"Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple." ?Dr. Seuss
This quote seemed an appropriate way to begin a discussion about outpatient encounters and ICD-10-PCS.
You see, outpatient procedures will still be coded using CPT®/HCPCS?the HIPAA-approved code set for reporting hospital outpatient procedures?regardless of when ICD-10 is implemented.
The intent of quality and safety programs is evaluating and monitoring performance and improving results. Organizations develop annual quality and safety plans with measurable objectives that departments adopt and include as integral to their performance improvement plans.
Editor's note: With the increased specificity required for ICD-10-CM coding, coders need a solid foundation in anatomy and physiology. To help coders prepare for the upcoming transition, we will provide an occasional article about specific anatomical locations and body parts as part of a larger series for ICD-10-CM preparation. This month's column addresses the anatomy of the feet.
The Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 was recently signed into law, and what might seem on the surface like a straightforward attempt to prevent cuts to Medicare physician rates is actually more than meets the eye.
