December 1, 2012
Briefings on APCs

Misusing modifier -25 (significant, separately ­identifiable E/M service by the same physician on the same day of the procedure or other service) can be an expensive proposition. Just ask Georgia Cancer ­Specialists I, a ­leading oncology practice in Atlanta.

November 1, 2012
Briefings on APCs

CMS made two manual corrections as part of the OPPS update for October 2012 and included a number of small changes to both OPPS and the I/OCE.

October 1, 2012
Briefings on APCs

Our coding experts answer your questions about coding for hysteroscopy prior to ablation, appending modifier -59 for MRI and MRA, charging for venipunctures, therapy caps under OPPS, reporting limits for Provenge®, modifier -59 and infusion therapy, Reporting TEE pre- and post-operativley, coding for toxic metabolic encephalopathy

October 1, 2012
Briefings on APCs

When the AMA revised the instructions for reporting ancillary services with critical care in 2011, facilities knew they wouldn't see an immediate increase in ­payment. CMS determines payment amounts through use of claims data from two years earlier, meaning the earliest facilities could expect additional reimbursement is 2013.

September 1, 2012
Briefings on APCs

Our coding experts answer questions about reporting dialysis for ESRD patient in ED, coding for sequential infusions, procedures on the inpatient-only list, replacement code for C9732, and new drug HCPCS codes.

September 1, 2012
Briefings on APCs

CMS is proposing two major changes as part of the 2013 OPPS proposed rule, released July 6. One has to do with how CMS proposes to calculate APC relative weights; the other addresses the reimbursement level for separately payable drugs and biologicals without pass-through status.

August 1, 2012
Briefings on APCs

In this month's issue, our coding experts answer questions about how to differentiate between modifiers -52, -73, -74, coding for negative pressure wound therapy, and billing the technical component of pathology services.

August 1, 2012
Briefings on APCs

HCPCS code C1882 (cardioverter-defibrillator, other than single or dual chamber [implantable]) will once again meet the criteria to override the device-to-procedure edit for CPT® code 33249 (insertion or replacement of permanent pacing cardioverter-defibrillator system with transvenous lead[s], single or dual chamber).

August 1, 2012
Briefings on APCs

Coding for physician services doesn’t always match coding for facility services, which can cause problems for coders who code records for both. ED E/M is one area where different rules come into play.

August 1, 2012
Briefings on APCs

Coders can run into two types of edits that may ­require them to append modifier -59 (distinct procedural service) to override: NCCI edits and medically unlikely edits (MUE).

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