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ICD-10 Coding Alert

ICD-10 Update:
4 Must-Know Tips for Pain Management Under ICD-10
A keen eye on documentation and ‘excludes’ will see you through. Understan... Read more
Laterality:
Find Out What Information Is Key For Sciatica Coding
Don’t forget to confirm lumbago with sciatica. ICD-10 will offer more specific c... Read more
Training:
Here Are Your 2 Key Focus Areas as You Transition to ICD-10
It’s never too early – or late – to start preparing. With ICD-10 imp... Read more
Dermatology:
Don't Get Zapped When Radiation-Related Disorders Codes Change
In 2015, look for debut of the L57.- codes. In the Dermatology Coding Alert volume 10 ... Read more
Gastroenterology:
Malignant Esophageal Tumor Makes Your Reporting Easier Next Year
This update bucks the trend of expanding into multiple codes. Here’s a surprise:... Read more
Ob-Gyn:
Succeed in How You Report Cystocele Diagnoses After Oct.1, 2015
You’ll have a new unspecified code to add to your coding options. Cystocele refe... Read more
Orthopedics:
Get Ready For Dozens of New Options For Meniscus Tears
You’ll ditch your current 836.xx options and specify the type of meniscus tear. ... Read more
Documentation:
Catch Up On Diagnosis Coding For Carcinoma in Situ of Female Genital Tract
Keep documentation for the part of the cervix where the lesion is located. You need to... Read more
Diagnosis Spotlight:
Concise Your Options For Vascular Dementia Reporting in ICD-10
Hint: All associated behavioral problems come under one code choice. Don’t be ve... Read more
News You Can Use:
CMS Clears up the Most Common ICD-10 Myths
Plus: MACs to increase minimum dollar amounts for appeals in 2015. You’ve heard ... Read more
Pathology:
Answer 'Where?' for Adenomatous Colon Polyps
You’ll need more info in 2015. When your pathologist diagnoses an adenomatous po... Read more
Cardiology:
Prepare for a 5 Way Split of Nonrheumatic Tricuspid Valve Disorder Code 424.2 in 2015
No documentation of rheumatic or nonrheumatic? Here’s what to do. One of the mos... Read more
Gastroenterology:
Malignant Esophageal Tumor Makes Your Reporting Easier Next Year
This update bucks the trend of expanding into multiple codes. Here’s a surprise:... Read more
Training:
ICD-10 Implementation -- Where Does Your Practice Stack Up?
Take these 4 steps to ensure you’re on the right track.  You know that ICD-... Read more
Reader Question:
Watch for New Pressure Ulcer Options in ICD-10
Question: My patient has two pressure ulcers in separate locations (left hip and le... Read more
Training:
These 3 ICD-10 Answers May Surprise You
Hint: Forget everything you know about ICD-9’s ‘excludes’ codes after ... Read more
Diagnosis Spotlight:
Prepare To Defend Your Osteoporosis and Osteopenia Diagnoses Coding
M81.0 applies to senile, postmenopausal, involutional, and unspecified osteoporosis.&nbs... Read more
Documentation:
Get Specific For Postpartum Depression With F53
Hint: Use the same ICD-10 code for a diagnosis of puerperal psychosis. When your clini... Read more
Family Practice:
Watch For One-to-One Matches For Noninfectious Gastroenteritis
Hint: Look for causative factor in the documentation to zero in on right ICD-10 code. ... Read more
Dermatology:
Spot the Right Acne Dx Code in 2015
ICD-10 will break out an expanded set of codes based on acne type. Starting Oct. 1, 20... Read more
Anesthesia:
Don't Shy From Asking for Surgeon's Notes When 938 Shifts to T18.9
You’ll need more details for foreign body removal under ICD-10. It’s not u... Read more
Reader Question:
Get Your Footing with ICD-10 Amputation Coding
Question: Our new patient was referred for aftercare following amputation of his le... Read more
Fracture coding:
2 Factors You Can't Afford to Miss in Your Vertebral Fracture Diagnosis Coding
Tip: Confirm underlying disease and site before you pick up the right code. Vertebral ... Read more
News You Can Use:
Check Out These CMS Testing Stats at Last
Look ahead to more testing opportunities. Following the ICD-10 implementation delay an... Read more
Documentation Spotlight:
Focus on Pancreatitis Pathology to Pick the Precise ICD-10 Codes
Shift focus from chronicity to pathology identification. ICD-10 offers a variety of co... Read more
News You Can Use:
CMS Clarifies Some Rules Surrounding Usage of ICD-10 Codes
Review guidelines on how to code when the diagnosis isn’t definite. Implementati... Read more
Family Practice:
Rejoice With Straightforward Crossover For Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Hint: You cannot use the same code when the diagnosis is mixed anxiety disorder. When ... Read more
Dermatology:
Look for New Contact Dermatitis Codes in 2015
ICD-10 codes will specify allergic or irritant contacts. Although the contact dermatit... Read more
Ob-Gyn:
New Diagnoses Specify Trimester Renal Disease in Pregnancy
Make sure you heed the advice featured in the Note under this code set.  When a p... Read more
Reader Question:
Follow a Familiar Process to Code Surgical Complications in ICD-10
Question: Our patient was referred to home care following a cholecystectomy due to ... Read more
Reader Question:
Will Medicare Pay for Screening Breast MRI? Find Out
Question: We have a Medicare patient that is BRCA2 positive. Our doctor wants to sc... Read more
Reader Question:
Learn What's Optional When Reporting Cat Bite
Question: Our elderly patient has a cat bite infected with cellulitis on her left b... Read more
News You Can Use:
CMS Solidifies 2015 Date, Clarifies Testing
The agency also offers an alternative claim submission method. Although the latest ICD... Read more
Coding Quiz Questions:
Test Your Knowledge for Bacterial Meningitis Codes with This Quiz
Keep watch: ICD-10 offers new code descriptors. ICD-10 has a one-to-match for most cod... Read more
Documentation Spotlight:
Rejoice Over One-to-One Transition For Depressive Episodes of Bipolar Disorder
Hint: Use different code sets when the condition is in partial or full remission. When... Read more
Coding Quiz Answers:
5 Bacterial Meningitis Answers Gauge Your ICD-10 2014 Skills
See how your answers to the quiz match with the experts’. Have you nailed down p... Read more
Cardiology:
Documentation of Right or Left is Key to Choosing Correct Atherosclerosis Code
Watch for whether your I70.21- code needs to be paired with chronic total occlusion, too... Read more
Pediatrics:
Determine Esophagitis Status When Coding Reflux
Starting next year, the single code for reflux expands into two separate choices. Esop... Read more
Dermatology:
Look for New Contact Dermatitis Codes in 2015
ICD-10 codes will specify allergic or irritant contacts. Although the contact dermatit... Read more
Pain Management:
Prepare for Expanded Diagnosis Choices for RSD in 2015
Plus: Don’t miss the name change in the index.  When selecting a diagnosis ... Read more
Reader Question:
Wait for the Final Path Report Before Coding Resection
Question: The patient had miscarried about two weeks prior, but also had a pregnanc... Read more
Training:
Get the Final Word on ICD-10 Yet to Come
Start learning your way around the ICD-10 manual. What’s next? Ever since the su... Read more
Coding Quiz:
5 Questions Check How Much You Know About Brain Tumor Coding
Hint: Anatomical location is your key to the right code. Ostensibly simple, brain tumo... Read more
Diagnosis Spotlight:
Simplify Your Coding of Sleep Apnea With G47.30
Hint: Report other associated sleep conditions with additional ICD-10 codes. When your... Read more
Coding Quiz Answers:
Brain Tumor Coding: Do Not Assume One-To-One Match
You report tumor in fourth ventricle with brainstem tumor code. Do you have an impress... Read more
Orthopedics:
Don't Let Transitioning from 719.4x to M25.5-- Become a Pain
Check out how your joint pain diagnoses will be more detailed in 2015. You may be used... Read more
Opthalmology:
Diagnostic Options Expand for Borderline Glaucoma
In 2015, your Dx code will have to specify which eye is affected. Borderline glaucoma ... Read more
Anesthesia:
Watch for Expanded Cardiomyopathy Diagnosis Choices
Plus: Don’t forget to check if anesthesia modifiers apply to the case.  ICD... Read more
Reader Question:
Be Specific for Neoplasm Coding in ICD-10-CM
Question: In a patient with an established history of prostate cancer, our oncologi... Read more
Reader Question:
ICD-10 May Not Offer One-To-One Match
Question: What is the correct ICD-9 code to use for the following conditions? ... Read more
PCS:
Use the Extra ICD-10 Implementation Time To Address These Vital Issues
Tip: Lessons from global neighbors could help smooth your transition. With a five-fold... Read more
Training:
Don't Put the Brakes on Your ICD-10 Preparations
Whether you’ve been preparing or procrastinating, use the delay to get ahead of th... Read more
Laterality:
Watch 3 Things as You Prepare for Changes to Diagnose Ear Conditions
Heads up: The conditions will have their own chapter in ICD-10.  When ICD-10 goes... Read more
Family Practice:
Upgrade to Better Specificity for Child Health Exams With Z00.121 and Z00.129
Splitting V20.2 in two allows with and without abnormal findings. When ICD-9 is replac... Read more
Cardiology:
Separate Out Sick Sinus Syndrome Under ICD-10
SSS and bradycardia options take the place of sinoatrial node dysfunction code. A quic... Read more
Ob-Gyn:
Draw the Line Between 787.01 And ICD-10-CM Code R11.2
If you think even nausea gets more specific in October 2015, you’d be right. Whe... Read more
Reader Question:
Avoid Denial of E/M With Flu Vaccine Administration
Question: I have been reporting flu vaccine with E/M visits and other in-office pro... Read more
Diagnosis Spotlight:
Rejoice For a One-to-One Transition For Portal Hypertension
Hint: Don’t forget to check documentation for additional complications. When rep... Read more
News You Can Use:
2015 IPPS Cites ICD-10 Implementation Date as Oct. 1, 2015
Here’s what to do about end-to-end ICD-10 testing. Although it was over a month ... Read more
Fracture Coding:
Take 2 Steps to Pinpoint Best Vertebral Fracture Options Under ICD-10
Tip: Confirm underlying disease and site before you pick up the right code. Orthopedic... Read more
Pain Management:
Don't Miss These 5 Top Changes for Pain Management Under ICD-10
Watching guidelines and ‘excludes’ will keep you on the right track. With ... Read more
Specialty Corners:
Identify the Underlying Cause for Acute or Chronic Pancreatitis
Make sure you distinguish cyst and pseudocyst. You needn’t be perplexed by the I... Read more
Specialty Corners:
Code 733.11 Expands to 85 Choices in ICD-10
Remember 7th digit for encounter. How much more can you say about a disease-related hu... Read more
Reader Question:
Don't Overlook Different Code Choices for Alcohol Induced Psychosis in ICD-10
Question: Our psychiatrist recently saw a patient for psychosis. The patient had a ... Read more
News You Can Use:
Your ICD-10 Deadline Just Got Pushed to -- At Least -- 2015
Experts say you shouldn’t fall into this “stop preparing” pitfall. T... Read more
Training:
Turn 6 Common Practitioner Complaints Into ICD-10 Positives
Think we should just ‘wait for ICD-11?’ Here’s why you can’t. ... Read more
Worker's Comp:
Talk to Workers' Comp Insurers Now to Head Off ICD-10 Issues
Although not required to transition to the new coding system, they might anyway. Train... Read more
Cardiology:
Take the Confusion Out of 427.1/I47.2 Swap for Ventricular Tachycardia
Find out whether the missing ‘paroxysmal’ affects your coding. When you sw... Read more
Ob-Gyn:
Stop Thinking of 646.83 As Your Pregnancy Complication Catch-All Code
You’ll need to specify trimester for all of these conditions. Pregnant patients ... Read more
Otolaryngology:
Don't Get Mixed Up Over Mixed Hearing Loss Coding
ICD-10 won’t cover all options, so you could turn to ‘unspecified’ mor... Read more
Reader Question:
Base Hepatitis Screening Diagnosis Codes on Type of Risk Factors
Question: Can you let me know what the correct ICD-9 code for hepatitis screening testin... Read more
Reader Question:
Don't Overlook Different Code Choices for Alcohol Induced Psychosis in ICD-10
Question: Our psychiatrist recently saw a patient for psychosis. The patient had a ... Read more
Reader Question:
ICD-10 Will Offer Specific Options for Spondylolisthesis
Question: What is the correct ICD-9 code for cervical spondylolisthesis? South Ca... Read more
Reader Question:
Try Your Hand at Neoplasm Coding in ICD-10
Question: Our patient has a history of prostate cancer with metastasis to the right... Read more
News You Can Use:
Take the Heat Off Your ICD-10 Preparedness by Participating in CMS's 'End-to-End' Testing This Summer
The agency intends to select participants by April. You are already aware of the ICD-1... Read more
Coding Quiz:
Assess Your Orthopedic Coding Know-How With These 3 ICD-10 Questions
Tip: Remember to code to the highest level of specificity. Want to know if you’r... Read more
Diagnosis spotlight:
K57 Expands To 10 Options For Accurate Diverticulitis Reporting
Hint: Choose from another additional four codes if anatomical location is not specified.... Read more
Coding Quiz Answers:
Discover Whether You Made the Grade With These Expert-Approved Answers
Hint: These closed/open guidelines are the same — the displaced/nondisplaced guide... Read more
Family Practice:
Brace Yourself For More Than One Option For Reporting Acute Laryngitis in ICD-10
Don’t forget to take into account the number of conditions the code will represent... Read more
Pediatrics:
Look for Major Expansion of Stye Codes in October
You must document the site if you want to collect under ICD-10. A stye is an infection... Read more
Pathology:
Look for HPV Changes on October 1
Low risk gets its own code. When your lab reports positive results for human papilloma... Read more
Reader Question:
Aftercare Code Supports Post-Bypass Scan
Question:  Which diagnosis code should I report when a patient has had bypass surge... Read more
Reader Question:
Expand Your Cystitis Thinking in October
Question:  Will ICD-10 reporting for acute cystitis going to be difficult come Octo... Read more
Guidelines:
Hone Your ICD-10 Hypertension Coding by Applying Familiar Guidelines
You’ll still need physician documentation for hypertensive heart disease. You&rs... Read more
Documentation:
Confront Your Cardiac And Respiratory Presentations Documentation Now Rather Than in October
Hypertension codes have less specificity except when reported with chronic kidney diseas... Read more
Specialty Corners:
Preterm Labor Codes 644.00 And 644.03 Transition to New O60.0-Options
Don’t overlook these Includes notes. Preterm labor is labor that begins more tha... Read more
Cardiology:
Shift V45.01 and V45.02 To New Z Codes on Oct. 1, 2014
Don’t expect to see pacemaker and AICD codes grouped the same in ICD-9 and ICD-10.... Read more
Family Practice:
Tackle ADHD Type to Accurately Report F90 Code
Combined type can now be separately reported from predominantly hyperactive types. If ... Read more
Reader Question:
Gastro Coders Need to Understand NEC and NOS, Too
Question: I was looking at the ICD-10-CM manual, and I noticed NEC and NOS. I know they ... Read more
Reader Question:
Handle This Hysteroscope With Retained Products of Conception Scenario
Question: We billed a 59820 – DX 632. The patient was still bleeding, so we brough... Read more
PCS:
3 Steps Transform How to Report Transplant Procedures in 2014
Define allogeneic, syngeneic, and zooplastic for an accurate 7th character. If your ph... Read more
Documentation:
Can You Idenitfy 7 Qualities of Good Documentation? Find Out.
Expect denials when documentation doesn’t support your code selection.\ You may ... Read more
Diagnosis Spotlight:
Ace Reporting Angiodysplasia of the Colon
Confirm the presence of hemorrhage to get to the right code. Your oncologist will ofte... Read more
Specialty Corners:
Pathology: Trichomoniasis Boasts Direct Crosswalk
Organism and infection site focus codes. Coding urogenital Trichomonas infections won&... Read more
Specialty Corners:
Pulmonology: Distinguish Byssinosis Diagnosis Distinctly With J66.0
Hint: Look for other expansions to J66 for pneumopathy due to inhalation of other dusts.... Read more
Reader Question:
Test Your ICD-10 Coding in March
Question: I have heard that there will be a test period for using ICD-10 codes on claims... Read more
Reader Question:
Look for Similarities with Catheter Infection Coding
Question: Our patient has an implanted port with a localized Staphylococcus aureus infec... Read more
Reader Question:
List 3 Codes for Post-Pancreatectomy Hypoinsulinemia
Question: Our new patient had a Whipple procedure to treat pancreatic cancer located in ... Read more
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