Gastroenterology Coding Alert
Mark Your Calendar as CMS Announces ICD-10 Implementation Date
New implementation date will enable practices to make a smooth transition. If the suspense about ICD-10 effectiveness date was giving you sleepless nights, you can now rest easy, as CMS has officially released the implementation date for these code sets. "We had previously covered the announcement (on Feb. 16, 2012) from HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius that the government intended to delay the implementation date for ICD-10 code sets." Now, after a delay of almost eight months, CMS, on Aug. 24, has announced the new date for ICD-10 code set implementation as Oct. 1, 2014. That's one year later than the October 2013 date by which gastroenterology practices (and other practices) previously had been preparing to implement their new diagnosis coding systems. Many provider groups have expressed serious concerns about their ability to meet the Oct. 1, 2013, compliance date, CMS said in a release last spring, when the delay was first proposed. The one-year delay is meant to give providers and other covered entities more time to prepare and fully test their systems to ensure a smooth and coordinated transition to this new code set. The change was announced in the Sept. 5 edition of the Federal Register, which you can read by visiting http://federalregister.gov/a/2012-21238.
Gastroenterology Coding Alert
- CPT® 2013 Update:
New Code Additions Redefine Optical Endomicroscopy Reporting
Check new codes for fecal bacteriotherapy and capsule endoscopy too.Starting Jan.1, you can benefit from [...] - E/M Coding Corner:
Get Ready to Make These E/M Verbiage Adjustments
Descriptor changes likely to improve scope of reporting E/M services.Your gastroenterology practice uses evaluation and [...] - News You Can Use:
Mark Your Calendar as CMS Announces ICD-10 Implementation Date
New implementation date will enable practices to make a smooth transition.If the suspense about ICD-10 [...] - ICD-10 Update:
Achalasia Glides Smoothly to K22.0 in ICD-10
Note minor changes to the descriptor for Achalasia.When your gastroenterologist arrives at a diagnosis of [...] - You Be the Coder:
Append Appropriate Modifier to Discontinued Colonoscopy
Question: My doctors have a couple of Medicare patients that they performed a routine low [...] - Reader Question:
Report EGD Separately When Used to Place Pill Cam
Question: Can you please tell me what code I should report when our gastroenterologist places [...] - Reader Question:
Note that Hemoclips Aren't Reported Separately
Question: Our gastroenterologist recently performed a colonoscopy during which he removed a polyp by endoscopic [...] - Reader Question:
Bill Subsequent Incomplete Colonoscopy Using Appropriate Modifiers
Question: Our gastroenterologist performed incomplete colonoscopy on a patient for three days in a row. [...] - Reader Question:
Reach for Unlisted Code for Tattooing During Enteroscopy
Question: Our gastroenterologist recently performed a double balloon enteroscopy. During the procedure, he used India [...] - Reader Question:
Observe That Primary Payer Determination Uses Birthday Rule
Question: We recently made a claim for services provided to a minor patient by billing [...]
