are found with colonoscopy endoscopic sinus codes, when […]
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ICD-10-CM Guidelines

Updates to the 2020 ICD-10-CM Guidelines

Cliff notes for the FY20 ICD-10-CM Guidelines for Coding and Reporting. EDITOR’S NOTE: Senior healthcare consultant Laurie Johnson reported this story live during Aug. 13 edition of Talk Ten Tuesday. The following is an edited transcript of her reporting. Last week, I announced that the 2020 ICD-10-CM guidelines were finally released on Aug. 6, 2019. I […]
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