E/M coding: A new era warrants new documentation guidelines

March 1, 2018
Briefings on APCs

One of the most memorable sessions at the AMA CPT Symposium in November 2017 involved an impromptu open mic feedback session facilitated by CMS’ Marge Watchorn, deputy director of the Division of Practitioner Services. The focus of this session was the applicability of the current CMS documentation guidelines for E/M services.

Understand medical necessity basics to reduce denials

March 1, 2018
Briefings on APCs

In the current healthcare climate, the issue of medical necessity documentation, or lack thereof, is one of the most common reasons for claim denials. For a service to be considered medically necessary (by a third-party payer), it must be considered a reasonable and necessary service to diagnose and/or treat a patient’s current and/or chronic medical condition.

OPPS date of service policy update impacts clinical laboratory reporting

March 1, 2018
Briefings on APCs

In the 2018 OPPS final rule, CMS finalized a change to the current clinical laboratory date of service policies for outpatient molecular pathology tests and advanced diagnostic laboratory tests.

This month's coding Q&A

March 1, 2018
Briefings on APCs

Our experts answer questions about the –X{EPSU} modifiers, therapy cap changes for 2018, reporting multiple infusions, and more.