News & Analysis

April 1, 2012
Briefings on APCs

Editor’s note: To help coders prepare for the upcoming transition to ICD-10-CM, we will provide occasional articles about specific anatomical locations and body parts as part of a larger series for ICD-10-CM preparation. This month’s column addresses digestive system.

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April 1, 2012
Briefings on APCs

Our coding experts answer your questions about  molecular pathology codes, HCPCS codes for drugs that aren’t separately payable under OPPS, deducting push time from infusions, CPT initial observation codes, and diabetes coding in ICD-10-CM.

March 1, 2012
Briefings on APCs

As technology evolves, providers can perform more procedures at the patient's bedside than they ever could in the past. Previously, they could only perform these procedures in another department of the hospital, and they had to charge separately for them.

March 1, 2012
Briefings on APCs

Q Addendum B of the APC updates for 2012 indicates the new molecular pathology codes have status ­indicator E (noncovered service, not paid under OPPS). Our laboratory director said we should report these new codes in addition to the codes that are payable. Can you explain why?

March 1, 2012
Briefings on APCs

Modifier -PD (diagnostic or related nondiagnostic item or service provided in a wholly owned or wholly ­operated entity to a patient who is admitted as an ­inpatient within three days or one day) is now included in the I/OCE, ­according to January updates detailed in Transmittal 2370.

February 1, 2012
Briefings on APCs

Self-administered drugs present a significant issue for coders, especially when considering how they may or may not be covered by Medicare Part B. In many instances, payers may consider a drug to be self-administered in some circumstances but not in others. As a result, coders must pay special attention to how these drugs are used within their setting.

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