Certain modifiers are well-known as being difficult for coders. (Modifier -59, anyone?) Others, particularly HCPCS level II modifiers, may be a challenge because they are new, more complex, or simply used infrequently on your hospital’s claims.
Many hospitals seem to struggle with inconsistencies in the quality of their physicians’ history and physical exam (H&P) documentation, particularly when it comes to allergies and current medications. And the medical staff at Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna, AK, believed they were no exception, according to MarianneDailey, RHIT, CHP, CPHQ, HIM director and privacy officer at the hospital.
Are you where you should be in terms of the ICD-10 implementation process? If you aren't sure whether your hospital is on track, or if you know you aren't where you need to be, consider taking advantage of a customizable timeline, courtesy of the Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI)/North Carolina Healthcare Information and Communications Alliance (NCHICA) Timeline Initiative.
Are you where you should be in terms of the ICD-10 implementation process? If you aren't sure whether your hospital is on track, or if you know you aren’t where you need to be, consider taking advantage of a customizable timeline, courtesy of the Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI)/North Carolina Healthcare Information and Communications Alliance (NCHICA) Timeline Initiative.
The many CPT and HCPCS modifiers can leave coders dazed and confused when it comes to appropriately appending them. Unfortunately, hard-coding certain modifiers into your chargemaster is not the answer. However, having coders take the time to brush up on them regularly can certainly help.
