Health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions, and the total cost of limited health literacy to the U.S. healthcare system is estimated at $50–73 billion.
In recent months, OCR has expressed concern that providers and other covered entities may be reluctant to inform and involve the loved ones of individuals facing health crises like opioid use disorder for fear of violating HIPAA. Here, we look at some common misconceptions about privacy under HIPAA and point to the information that patients and families need to know.
Q: Our facility is used to reporting modifier -59 (distinct procedural service), but we're not sure when modifier -XE (separate encounter, a service that is distinct because it occurred during a separate encounter) would be appropriate instead. Could you provide an example?
Pay close attention to new CPT documentation and coding guidance for reporting radiological imaging. For example, a new paragraph titled “Imaging Guidance” in both the surgery and medicine guidelines advises that even when imaging guidance or supervision are included in a surgical procedure code, you must still follow the radiology documentation requirements in the CPT manual.
