Debridement is a process that involves the removal of foreign material, as well as tissue that is either devitalized or contaminated, until healthy tissue is revealed. Its primary purpose is to clean the affected area and is often performed concurrently with other orthopedic surgical interventions. In my role as an auditor specializing in orthopedics, I […]
A thorough understanding of the latest guidelines for coding evaluation and management services is necessary to ensure compliant claims. You’ve likely heard about the 2023 CPT® changes for reporting hospital inpatient and observation evaluation and management (E/M) services. AAPC has been preparing medical coders for these changes since they were announced and started offering education […]
Make sure your facility is aware of all the Medicare policy changes that permit payment for expanded services. Telehealth as a healthcare delivery platform has been in existence since the late 1960s. It was first introduced through projects initiated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Nebraska Psychology Institute. The declaration of […]
Deciding which code to use starts with determining each payer’s policy. The Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) has two principal subsystems, referred to as Level I and Level II. Knowing when to use HCPCS Level I codes versus HCPCS Level II codes can be confusing, mainly because many services are described by both code […]
An Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System (ASC PS) update that took effect July 1, 2019, changes billing instructions for various payment policies and codes. Here is what you need to know to properly bill Medicare for these services and supplies. New CPT Category III Codes Effective July 1, 2019, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid […]