Coders have until September 30, 2015, to pass AAPC’s ICD-10 proficiency test in order to retain their credentials. AAPC recently added another way to prove proficiency that includes an online training portion, in addition to the previously available timed assessment.
Documentation for vertebral augmentation procedures (VAPs) must adhere to Local Coverage Determination (LCD) policies in order to be paid by Medicare. CMS recently provided guidance for these claims in the Medicare Quarterly Provider Compliance Newsletter .
In its 2014 OPPS Final Rule , CMS finalized its proposal to replace existing evaluation and management CPT ® clinic visit codes with a single HCPCS G-code.
CMS recently released five online resources to aid providers in their ICD-10 implementation efforts. Although CMS designed some of these resources with providers in mind, much of the information is applicable to hospitals, payers, and vendors as well.
The 2014 IPPS Final Rule was supposed to be implemented with enforcement beginning October 1, but one of its most controversial aspects has seen another delay in enforcement, with major healthcare trade groups seeking more.
New CPT ® codes introduced for 2014 will give healthcare providers new ways to report pain management services and treatments. Shelley C. Safian, PhD, MAOM/HSM, CCS-P, CPC-H, CPC-I, AHIMA-approved ICD-10-CM/PCS trainer , reviews some of the codes, including new evaluation and management and Category II codes.
Like the skin, dermatology coding has several layers. Betty Hovey, CPC, CPC-H, CPB, CPMA, CPC-I, CPCD, says that coders need to pay attention to the type of procedure, site, size, and more in order to accurately report each encounter.
Some providers are billing only add-on codes without their respective primary codes, resulting in overpayments, according to CMS. Add-on codes billed without their primary codes are considered an overpayment, with one exception.
CMS’ Pat Brooks, RHIA, senior technical advisor, Hospital and Ambulatory Policy Group, and AHIMA’s Sue Bowman, MJ, RHIA, CCS, FAHIMA, senior director, coding policy and compliance, reviewed basic ICD-10 information during a CMS National Provider Call August 22.
CMS added three new HCPCS C codes and one G code to the integrated outpatient code editor (I/OCE) as part of the October quarterly update. The new codes are effective October 1.
