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Peritoneal Catheter Placement
February 14, 2019 Question: I placed the peritoneal catheter for a neurosurgeon placing a V-P shunt. Do I code 49419,…
Co Surgeon or assistant?
January 31, 2019 Question: A vascular surgeon is requested to come to the OR to repair a blood vessel that…
Choosing a Modifier with a Colostomy Revision
January 17, 2019 Question: What modifier is used to report a colostomy revision during the global period of the stoma…
Coding Mesh Placement in Hernia Repairs
December 13, 2018 Question: If mesh is placed for a laparoscopic hernia repair can an unlisted code be reported for…
Billing an Endoscope Post Colectomy
November 29, 2018 Question: I routinely do a sigmoidoscopy (or other endoscopic procedure) to assess the integrity of the anastomosis…
Thrombolysis Through a Chest Tube (Correction of Transposed Code Numbers)
November 15, 2018 Question: How is installation of tPA into a chest tube coded? Answer: Report this with the following…
Modifier 59 and 51. Do we need both?
November 1, 2018 Question: Should we append both 59 and 51 when a code is bundled and is also a…
Trauma Laparotomy
October 18, 2018 Question: Is there a specific CPT code for trauma laparotomy? Answer: No. if an exploratory laparotomy is…
Coding Mesentery Repair
October 4, 2018 Question: Documentation states that the mesentery was repaired as part of where the liver was packed. How…
Separate Procedure Coding
September 20, 2018 Question: What does the term “separate procedure” mean at the end of a code? Answer: Separate procedure…
Coding a Colotomy
September 6, 2018 Question: How is this scenario coded? A segment of the colon is opened to remove a foreign…
Is a Suture a Resection?
August 23, 2018 Question: Is a suture repair of the colon considered a resection? Answer: No. Suture repair of the…
What is Defined as “Operating Room”
August 9, 2018 Question: What is considered an operating/procedure room when billing complications with a modifier 78? Does an office…
Thrombolysis Through a Chest Tube
July 26, 2018 Question: How is installation of tPA into a chest tube coded? Answer: Report this with the following…
Ligating a Vessel in a Trauma Patient
July 12, 2018 Question: What codes are used for ligating a vessel due to a traumatic injury? Answer: See codes…
Reporting Bowel left in Discontinuity: Return the OR
June 28, 2018 Question: The bowel was left in discontinuity as part of damage control surgery. What do I code…
Reporting Bowel Left in Discontinuity
June 14, 2018 Question: What codes are reported if the bowel is left in discontinuity as part of damage control…
FAST (Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma) Exams
May 31, 2018 Question: We routinely do FAST studies as part of the work-up for trauma patients. Can the trauma…
Open Wound ICD-10-CM Coding
May 17, 2018 Question: If a patient has a penetrating wound and an injury to an internal organ for example…
Coding 19120 vs 19301
May 3, 2018 Question: What’s the difference between code 19120, breast mass excision and 19301, partial mastectomy/lumpectomy? Answer: Both codes…
Coding a Skin or Nipple Sparing Mastectomy
March 29, 2018 Question: What is the appropriate code for a complete skin sparing or complete nipple sparing mastectomy? Answer:…
Right Colectomy and Small Bowel Resection
March 29, 2018 Question: The surgeon did a right colectomy and also documented a resection of the ileum. Is this…
Coding a Colonoscopy - by end of scope or what you can see?
March 15, 2018 Question: Is a colonoscopy coded by how far you can visualize or the end point of the…
Coding an Incomplete Colonoscopy
March 1, 2018 Question: How do I report a diagnostic colonoscopy, if the prep is incomplete and the scope is…
Coding An Incomplete Colonoscopy
February 15, 2018 Question: In a diagnostic colonoscopy, if the prep is incomplete and the scope cannot be advanced past…
Breast Cyst Aspiration
February 1, 2018 Question: The surgeon did a fine needle aspiration of two cysts in the same breast without any…
Laparoscopic Pyloroplasty Coding
January 18, 2018 Question: How is a laparoscopic pyloroplasty reported? Answer: There is no current CPT code laparoscopic pyloroplasty, only…
Billing an Appendectomy with Another Surgery
January 4, 2018 Question: Is an appendectomy separately reported when done with another abdominal procedure? Answer: If the appendectomy is…
Defining Non-Compounded Sclerotherapy
December 14, 2017 Question: I’m not sure I understand the new vein surgery codes in the 2018 CPT manual. Can…
Coding an Omental Flap
November 16, 2017 Question: Can add-on code 49905 (omental flap) be reported for buttressing an incision or anastomosis? For example…
Articles
Is Your Practice Not Getting Paid?
AAOSNow – July 2017 by Michael R. Marks, MD, MBA, and Cheryl Toth, MBA Coding May Not Be the Reason…
Liability Management 101
Liability Management 101 – August 2016 by Michael R. Marks, MD, MBA Why Malpractice Insurance Is Not Enough Today’s orthopaedic practices…
OIG Says "No Bonus Points" for Having a Compliance Plan
AAOS Now – July 2016 by Cheryl Toth, MBA New announcements and guidance push providers toward an active program If your…
The Revenue Engine that Could “Think You Can” by Refining the Revenue Cycle with the Right People, Processes, and Tools
Greenbranch – May/June 2013 Kim Pollock, RN, MBA, CPC Many physicians continue to wrestle with an economy-in-recovery and declining reimbursements. In…
8 Things Your Medical Billing Service Should Be Doing
Physicians Practice – 2016 by Karen Zupko What has your billing service done for you lately? A good vendor does more than just…
Is Your Bariatric Practice Ready for Retail?
Is Your Bariatric Practice Ready for Retail? Mystery Shopping Results Indicate a Need for Improvement – April 2016 by Karen Zupko and…
The Impact of ICD-10 Implementation
by Kyle M. Lee Survey finds a smooth road so far On Oct. 1, 2015, the 10th revision of the…
Surviving in an ICD-10 World
by Deborah Grider, CPC, COC, CPC-I, CPC-P, CEMC, CPMA, CCS-P, CDIP Certified AHIMA Clinical Documentation Improvement Practitioner AHIMA-Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer…
Practice Transition Planning: When Is the Right Time?
The American Journal of Orthopedics – December 2015 by Karen Zupko, BSJ If you are a solo orthopedic surgeon or…
The Only Safe SMS Texting Is No SMS Texting
Greenbranch – Nov/Dec 2015 by Cheryl Toth, MBA, and Michael J. Sacopulos, JD Many physicians and practice staff use short messaging…
Reduce Medical Practice Embezzlement Risk by Implementing Cash Controls
Physicians Practice – September 2013 by Karen Zupko and Cheryl Toth, MBA Several years ago, we visited a practice in…
21st-Century Patient Collections: Implement a Point-of-Service Collections Program Now
The American Journal of Orthopedics – May 2015 by Cheryl Toth, MBA An 8-surgeon group in the Southeast had a…
Seven Surefire Ways to Start a Nonphysician Practitioner Off Right
The Journal of Medical Practice Management – January/February 2015 by Cheryl Toth, MBA With the proper planning and preparation, nonphysician…
The Patient Relations and Service Recovery Guide: A Colorful Approach to Handling Upset and Angry Patients
The American Journal of Orthopedics – January 2015 by Jennifer A. O’Brien, MSOD Tearful breakdowns and loud outbursts—they happen with…
Patient Portal in Your Orthopedic Surgery Practice: You Can So Do This
The American Journal of Orthopedics – September 2014 by Jennifer A. O’Brien, MSOD On initial consideration, the patient portal portion…
Banking: Shop and Compare
Journal of Medical Practice Management – May/June 2014 by Jennifer A. O’Brien, MSOD, and Sherry DeJarnette, CPA There are many reasons to…
Avoid Billing Service Nightmares: Issues to consider before partnering with independent and hospital-based billing services
AAOS Now – April 2014 by Jennifer A. O’Brien, MSOD In addition to the compliance and security issues highlighted in…
What To Expect from the Orthopaedic Surgery Practice Manager
AAOS Now – April 2014 by Jennifer A. O’Brien, MSOD When a physician gives an order to a nurse, technician,…
Avoid Billing Service Nightmares: Use Business Rigor to Reduce Your Risk: Part I
AAOS Now – February 2014 by Cheryl L. Toth, MBA Recently, an orthopaedic surgeon remarked that he was thinking about…
Are Your Business Associate Agreements HIPAA (Omnibus) Compliant?
Plastic Surgery News Connection – 2013 by Karen Zupko If you’ve been “too busy” to update your Business Associate Agreements…
The Employment Agreement: What Every Doctor (Junior and Senior) Needs to Know, Parts 1, 2, and 3
Journal of Practice Management – May/June 2000; July/August 2000; September/October 2000 by James G. Stuart J.D. This is the first…
Webinars
2017 Update for Vascular Surgery
2017 Update for Vascular Surgery Teri Romano, BSN, MBA, CPC, CMDPConsultant and Speaker Vascular coding just got a lot more complicated! Interventions…
2017 Updates in General Surgery
2017 Updates in General SurgeryEndoscopy Reimbursement Reductions: What You Need to Know Teri Romano, BSN, MBA, CPC, CMDPConsultant and Speaker…
Audits and the Modifier 25 for Pain Physicians
About The Zipinar Will Answer What is the 25 modifier and what is all the fuss about? What do CPT…
Therapy Functional Limitation Reporting
Join Sarah Wiskerchen in this 38 minute webinar as she steps through Medicare’s Mandatory Functional Limitation Reporting. If your physician practice…
Coding and Coverage of Bariatric Procedures
Coding and Coverage of Bariatric Procedures Teri Romano, BSN, MBA, CPC, CMDPConsultant and Speaker Getting paid for open and laparoscopic…
Navigating Coverage Policies in Varicose Vein Treatment
Navigating Coverage Policies in Varicose Vein Treatment Teri Romano, BSN, MBA, CPC, CMDPConsultant and Speaker The treatment of varicose veins,…
Hand Coding II
Build on your knowledge of hand coding. This course addresses the granular nature of coding and documenting hand fractures and…
Hand Coding I
Staff and managers new to hand coding who want to code correctly for common hand procedures will find good value…
Documenting and Coding for Mohs Micrographic Surgery in 7 Steps
Join Deb Grider in this 24 minute Zipinar as she reviews these important aspects of correctly coding Mohs surgery. Do…
Arthroscopy Coding Bundle - Hip, Knee and Shoulder
$179 Hip, Knee, and Shoulder included! (Best Value) Buy Now Hip Arthroscopy The hip is one of the newer joints…
2018 Update in Otolaryngology Coding and Reimbursement
More Info What’s Discussed There are many important CPT code changes for otolaryngology in 2018! We will discuss the following:…
2018 Coding Update for Vascular Surgery
2018 Coding Update for Vascular Surgery Teri Romano, BSN, MBA, CPC, CMDPConsultant and Speaker Once again, vascular surgery has undergone…
How to Prepare for a Payment Audit: Tactical Strategies for Defense
Whether you’ve already received an audit notice or you’d like to prepare for the inevitable, this fast and tactical webinar…
Telehealth: Are You Ready for the New Frontier of Medicine?
Considering offering telehealth services to patients? Already offering telehealth but wondering if you’re in compliance with current laws, as well…
MIPS Made Easier for Surgeons
More Info You Will Learn MIPS enters its second year and the penalty for not participating rises to 5%. KZA…
2017 Coding Update for Spine Surgery
More Info Who Should Watch? Orthopaedic surgeons Neurosurgeons Practice managers Billing managers Coders Billing staff What’s Discussed: What’s new for…