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Home Health ICD-9/ICD-10 Alert

Ensure Coding Success Under Revised PPS
Brush up on your manifestation coding skills to secure maximum reimbursement. Is your age... Read more
Coding compliance:
Avoid diabetes/chf Episode Scrutiny
Repeat episodes attract intermediary edits. Coding accuracy can keep your agency from was... Read more
Clip and Save:
Make The Right M0246 Decision Every Time With This Chart
Remember sequencing rules when listing a manifestation code. Trying to figure out how to ... Read more
Coding 101:
Don't Jeopardize Your Claims With Unspecified Codes
Avoid 'other specified' codes for unspecified diagnoses. Knowing the difference between N... Read more
Inservice Education:
Catch Up On Home Care Coding Changes For 2008
Don’t let October ICD-9-CM coding changes distract you from the major coding revis... Read more
Reader Questions:
Hire Coders With Home Health Background
Question: In a previous issue, you mentioned that many agencies hire professional coders.... Read more
Reader Questions:
Keep Kidney Failure Codes In Check
Question: How do I know when to list a code for renal insufficiency rather than renal fai... Read more
Reader Questions:
Cross Out Syndrome X Code For Diabetic Patients
Question: When is it appropriate to list 277.7 (Dysmetabolic syndrome X)? A colleague has... Read more
Reader Questions:
Documentation Is Key With Diabetes, Nephropathy
Question: I read in Home Health ICD-9 Alert Volume 4, Number 7 that when you are selectin... Read more
Reader Questions:
Code Completely For Surgical Wound
Question: We have a diabetic patient and we're providing surgical dressing changes for a ... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Gain Points For Dysphagia
Question: I'd like to make sure I'm coding for dysphagia correctly. For example, if a pat... Read more
CODING 101:
FOCUS ON THE BASICS TO AVOID THESE MISTAKES
Look at the whole patient before using aftercare codes.Boost your accuracy rate--and avoid... Read more
Survey & Request:
TELL US WHAT YOU WISH YOU COULD LEARN ABOUT CODING
We need your input to be sure each issue of Eli's Home Health ICD-9 Alert continues to tar... Read more
CODING UPDATE:
IT'S TIME TO SWALLOW NEW DYSPHAGIA CODES
More specificity required for speech therapy.When you code for a patient with stroke-relat... Read more
Inservice Education:
CATCH UP ON THERAPY CODING CHANGES FOR 2008
Learn how to cope with the new--and potentially costly--challenges you face with V57.x a... Read more
CODING TOOL:
INCREASE DYSPHAGIA CODING ACCURACY -- AND EASE YOUR WORKLOAD
Precise dysphagia coding supports accurate reimbursement.With the feds' increased focus on... Read more
PAY FOR PERFORMANCE:
EXPECT CODING SCRUTINY UNDER P4P DEMO
PPS changes in 2008 add urgency to your coding accuracy. Home health agencies in the ... Read more
READER QUESTIONS Uncontrolled Hypertension Doesn't Mean Malignant
Question: The cardiologist documented the patient's hypertension as "uncontrolled." Does t... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Conquer Burn Code Confusion
Question: We admitted a patient for physical therapy for gait training who also has a pair... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Don't Fall For The First Code You Find
Question: What diagnosis should I report for a patient who falls frequently? Answer: Some ... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Breathe Easier With These Asthma Tips
Question: When reporting an asthma diagnosis, do I need a fifth digit? Answer: Yes. ICD-9 ... Read more
Watch Out:
Diagnosis Coding Soon Will Affect Supplies Reimbursement
19 diagnosis categories are especially important to HHAs Unless you understand the new in... Read more
Survey Request:
Here's How To Get The Coding Information You Need Most
We need your input to be sure each issue of Eli's Home Health ICD-9 Alert continues to tar... Read more
Coding How-To:
Learn All 5 Steps For The New Payment Diagnosis Question
Here's how to accumulate case mix points in 2008. Checking Table 2A under the new PPS fin... Read more
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Help Prevent New Case Mix Code Confusion
Keep this 2-page chart in front of you for 2008 coding accuracy. A case mix code won't al... Read more
Inservice Education:
Catch Up On Home Care Coding Changes For 2008
Don’t let October ICD-9-CM coding changes distract you from the major coding revis... Read more
Coding 101:
3 Steps Take The Guesswork Out Of Dementia Coding
Alzheimer's disease is only one possibility. Getting patient-specific information may be ... Read more
Reader Question:
Don't Sequence By Severity
Unless otherwise indicated, reader questions were answered by Lisa Selman-Holman, JD, BSN,... Read more
Reader Question:
Home Medication Monitoring
Question: Is V58.83 a code for medical management? I have been using both V58.83 and the ... Read more
Reader Question:
Look For Fracture Coding Change Under New PPS
Question: I am confused about fracture codes. When is it appropriate for us to code a fra... Read more
Prospective Payment System:
Prepare For Major Stroke Coding Changes Under New PPS
Are you overusing abnormality of gait? The proposed changes to the prospective payment sy... Read more
Coding How-To:
Get Answers To Your Top-3 Burn Coding Questions
Watch for changes to burn/trauma wound reporting at M0440. Coding for burns is no easy ma... Read more
Coding 101:
Use These Expert Tips To Master The Alphabetic Index
When it comes to cross-references, know the difference between 'see' and 'see also.' Whil... Read more
Inservice Education:
Take Advantage Of These Timely Education Opportunities
Two upcoming Eli-sponsored audioconferences will bring you up-to-date on some of home ca... Read more
Reader Question:
Use 3 Codes To Report Insulin Poisoning
Question: Our patient injected too much insulin and experienced dizziness and blurred vis... Read more
Reader Question:
Be Accurate With Exacerbation Dates
Question: Should we note exacerbation of a diagnosis when the condition is noted in the m... Read more
Reader Question:
Stick With Aftercare For Tendon Repair
Question: We are providing care for a patient who recently had a quadriceps tendon repai... Read more
Reader Question:
Look Beyond Postsurgical Infection For Infected TKR
Question: Our new patient had a total knee replacement (TKR) four weeks ago. The site has... Read more
Reader Question:
Keep Open Wound Coding From Getting Too Complicated
Question: When does a wound become non-healing or chronic for coding purposes? We have ha... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Keep Acute Fracture Codes In Their Place
Question: We are providing physical therapy and occupational therapy to treat gait abnorm... Read more
Coding How-To:
Is Your Aftercare Coding Hijacking Your Reimbursement? What You Need To Know
Watch your sequencing or pay the price.   You can -- and should -- use V codes... Read more
Prospective Payment System:
Gauge The Impact Proposed PPS Changes Will Have On Your Agency's Bottom Line
Look for secondary diagnoses to gain case mix points. Say goodbye to your handy case mix ... Read more
Coding 101:
Get The Details You Need In Your ICD-9 Manual's Tabular List
Only the tabular list can tell you what's included and excluded. If you think you can sto... Read more
Reader Questions:
Stick With Focus Of Care For B12 Injections
Question: We have a patient that we're seeing for B12 maintenance. The doctor recently or... Read more
Reader Questions:
Don't Expect A Downcoding Windfall
Question: Our agency has a tendency to downcode a lot. When I questioned this practice, I... Read more
Reader Questions:
Take Another Look At Secondary Diagnoses
t post-revision to his hip replacement. He has a wound infection with bacteremia and meth... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Know What Comes First With Polyneuropathy, Ulcer
Question: Our elderly patient has type II diabetic polyneuropathy and a stage II decubitu... Read more
You Be The Coder ... Know What Comes First With Polyneuropathy, Ulcer
Question: Our elderly patient has type II diabetic polyneuropathy and a stage II decubitu... Read more
CODING NEWS:
RATCHET UP YOUR CODING SKILLS TO GET A JUMP ON CLINICAL DOMAIN REFINEMENTS
Start training now on these 4 changes if you hope to be ready for PPS refinements by Janua... Read more
CODING 101:
3 DIABETES CODING MYTHBUSTERS
Diabetic manifestations don't always need a 'diabetic' descriptor.Did you know that $100 b... Read more
Coding How-To:
Remove Confusion From Dressing Change Coding
Don't list V codes for complicated wounds.If you're still uncertain about when and in whic... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Know The Reason For Laminectomy
Question: Which aftercare V code should we use when we are providing aftercare to a patien... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Simplify Your Trauma Wound Coding
Question: When is it appropriate to list a trauma code as a primary diagnosis? Our RHHI ha... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Get Your V Codes In Order
Question: In reading the PPS proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Se... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
List Aftercare First For CABG Patient
Question: We are providing wound care, dressing changes, monitoring the post-op condition,... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Which Comes First With Cellulitis?
Question: Our patient recently returned home from the hospital where he was treated for ce... Read more
YOU BE THE CODER:
MIND YOUR SEQUENCING WITH DIABETIC FOOT ULCER
Question: Our patient has type 2 diabetes, and we are caring for her diabetic foot ulcer a... Read more
Coding How-To:
Use 3 Pointers To Boost Your Therapy Coding Accuracy
Nix V57.x when multiple disciplines provide multiple aspects of careYou already know that ... Read more
CODING NEWS:
GET READY FOR 2008 WITH THIS SNEAK PEEK AT THE ICD-9 CHANGES
Lymphoma codes add more specifics too--is your documentation up to snuff?Prepare to change... Read more
PPS:
Nail Down Your ICD-9 Sequencing -- PPS Proposed Rule Unveils Major Case Mix Changes
Limited time to prepare for changes isn't pretty.Case mix diagnosis groups are getting an ... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
List An 'Other' Code For Dysarthria
Question: I know that cerebrovascular accident (CVA) late effects fall under the 438 codes... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Check With Clinician For Return Patient Dx
Question: How do we know what to list first for a patient who is returning to home care? F... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Use 'History Of' Only When Pertinent
Question: How should I code for a patient with a history of MRSA and Clostridium difficile... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Base Code Choice On Care For Artificial Openings
Question: When is it appropriate to list a V55.x (Attention to artificial openings) code? ... Read more
YOU BE THE CODER:
DON'T LET THIS FRACTURED HIP SCENARIO BREAK YOUR STRIDE
Question: Our patient returned to home care following surgery for a total hip replacement ... Read more
CODING HOW-TO:
EASE YOUR PAIN CODING HEADACHES WITH 338.X DETAILS
Don't list a 338.x code for postoperative pain due to a device left in the body.The 2007 I... Read more
PPS:
PROPOSED RULE BRINGS CHANGES TO DIAGNOSIS GROUPS--HERE'S THE LATEST
Watch for additions to heart and mental conditions case mix diagnoses.Brace yourself for u... Read more
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SELECT THE RIGHT E CODE FOR POISONINGS OR ADVERSE EFFECTS
Find the right code every time with this handy chart.When your patient suffers an adverse ... Read more
Inservice Education:
Plan Ahead To Meet Staff Education Needs
Get 10% off your next audioconferenceThree upcoming Eli-sponsored audioconferences will ed... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Look To Unspecified Code For Organic Brain Syndrome
Question: Our new patient has organic brain syndrome secondary to anoxic brain injury due ... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Bowel Obstruction Code Depends On Documentation
Question: In the March issue of Home Health ICD-9 Alert, there's a coding scenario on page... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Get Specific With Synagis Injections
Question: We are seeing preterm babies for Synagis injections. We had been using category ... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Know Where And When To Report E Codes
Question: I have recently encountered a problem when using E codes to further describe a d... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Check With Doc Before Coding Grief
Question: What ICD-9 codes should I use when a patient exhibits signs of depression but ha... Read more
READER QUESTION:
Clear Up Abscess Coding Confusion
Question: I'm confused about coding for abscesses. Is it true that the Centers for Medicar... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Drop This Parkinson's Assumption
Question: If a patient is diagnosed with both Parkinson's and dementia, can I assume the t... Read more
YOU BE THE CODER:
LOOK TO MOST ACUTE CONDITION FOR CHF AND DIABETES
Question: We have been caring for a patient with type II diabetes and congestive heart fai... Read more
Coding How-To:
2 Secrets To Safeguarding Your V57.x Claims
Trend alert: Watch for RHHIs to link V57.x with OASIS functional scores. If your agency ... Read more
Coding TIP:
Add Up Your Therapy Claims With These Coding Equations
Learn when therapy-only doesn't mean 'no nursing.' Until something definitive in writing ... Read more
Conquering Case Mix:
Test Your Weakness Coding Savvy With This Case Study
Conquering Case Mix: Test Your Weakness Coding Savvy With This Case Study List 585.6 if y... Read more
Reader Question:
Know When To Report Chronic Pain Syndrome
Question: What is the best diagnosis code for chronic pain syndrome? Indiana Subscriber ... Read more
Reader Question:
How -- And When -- To Code Weight Issues
Question: Which ICD-9 codes can we use to track issues with a patient's weight? What kin... Read more
Reader Question:
Follow These Tips For Coding Possible Diabetic Manifestations
Question: How do I know when a condition is a manifestation of diabetes? For example, th... Read more
Reader Question:
Don't Upcode With Alzheimer's
Question: We are monitoring IV antibiotics used to treat an Alzheimer's patient's pneumo... Read more
Reader Question:
Coding Isn't The Issue With This Therapy Claim Denial
Question: An elderly patient who recently had an episode of flu was referred to our agen... Read more
Reader Questions:
Get Specifics Before Coding Seizures
Question: We have a patient on long-term Dilantin for treatment of seizures. We will be ... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Give This Hip replacement Coding Scenario A Try
Question: Our diabetic patient had hip joint replacement surgery and was discharged to h... Read more
Coding How-To:
Perfect Your Adverse Effects Reporting With E Codes
For poisonings, include at least three codes.You might not give the E code section of your... Read more
Coding Guidelines:
Make Adverse Effects Coding A Breeze -- Get To Know The Table Of Drugs And Chemicals
Hint: Don't forget to cross-reference your code in the tabular list.To code correctly for ... Read more
Coding Tip:
Follow These Guidelines For Flawless Poisoning and Adverse Effects Coding
Hint: Never list an E code as primary.Make sure your coding for poisonings and external ca... Read more
Coding 101:
3 Strategies Clear Up Aftercare Coding Confusion
Heed the notes when selecting an aftercare V code. When providing home care for a patient ... Read more
Reader Question:
Know When To List V57.x
Question: I know that the V57.x codes (Care involving the use of rehabilitation procedures... Read more
Reader Question:
Check With Clinician For Sequencing
Question: I know that the V57.x codes (Care involving the use of rehabilitation procedures... Read more
Reader Question:
Take A Second Look At This Amputation Scenario
Question: In your November 2006 issue, there was a coding scenario regarding correct codin... Read more
Reader Question:
Share Your Thoughts On Sprain And Strain Codes
Question: Our physical therapists are frustrated that there aren't separate codes for spra... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Choose Proximate Cause Or Underlying Condition For
Question: Our patient has transverse myelitis, which has caused paralysis from the waist d... Read more
CODING HOW-TO ~ Perfect Your Secondary Diabetes Coding With These Tips
To indicate uncontrolled secondary diabetes, list the consequences. When selecting a code ... Read more
CONQUERING CASE MIX ~ Guard Against Denials With These 6 Parkinson's Documentation Pointers
Reaching the therapy threshold can send up a red flag on your Parkinson's claims. At least... Read more
READER QUESTION ~ Make A Clean Break With Fracture Coding
Question: We are providing physical therapy to a patient for gait abnormality and lack of ... Read more
READER QUESTION ~ Know DVT Status Before You Select A Code
Question: When we provide Coumadin® to a patient for deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), should w... Read more
READER QUESTION ~ Consider Whether To Report Pleural Effusion
Question: We have a patient who had a thoracentesis due to pleural effusion. Congestive he... Read more
READER QUESTION ~ Add Details For Pancreatectomy
Question: We are providing aftercare to an elderly patient who has returned home after hav... Read more
READER QUESTION ~ Keep These Co-Morbidities In Mind
Question: A co-worker of mine tells me that we must always code certain co-morbidities eve... Read more
READER QUESTION ~ Get In-Depth With Skin Tears
Question: Could you please clarify which code to use for skin tears? I have been coding th... Read more
YOU BE THE CODER ~ Solve This Cancer Coding Challenge
Question: Our patient had surgery for colon cancer. We are providing wound care and colost... Read more
CODING 101:
Increase Your Claim Accuracy With New Dressings, Mucositis Codes
Get ready to add another layer to dressing codes. You won't have to wait any longer for mo... Read more
CODING UPDATE:
Look For ICD-10 Clues In the 2007 ICD-9 Changes
Alphanumeric codes mean more details. Fifth-digit ICD-9 extensions like those created to r... Read more
CONQUERING CASE MIX:
Master This bladder-problem Coding Challenge And Maximize Your Case Mix Points
Make sure your documentation is in order or risk claims denials. When your agency treats a... Read more
CLIP & SAVE:
Tool Helps You Solve The Pressure Ulcer Puzzle
Choose 996.52 for non-healing muscle flap. When is a pressure ulcer no longer a pressure u... Read more
CODING TIP:
You Can Easily Discern The Difference Between 344.61 And 596.54
Documented details will secure case mix points.To be confident that you are coding neuroge... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Don't Miss Out On Points For Nursing With Therapy
Question: We are providing physical therapy and occupational therapy to a patient who just... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Sequence Codes Based On Focus Of Care
Question: I've heard that I should code congestive heart failure (CHF) or chronic obstruct... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Know When--And How--To Report Pneumonia
Question: We have a patient who came to us from the hospital after a bout with aspiration ... Read more
READER QUESTIONS:
Be Thorough When Coding For Infections
Question: Our patient has an implanted vascular port infected with Staph aureus resistant ... Read more
YOU BE THE CODER:
Sequencing Is The Key For Knee Replacement Patient
Question: We have a controlled type II diabetic patient without mention of complication. S... Read more
Available Years:  2007  2006  2005  2004