Ask the Expert

Q: We are revamping our coding department at our facility after acquiring new sites and wanted to know what types of positions and roles our staff should have. Do you have any advice?

Q: Does sending a generic “happy birthday” postcard to patients during their birthday month violate HIPAA rules?

Our experts answer questions about reporting modifier -25 before a surgical procedure, querying for pressure ulcer stages, and more.

Q: How do we know if our facility is performing too many patient tests? What can we do to prove the tests are medically necessary?

Q: Is it a violation of the HIPAA Privacy Rule to make a comment while working at a pharmacy that “we’ve seen a lot of flu cases”?

What do you think about “dotted line” relationships between the case management director and other departments and vice presidents?

How can revenue integrity professionals ensure drug units are properly represented in the charge description master?

Q: I am confused about the difference between the laterality modifiers -LT (left side) and -RT (right side) and modifier -50 (bilateral procedure). Can you explain?

How can case managers and social workers assist patients in lowering medication costs?

What are the distinctions between hard and soft coding?