Coding Resources
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Documenting Codes In the Procedure Report
September 5, 2019 Question: I’ve been dictating CPT and ICD-10-CM codes in my procedure note so that my coder knows…
Use of a Scribe
August 22, 2019 Question: We are hiring a scribe for the doctor because it will help improve his documentation. Is…
How do you define “No Qualified Resident Available”?
August 8, 2019 Question: Our physicians utilize residents during surgery but we have a discrepancy in what is considered a…
Coding for In-Stent Carotid Stenosis
July 25, 2019 Question: How is angioplasty of a previously place carotid stent billed? Answer: For a patient treated with…
Billing Diagnostic Angiograms with an Intervention
July 11, 2019 Question: When are diagnostic angiograms and an intervention (angioplasty, stent, etc) both billable? Answer: Diagnostic angiograms are…
Coding TCAR
June 20, 2019 Question: What is TCAR and how is it coded? Answer: TCAR stands for Transcarotid Artery Revascularization. It…
Documenting Codes in the Operative Note
June 6, 2019 Question: I’ve been dictating CPT codes in the operative note so that my coder knows what to…
OOOPs. I nicked a vessel. Can I bill for repairing it?
May 23, 2019 Question: The surgeon accidentally nicked a vessel not involved in the bypass being performed, can he bill…
Co-surgery or assistant surgery? Which is it?
May 9, 2019 Question: The vascular surgeon is called to the OR to repair a blood vessel that was inadvertently…
E-Consults?
April 11, 2019 E-Consults? Question: One of my colleagues told me that she was doing e-consults with other physicians for…
Modifier 78 vs 59
March 28, 2019 Question: What modifier do we use if a patient is returned to the OR the same day…
Global Period for Debridement
March 14, 2019 Question: I thought the global period of debridement of muscle or bone was 10 days. Is that…
Debridement Coding
February 28, 2019 Question: If 10 sq. cm subcutaneous tissue is debrided from the right leg and 20 sq. cm…
What does “separate procedure“ mean in a CPT code description?
February 14, 2019 Question: What does “separate procedure” mean when it follows a CPT code description? Answer: Per CPT :…
Co Surgeon or assistant?
January 31, 2019 Question: A vascular surgeon is requested to come to the OR to repair a blood vessel that…
Fem- Fem Bypass
January 17, 2019 Question: How is a left femoral to right femoral artery bypass with PTFE reported? Answer: Report code…
Embolization and Catheterization
December 13, 2018 Question: I was told catheterization is included in the embolization codes, 37241-37244. Is that correct? Answer: No,…
Uterine Fibroid Embolization
November 29, 2018 Question: If uterine fibroid embolization is performed bilaterally, through 2 separate catheters, can 37243 be reported twice?…
AV Access Imaging
November 15, 2018 Question: How do I code for AV access if instead of puncturing AV access, the common femoral…
Billing a Completion Angiogram
November 1, 2018 Question: After open surgery for a thrombectomy or endarterectomy, can a completion angiogram performed at the same…
Billing a Doppler with Carotid Endarterectomy
October 18, 2018 Question: I routinely do a Doppler ultrasound to assess flow after a carotid endarterectomy, code 35301 Can…
Repeat Carotid Endarterectomy Coding
October 4, 2018 Question: How is a repeat carotid endarterectomy reported; a few years after the first? Answer: Code 35301,…
Carotid Endarterectomy Coding
September 20, 2018 Question: Can carotid endarterectomy, 35301, be billed more than once if plaque is removed from common, internal…
Dialysis Circuit Imaging – Part 2
September 6, 2018 Question: Is dialysis circuit imaging, (36901) always bundled with any dialysis circuit intervention? If not, when can…
Dialysis Circuit Imaging – Part 1
August 23, 2018 Question: What’s included in dialysis circuit imaging? Answer: Dialysis circuit imaging, (36901), begins at the arterial anastomosis…
Refresh your Referral Building
Physicians Practice – August 22, 2018 by Karen Zupko Years ago, a “good referral” was described using the Three A’s…
Coding Catherization’s with Interventions
August 9, 2018 Question: Are there any peripheral interventions that still allow separate coding of catheterization in addition to the…
Coding Embolization of a Dialysis Graft/Fistula - Part 2
July 26, 2018 Question: How many times can embolization of collateral vessels be reported at a single session? The documentation…
Coding Embolization of a Dialysis Graft/Fistula - Part 1
July 12, 2018 Question: The documentation indicates embolization of side branches/collateral vessels to help the dialysis graft mature. I’ve always…
Billing Visceral Angiograms
June 28, 2018 Question: Are visceral angiograms billed once, no matter how many visceral vessels are catheterized and imaged? Answer:…
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?
Mystery Shopping Results Indicate a Need for Improvement – April 2016 by Karen Zupko and Samantha Lappe After the news of a…
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…
