Coding:
Dispel These 2 Common V57.x Myths
Published on Sat Sep 05, 2009
Make sure you don't upcode for proximate cause. When you're coding for therapy, V57.x (Care involving use of rehabilitation procedures) may be at the top of your list. But before you list one of these oft-used "reason for encounter codes," make sure you're not falling into one of these two common pitfalls. Myth Number 1: V57.x Codes Increase Payment V57.x codes will not increase your agency's reimbursement, says Jun Mapili, PT, with Global Home Care in Troy, Mich. The V57.x codes aren't case mix codes and you shouldn't report one when therapy is an incidental service. The V57.x codes report "admissions for therapy" or "encounters for rehabilitation," Mapili says. Use these codes when the patient is admitted for the sole purpose of undergoing rehabilitative therapy, Mapili says. If the therapy is an incidental treatment and the plan of treatment is not solely directed toward rehabilitation, don't use V57.x. The new [...]
