Why you need this tool: Credentials serve as notification that you have acquired a certain level of knowledge and professional status. As such, they enhance your standing at your current job and your marketability should you seek a new position. How this tool helps you: You may already be eligible, or almost eligible, for billing and coding certifications. How to use this … [Read more...] about Model Tool: Certification table – billing and coding
Coding
Use all available ICD-10 codes for glaucoma
By Judy Monestime bio Chapter 7 of ICD-10 CM codes in the range of H40-H42 describes specific forms of glaucoma. The official guidelines describe the requirement to assign as many codes from category H40 as needed to identify the type of glaucoma, the affected eye, and the glaucoma stage. The stage of glaucoma is specified with the seventh character: 0-Stage … [Read more...] about Use all available ICD-10 codes for glaucoma
Neoplasm codes changed in ICD-10
By Judy Monestime bio Watch for changes in neoplasm codes in ICD-10 CM. Chapter 2 of ICD-10 CM, ranging from C00 to D49, includes neoplasm codes which provide greater detail than ICD-9-CM codes for reporting neoplasms. The chapter includes these blocks C00-C14 Malignant neoplasms of lip, oral cavity and pharynx C15-C26 Malignant neoplasms of digestive … [Read more...] about Neoplasm codes changed in ICD-10
10 accurate acronyms ensure you get paid
Medical coding is primarily numbering, but acronyms are also important for accurate billing. Here are 10 of the most common. Keep this list handy for reference: CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services)—Division of the United States Department of Health and Human Services that administers Medicare, Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. EDI (Electronic … [Read more...] about 10 accurate acronyms ensure you get paid
Eye diseases get their own new coding section under ICD-10
By Judy Monestime bio Chapter 7 is a new chapter in ICD-10 CM. No, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you; in ICD-10 CM, they get their own chapter. These conditions were previously included with Chapter 6, Diseases of the Nervous System and Sense Organs chapter in ICD-9 CM. Now they are covered in ICD-10 CM Chapter 7: Diseases of the Eye and Adnexa (H00-H59). ICD-10 … [Read more...] about Eye diseases get their own new coding section under ICD-10
How to use Modifier 24 and 25
By Aimee Wilcox, MA, CST, CCS-P Modifier 24 is reported as follows: Append only to Evaluation and Management (EM) codes. Use only to report an EM service beginning the day after a procedure performed by the same physician during the past 10 or 90 postoperative days. The patient's record must document that the EM service was solely for the treatment of an underlying condition … [Read more...] about How to use Modifier 24 and 25
Get ready now for critical ICD-10 deadline
ICD-10 takes effect October 1, 2015, which doesn’t leave much time to prepare – especially when you consider the dramatic impact the new code sets will have on medical offices from the standpoint of staffing, training, and, perhaps most significant of all, financial management. Many physician practices have not started down the ICD-10 path, says Ira Shapiro, CEO of The … [Read more...] about Get ready now for critical ICD-10 deadline
Codes for radiographs of the thumb
By Aimee Wilcox, MA, CST, CCS-P If you've ever taken piano lessons, you know that the thumb is considered the first finger of the hand. However, when you are coding an x-ray of the thumb, you will find that this is considered part of the hand and not a finger. Let's look at the three codes we will be reviewing: • Code 73140 – Radiologic examination, finger(s), minimum of … [Read more...] about Codes for radiographs of the thumb
A clearinghouse isn’t the answer to ICD-10
Getting ready for ICD-10-CM Don’t plan to rely on a clearinghouse to get the office through ICD-10-CM. Clearinghouses can provide a lot of help, the government says, but not the same level of support they provided for the Version 5010 upgrade. The reason is that ICD-10 is based on clinical documentation, and the coding requires medical knowledge as well as familiarity with … [Read more...] about A clearinghouse isn’t the answer to ICD-10
Will you be ready for the big ICD-10 changeover?
The deadline for the changeover to ICD-10 is quickly approaching. Your medical office needs to be ready to make the switch to the new code version by Oct.1, 2015. On that date, the ICD-9 code sets used to report medical diagnoses and inpatient procedures will be replaced by ICD-10 code sets. The transition to ICD-10 is required for everyone covered by the Health Insurance … [Read more...] about Will you be ready for the big ICD-10 changeover?