Q: We are trying to educate our coding department about medical necessity, but has CMS or Medicare defined it anywhere? How can we explain it to staff?
A PICC line allows the medications to quickly reach the source of infection—but unfortunately, it also provides an easy route for the patient to use illegal drugs to get high. And sending an active or recent substance abuser home with a central line of any kind presents legal and ethical risks.
A recently identified form of malware affecting Android devices can copy files, saved Wi-Fi network information, and record full phone calls. The copied data is uploaded to a cloud server.
This week's note explains and defines various policies enacted by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, including policies related to outpatient therapy caps and the use of modifier -KX; the low-volume hospital adjustment; the Medicare dependent hospital program; and more. Updated March 2, 2018 for clarity on therapy cap exclusions.
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.
