Most covered entities still use mailings to communicate with patients and members, so it is worth revisiting Aetna's 2017 mailing breach and the surrounding litigation to understand where negligence occurred and to take away some valuable lessons learned.
As coders mark the third anniversary this October of the U.S. implementation of ICD-10, its newly minted successor is waiting in the wings, nearly ready for adoption.
It's been more than three years since CMS introduced a subset of modifiers it wants providers to report instead of modifier -59 (distinct procedural service), but they're still optional as barely any new guidance has been released.
Q: I received confusing guidance regarding CPT coding for a segmental spinal fusion with pedicle screws placed at L3 and L4 vertebrae. Would it be appropriate to report CPT code 22612 with add-on code 22614 for this procedure?
A case manager works on a postacute transfer plan for a patient who is critically ill with sepsis and at risk for acute renal failure. Because the patient has a history of IV drug use, it is likely that long-term acute care hospitals will deny him admission.
