Home Health & Hospice Week

Industry Note:

Keep An Eye On Dates For Diagnosis Coding

Through’ date is the key.

It may seem basic, but losing track of the dates of service in relation to your diagnosis codes can slow your cash flow now that ICD-10 is in effect.

“A claim cannot contain both ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes,” stresses HHH Medicare Administrative Contractor National Government Services in an email to providers. “The Medicare claims processing systems do not have the capability to accept … claims that contain both ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes,” explains HHH MAC Palmetto GBA on its website.

Pay attention: “For dates of service prior to or on 9/30/2015, continue to submit claims with the appropriate ICD-9 codes regardless of the actual date of claim submission,” NGS instructs. Remember, for HHA claims the “through” date determines the date of service and whether you use ICD-9 or ICD-10 codes (see Eli’s HCW, Vol. XXIV, No. 32). Since hospice claims are always split by month, the claim’s “from” date determines which coding set you use.

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