Coding Resources
SPECIALTY
Get free
resources
practice alerts
Coding Coaches
.
By Specialty
coding Coaches
Trigger Finger Injection
June 10, 2021 Question: Which CPT code is used 20550 or 20551 for a trigger finger /A1 pulley injection? Answer:…
Breast Reduction with Liposuction
June 10, 2021 Question: If I do both a breast reduction, 19318, and liposuction of the breast, 15877, do I…
Debridement Coding
June 10, 2021 Question: If 10 sq. cm subcutaneous tissue is debrided from the right leg and 20 sq. cm…
Non-Manipulative Treatment of Finger Fractures: One Code or Four Codes?
June 10, 2021 Question: Our physician diagnosed non-displaced middle phalangeal fractures on the right index, middle, ring, and little fingers…
Laceration and Fracture Repair
June 10, 2021 Question: My physician is utilizing an open laceration on the patients chin for open reduction of a…
Using Time to Select Office E/M Service
June 10, 2021 Question: If I use time to select my E/M service in the office, can I just document…
PTH Blood Draw with a Parathyroidectomy
June 10, 2021 Question: Can you code a PTH (blood draw), during a parathyroidectomy? Answer: Monitoring the Parathyroid hormone (PTH),…
Bilateral Sciatica
June 10, 2021 Question: What is the correct ICD-10-CM for bilateral sciatica? My doctor tells me to use both M54.31…
Telehealth Coding Using Audio Only
May 27, 2021 Question: My doctors are providing telehealth office visits using audio only. They have told me it is…
Removal of Intra-mammary Lymph Node
May 27, 2021 Question: In doing DIEP flap reconstruction, oftentimes I take out an incidental intra-mammary lymph node. Can I…
What Does “Separate Procedure” Mean in a CPT Code Description?
May 27, 2021 Question: What does “separate procedure” mean when it follows a CPT code description? Answer: Per CPT :…
Shared Services in the Hospital
May 27, 2021 Question: Our practice understands how to report shared services in the hospital when the physician assistant and…
Does Type of Scope – Rigid or Flexible - Matter for Coding?
My 27, 2021 Question: Does 31231 (nasal endoscopy) have to be done with a rigid scope? Answer: The CPT descriptor…
New 2021 E/M Coding Guidelines
May 27, 2021 Question: In the new guidelines, how does Time affect billing for a teaching physician’s E/M service when…
Two-Level Kyphoplasty
May 27, 2021 Question: When doing a T12 & L3 kyphoplasty, are the correct codes 22513 (thoracic) and 22514 (lumbar)?…
Coding for FAST Exams
May 27, 2021 Question: I was told I cannot bill for FAST exams done in the ED for a trauma…
Telehealth Billing During the Public Health Emergency
May 13, 2021 Question: We have been providing Telehealth visits using audio and visual means to many of our patients…
Denial of 15839 with 19342
May 13, 2021 Question: My doctor performed 19342 (exchange of larger implant to smaller implant), 15771 (grafting of autologous fat)…
Co Surgeon or Assistant?
May 13, 2021 Question: A vascular surgeon is requested to come to the OR to repair a blood vessel that…
Bone Cyst Tibia and Fibula
May 13, 2021 Question: Our surgeon documented an excision and curettage of a bone cyst from the tibia and the…
Removing Dried Blood from the EAC
My 13, 2021 Question: A new patient had excessive dried blood and hematoma in the external ear canal. Under microscopy,…
Adjacent Tissue Transfer
May 13, 2021 Question: My physician and I are in a disagreement regarding a malignant lesion excision performed with an…
Coding for REBOA
May 13, 2021 Question: What is REBOA and how is it coded? Answer: REBOA is used in trauma for patients…
Neuroendovascular – Arterial Catheterization
May 13, 2021 Question: We are new to neuroendovascular coding. How do I know what’s a 2nd order or 3rd…
MDM Credit for 2021
April 29, 2021 Question: I am a pain management specialist. I have a patient who was referred to my office…
Laceration and Fracture Repair
April 29, 2021 Question: My physician is utilizing an open laceration on the patients chin for open reduction of a…
Fem-Fem Bypass
April 29, 2021 Question: How is a left femoral to right femoral artery bypass with PTFE reported? Answer: Report code…
Separate Procedure Billing
April 29, 2021 Question: I am new to coding and have a question. I remember studying about “separate procedures” and…
Cerumen Removal
April 29, 2021 Question: If someone comes in for ear cleaning do you bill 69210 only or can you also…
New Evaluation and Management Guidelines for 2021 for Office Visits
April 29, 2021 Question: I work in a Dermatology practice and we see just a few Medicare patients. The physician…
Articles
New Procedures Added to Medicare’s Prior Authorization (PA) List Effective 7/1/21
May 26, 2021 Since 7/1/20, when CMS initiated a requirement for specific procedures to be prior authorized, we have sent…
Is Time on Your Side in 2021?
AAOSNow – November 2020 by Margaret M. Maley In 2021, medical decision making (MDM) or time can be used to select the…
Five Coding Tips for Dealing with Third-party Billing Entities
Five Coding Tips for Dealing with Third-party Billing Entities AAOSNow – February 2020 by Sarah Wiskerchen, MBA, CPC Whether due…
Prior Authorization Chaos is the New Normal for Spine Surgery
ORTHOWORLD – December 11, 2019 In 2017, the American Medical Association surveyed physicians across all specialties about the amount of…
All Work (RVUs) and No Pay?: Eight Questions to Ask the Hospital about Its Work RVU Compensation Formula
GreenBranch.Com – Jan/Feb 2013 by Sarah Wiskerchen As more surgeons and specialists are offered hospital employment, work RVU-based compensation agreements…
Therapy Billing: Be Sure Your Team Is Doing Things Right
Therapy Billing: Be Sure Your Team Is Doing Things Right AAOSNow – October 2019 by Sarah Wiskerchen, MBA, CPC Many…
Coding Errors Can Cost You Money and Potentially a Sale
Coding Errors Can Cost You Money and Potentially a Sale Healio Orthopedics – October 2019 by Karen Zupko As more…
4 Reasons You Should Prepare a Physician Rights and Responsibilities Document
4 Reasons You Should Prepare a Physician Rights and Responsibilities Document Physicians Practice – September 2019 by Karen Zupko It’s…
7 Things to Include in Your Practice's Governance Agreement
7 Things to Include in Your Practice’s Governance Agreement Physicians Practice – September 2019 by Karen Zupko and Michael R.…
How to Bill and Get Paid for Unlisted Procedures
How to Bill and Get Paid for Unlisted Procedures AAOSNow – September 2019 by Cheryl Toth Orthopaedic surgeons often perform…
5 Questions Every Older Physician Should Ask Themselves
5 Questions Every Older Physician Should Ask Themselves Physicians Practice – August 2019 by Karen Zupko 1. Realistically, how long…
Does My Documentation Tell the Story in Critical Care?
Does My Documentation Tell the Story in Critical Care? SCCM Critical Connections – August 2019 by Deborah Grider The initial and…
Does Your Practice Treat Pain?
Does Your Practice Treat Pain? AAOSNow – August 2019 by Cheryl Toth Interventional pain management is a growing specialty, and…
Practice Acquisition: How to be Easy to Do Business With
Practice Acquisition: How to be Easy to Do Business With Healio Orthopedics – August 2019 by Karen Zupko When was…
Seven Common Questions in Foot and Ankle Coding
AAOS Now – July 2019 by Sarah Wiskerchen A previous article published in AAOS Now (“How to Avoid Common Mistakes…
Four Proven Post-Consult Follow Up Techniques
Aesthetic Society News – Summer 2019 by Karen Zupko Turning callers and prospects into scheduled consults is a subject that…
5 Questions to Ask About wRVU Compensation
Physicians Practice – June 2019 by Amy Boyer, MBA Physicians employed by a medical group, hospital or academic institution are…
Develop a Data and Device Destruction Policy in Five Easy Steps
Develop a Data and Device Destruction Policy in Five Easy Steps American Association for Physician Leadership – June 2019 by…
Tips and Best Practices for Using Code-X
Tips and Best Practices for Using Code-X AAOS Now – June 2019 by Cheryl Toth After speaking with Michael Marks,…
Get Your House in Order: Prepare for Private Equity Acquisition
Orthopaedics Today – May 2019 by Wathen Strong With ever-increasing amounts of private equity flowing into health care, orthopedic surgeons are…
Clean Up the A/R Before Putting the Practice on the Market
Clean Up the A/R Before Putting the Practice on the Market Physicians Practice – May 2019 by Cheyenne Brinson Thinking…
Coding Experts Weigh in on the Value of Code-X
Coding Experts Weigh in on the Value of Code-X AAOS Now – May 2019 by Cheryl Toth If you are…
NEW: Solve Your Practice Pain Points with Practice Solutions Online
NEW: Solve Your Practice Pain Points with Practice Solutions Online Aesthetic Society News – Spring 2019 by Cheryl Toth Is…
Strategies and Scripts for 4 Common Objections
Strategies and Scripts for 4 Common Objections Aesthetic Society News – Spring 2019 by Karen Zupko After decades of educating…
Cost Saving Strategies to Save Your Practice Money
Cost Saving Strategies to Save Your Practice Money Doctors Direct Insurance – Winter 2013 by Cheyenne Brinson Like most practices,…
7 Ways to Modernize Business Writing Mechanics
7 Ways to Modernize Business Writing Mechanics Medical Office Manager – 2019 by Cheryl Toth You don’t need a degree…
Four Tips for Avoiding Data Breaches
Four Tips for Avoiding Data Breaches AAOSNow – April 2019 by Michael R. Marks, MD According to a new report by Radware,…
Selling your practice? Clean up the coding first.
Selling your practice? Clean up the coding first. Physicians Practice Pearls – March 2019 by Karen Zupko As more and…
