One area of CPT coding that saw big changes for 2017 is for dialysis circuit coding. The existing codes have all been deleted, and new codes have been created (36901-36909) for reporting these procedures.
Managers should not assume that they can review every guideline, every item in Coding Clinic, or every coding-related issue targeted by the Office of Inspector General or Recovery Auditor.
Mrs. Gray, a 93-year-old is in the ICU, has been diagnosed by her physician as having chronic heart disease that has progressed to “end stage.” The physicians set up a meeting at the patient’s bedside to discuss this prognosis with her and invite a representative of every member of the healthcare team to participate. Among those attending the meeting were the nurse case manager and social worker, who makes sure a representative from spiritual care is also present. Since the patient has told them that she has no family or friends, which the social worker validates after an extensive investigation, there are no significant others to attend. Mrs. Gray is truly the last living member of her family.
Hard to believe but this year the Commission for Case Manager Certification celebrates its 25th year of certifying case managers. Are you one of them? I hope so and I hope your management supports the need for its staff who serves in a case manager role to be certified.
