ED Coding and Reimbursement Alert

Split these procedures apart to prevent denials. Deciphering clinical chart details to figure out how to identify services in the ED can challenge the most experienced ED coders. That’s especially true for cardioversions and defibrillations, which can trigger denials when coders don’t know how to read the reports and accurately distinguish between them, in which case they’re reported interchangeably or not at all. With the added complication of "chemical" versus "electrical" cardioversions and the elusive "elective" cardioversion, it is no wonder there is often confusion. Good news: But if you learn to distinguish between each procedure before you properly code them, you will secure payment, even if it’s minimal -- here’s how. Look For Documentation Hints To Separate Defibrillation From Cardioversion First things first: Cardioversion is not the same things as defibrillation, emphasizes Michael A. Granovsky, MD, FACEP, CPC, President of LogixHealth, an ED coding and billing company in Bedford, MA [...]