Category: Medical Coding

CMS News Icd-10 Codes

Hundreds of New ICD-10-CM Codes Effective Oct. 1

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released on June 20 the new ICD-10-CM codes descriptions, tables and index, and addendum for fiscal year 2020. There are 273 additions, 21 deletions, and 30 revisions, effective Oct. 1, 2019, which will increase the code set from 71,932 to 72,184 diagnoses. Chapter Review The majority of changes to new […]
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Evaluation and Management Service Codes

AMA on Evaluation and Management Service Codes Guidelines for 2021

Medical coders who were unsure what documentation non-Medicare payers would expect in light of the Patients Over Paperwork Initiative now have more to go on. The initiative reduced documentation requirements for outpatient evaluation and management service codes (CPT® 99201-99215) provided to Medicare Part B patients beginning in 2021. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) indicated in their initiative that, although […]
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OB/GYN Coding

Correct Common OB/GYN Coding Mistakes

Overlooking separately billable services rendered during the global period will cost your practice dearly. Many obstetrics/gynecology (OB/GYN Coding) practices are coding deliveries incorrectly or failing to submit claims for “problem visits” during a prenatal or postpartum visit. Common mistakes such as these not only fail to capture payment for services rendered but also the meaningful […]
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LT/RT Modifiers

Change To RT And LT Modifiers Use

The Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractors (DME MAC) are changing the requirement that medical coders to use the right (RT) and left (LT) modifiers for certain HCPCS codes, and that the modifiers be used when billing two of the same item or accessory on the same date of service and the items are being used bilaterally. The […]
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ICD-10-PCS Code

CMS Releases FY 2020 ICD-10-PCS Codes Set

CMS released the fiscal year (FY) 2020 ICD-10-PCS changes on Friday, May 31, which include two code revisions, 734 additions, and 2,056 invalidations. The files include information on ICD-10-PCS updates that all inpatient coders must use for discharges occurring from October 1, 2019, through September 30, 2020. The total number of ICD-10-PCS codes for 2019 was 78,881. […]
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HCPCS Coding

CMS Announces HCPCS Coding, Coverage And Payment Initiatives To Improve Patient Access To New Technologies

On May 2, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS or the Agency) announced in a press release that it will be changing how frequently the Agency reviews applications for new and revised Level II codes under the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS). Specifically, CMS stated that the Agency “is moving to a process with […]
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