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AAPC Medical Coding News & Press
July 15, 2008
Wall Street Journal: “Injured by a Spacecraft? There’s a Diagnostic Code for That,”
So we’ve got this patient here who was injured in this spaceship accident. You know, just a routine, uh, orbital mishap. But how do we account for that? Oh, right, it’s ICD-9 code E845 — “
Accident involving spacecraft.”
July 14, 2008
Advance for Health Information Professionals: “Show You’re a General Surgery Coding Ace with CPC-GENSG”
Are you staring down your nose at operative reports for general surgery procedures all day? You may, for example, be faced with a hernia op report one minute, a gastric bypass and ulcer repair the next and then top it all off with a thoracic or vascular procedure. Naturally, you want to capture all of the surgeons' work and code it accurately. You are an expert in general surgery coding and you can demonstrate it with CPC-GENSG credentials through the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC). General surgery credentials are the credentials that denote your knowledge of that specialty's unique coding and billing rules and issues.
July 11, 2008
Advance for Health Information Professionals: “See the 'World' of Coding in Orlando”
—More than 1,800 coders packed up their sunscreen and sunglasses and headed here on June 8-11, to enjoy the 90 degree weather and the chance to "See the World of Coding" at the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) 16th National Conference at the Gaylord Palms Resort and Convention Center.
July 11, 2008
Healthcare IT News: “Plan now for change to ICD-10, the new Medicare billing system, experts say”
WASHINGTON - Though it's still on the horizon, the anticipated change from the current ICD-9 Medicare physician and hospital billing code systems to ICD-10 could cost healthcare providers a hefty amount of money, effort and time and could result in lost reimbursements if not done right, experts warn.
July 11, 2008
Healthcare Finance News: “Plan now for change to ICD-10, the new Medicare billing system, experts say”
WASHINGTON - Though it's still on the horizon, the anticipated change from the current ICD-9 Medicare physician and hospital billing code systems to ICD-10 could cost healthcare providers a hefty amount of money, effort and time and could result in lost reimbursements if not done right, experts warn.
July 1, 2008
Medicare Fee Schedule Update
As you know, Medicare physician fee schedule payments are scheduled to be reduced by 10.6% effective with services delivered on or after July 1. This cut was originally scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2008; however, Congress enacted legislation in late 2007 to delay the cut until July 1.
June 13, 2008
Enterprise Imaging: “Knowing the ABCs of ABNs”
An advance beneficiary notice (ABN) may seem like just another piece of paperwork to you and your patients, but having a valid ABN on file is critical to keeping your practice afloat if you see a lot of Medicare patients.
June 13, 2008
Physicians Practice: "Starting it Up: Staffing – Bring 'Em On"
You may have heard that hiring staff is one of the later tasks to be completed in the run up to opening your doors. But ideally, that process should begin much further in advance — think months rather than weeks — and be inextricably linked to the raison d’être of your business.
June 4, 2008
AAPC Announces Access for Members to Health, Life Insurance Across the Country
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approximately 47 million Americans are without health insurance. As a benefit to its 70,000 members and to reduce the number of uninsured, the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC,
www.aapc.com) announces today it has agreements in place with major health insurance carriers nationwide to give AAPC members online access to affordable health insurance coverage for individuals, families and the self-employed. By applying through AAPC, applicants have a better chance of approval and can more easily qualify at a better coverage rate.
June 2, 2008
Practices Can Benefit From Certified Professional Coders’ Knowledge
Several national surveys show that certified
professional coders command up to 20%
more in wages than their noncertified peers.
May 1, 2008
AAPC Announces 2007 Local Chapter of the Year
The Charlottesville, Va., chapter was selected based on a point system outlined for all local chapters where chapters earn points for fulfilling expectations from the national office, including going above and beyond in providing member benefits, offering seminars and recruiting members.
May 19, 2008
Enterprise Imaging: “Facing the Changes”
What are a radiologist's rights and responsibilities to a patient when a referring physician's order is counter to the radiologist's best judgment? The Centers for Medicare &Medicaid Services' (CMS) policy on this issue may shed some light.
May 19, 2008
Demonstrate Specialized Expertise with CPC-URO
A certified coder is the first line of defense against noncompliance and down coding for any medical provider. Certified coders can help prevent legal difficulties and ensure that providers receive full reimbursement in a timely manner. If you're a certified coder working in the urology field or private practice, the second line of defense is to earn your CPC-URO specialty credential.
May 6, 2008
Enterprise Imaging: “Making the Most of Modifiers”
Our codes should tell the story of our patient encounter. Sometimes, however, the events that transpire do not exactly match the descriptions provided in CPT or HCPCS Level II procedure codes. That's when modifiers become invaluable.
May 5, 2008
Imaging Economics: “CMS’ Recovery Audit Contractor Program Update”
CMS completed its limited pilot of the Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) program in March, and based on its success at collecting Medicare overpayments from providers, the RAC initiative will be taken nationwide beginning in 2009.
May 5, 2008
Advance for Health Information Professionals: “Educating Physicians: A Class Act”
ADVANCE peeks into the world of physician coding educators, and getting the job done typically involves a delicate balance.
April 1, 2008
ICD-10 Updates
ICD-10 is a diagnostic coding system implemented by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1993 to replace ICD-9, which was developed by WHO in the 1970s. ICD-10 is in almost every country in the world, except the United States — but it is coming.
April 1, 2008
AAPC Names 16th Annual Coder, Networker of the Year
The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC,
www.aapc.com), the nation’s largest
medical coding training and certification association for medical coders, has named AAPC members Tammy Torres, CPC, CCP, of Seattle, as 2007 Coder of the Year, and Keith Russell, CPC, CPC-H, of Houston, as 2007 Networker of the Year. These prestigious, annual awards recognize AAPC members who exemplify the higher standards of coding set by AAPC. The winners were selected based on nominations, volunteerism, coding expertise and networking skills.
March/April 2008
Immediate Care Business: "Urgent Care Center Coding and Reimbursement"
Operators of urgent care centers are familiar with the notion that they can’t code using emergency room E/M codes (99281-99285) as they do not meet the CPT definition of emergency room. An emergency room must be hospital- based and open around the clock. These requirements are not “either/or;” they are “and,” to indicate both conditions must be met. This means urgent care centers should use the new and established outpatient codes 99201-99215 for reporting encounters.
March 2008
Chiropractic Economics: “Is it a Modality or a Procedure?”
Coding can be confusing. Vague code descriptions and varying carrier rules for how and when codes should be used cause some errors.
March 2008
Advance for Health Information Professionals: “Top 10 in HIM”
We asked our readers and discussed among our staff "Who are the Top 10 in HIM?" Who is shaking things up, opening doors and bringing innovative ideas to the profession? Some of these names you'll recognize, others you may not—but all of them deserve credit for sending shock waves through the HIM profession in recent years.
March 2008
Specialized Coding for the ASC Professional
An ambulatory surgical center (ASC) furnishes outpatient surgical services to patients and is certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). An ASC can be independent, or operated by a hospital. If an ASC is operated by a hospital, it has the option to be covered under Medicare as a stand-alone ASC or as a hospital-affiliated ASC. |
March 2008
Enterprise Imaging & Therapeutic Radiology Management: “Mammography: Coding Cautions”
Mammography coding would seem to be straightforward. The number of codes from which to choose is relatively small and clearly defined, and the reimbursement rules haven't undergone significant change in recent years. Even so, there are patterns of errors among providers of mammography services, and to reduce denials, those errors are highlighted here.
March 2008
Advance for Health Information Professionals: “Boost Cardiology Coding Credibility”
Family practice medicine provides comprehensive and continuing health care for individuals and families. This medical specialty integrates biological, clinical and behavioral sciences. Family practice medicine encompasses all ages, sexes, organ systems and diseases. Because family practice medicine is such a broad area of medicine, it can be tough to code even for a well-seasoned coder, and earning CPC-FP (Family Practice Medicine) specialty credentials can help you decipher the coding intricacies associated with the field. If you are a certified coder in the vast family practice field, it's a good idea to underscore your expertise with the specialty credential, CPC-FP.
March 2008
RT Image: “Modifiers Made Easy”
Understanding the nuances of medical coding is never easy. It can be a real challenge to get proper reimbursement for the services that are rendered with today’s rules and regulations. The use of the correct modifier is one of the most effective tools in obtaining that goal.
Jan/Feb 2008
Immediate Care Business: “Document Meticulously for Full Wound Repair Reimbursement”
Laceration repair is one of the most common procedures performed in immediate care throughout the United States. The following documentation tips may help your coding and billing staff better communicate to payers the services provided.
February 12, 2008
Advance for Health Information Professionals: Anesthesia Credentials: Prove Your Worth
Anesthesia is the absence of normal sensation such as pain and can be induced by anesthetic substance or by hypnosis. Anesthesia induced for medical or surgical purposes may be topical, local, regional or general.
February 2008
Enterprise Imaging: Are you CERT-ified?
The impact of one segment of the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 is reaching more physician practices each year: the Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) Program.
February 2008
Today's Surgicenter: ASCs Have a Higher Profile in the OIG's 2008 Work Plan
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has published its 2008 work plan, and ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) are the focus of several initiatives in the coming year. Foremost, the revised payment system for ASCs will be under scrutiny.
Jan. 31, 2008
AAPC Expands Team, Hires Director of Client Development
The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC,
www.aapc.com), the nation's largest education and credentialing association for medical coders, announces that it has hired Julia Bond-Smith as its director of client development. Bond-Smith will assist both the Education and Marketing departments in extending education outreach.
January 29, 2008
Advance for Health Information Professionals: Taking Pediatric Coding to a Higher Level
Pediatricians provide preventive health care for healthy children and medical care for ill children. They are specially trained to assess the emotional needs and behavior of infants, children and adolescents. Earning your CPC-PEDST credentials will take you to a higher level of coding for these procedures and services.
January 28, 2008
Advance for Health Information Professionals: Before Your Make the Offer: 10 Tips
Question: What's more expensive than the time and money invested in hiring and training a new employee? Answer: Doing it again, when a new hire exits unexpectedly. What can we do as managers to improve the odds on a new hire being a perfect fit? Here are some strategies to employ before an offer is made.
January 28, 2008
Advance for Health Information Professionals: Coder Chooses Quality Over Money
When it came time to grow or stay small, Quinton chose to keep her quality and trust top notch.
January 28, 2008
Advance for Health Information Professionals: The Last Test
Background experience and credentials can only tell so much; see why employers are pre-testing candidates before hiring.
January 28, 2008
Advance for Health Information Professionals: AAPC Anaheim Conference Reports on a Productive Year
The American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) commenced the New Year with the first of two national conferences in 2008. In January, more than 700 coders filled the Disneyland Hotel for the sold-out conference in Anaheim, CA.
January 2008
Advance for Health Information Professionals: Internal Medicine Credentials: Your Key to Success
Because there is a growing demand in the medical profession for coders with individualized training in particular medical specialties, the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) has expanded certification offering to now include 14 specialty-specific credentials. Included is the specialty certification in Internal Medicine, CPC-INTMEDT.
January 7, 2008
For the Record: Healthcare2008: The Shape of Things to Come
Industry experts crack open the proverbial fortune cookie to forecast what lies ahead.
It's hard to predict where technology will take HIM professionals in the coming year. Whether you use a Magic 8-Ball, a fortune cookie, or just old-fashioned common sense, the future always seems to hold as many "known's" as "unknowns." Helping
For The Record predict the hottest issues of 2008 are leaders in their fields who have seen countless trends come and go in the healthcare industry.
January 2008
BC Advantage: What's On In 2008?
List of articles relating to 2008.