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ICD-10 Coding Alert

General Surgery Spotlight:
Strengthen Dx Coding in These General Surgery Situations
Find out one instance where site specificity may not be the best answer. You can think of... Read more
Oncology Hematology Focus:
Pocket These Five Tips for Coding Pain Related to Neoplasms
Avoid potential denials by brushing up on the whys behind your neoplasm coding choices. ... Read more
Gastroenterology Quizzer:
Figure Out Your Best Coding Choice Without a Definitive Diagnosis
Hint: Don't forget about Z codes in these instances. You may be used to relying on the i... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Follow These Guidelines for Using External Cause Code
Question: One of our pediatricians recently performed a reduction of a traumatic fracture ... Read more
Reader Questions:
Demonstrate the Need for a Lab Test
Question: If we have a patient that comes to our practice for a lab draw, and the patient ... Read more
Reader Questions:
Query Physician When the Record’s Unclear
Question: We saw a patient who presented because she was concerned that she may have COPD.... Read more
Reader Questions:
Include Dx Codes for These Conditions
Question: A patient had transthoracic echocardiography under MAC due to Down syndrome and... Read more
Radiology Focus:
Boost COVID Coding Accuracy With These Tips
Remember these strategies when coding COVID-19 diagnoses. Now that COVID-19 has been arou... Read more
Condition Spotlight:
Test Your Knowledge of Vascular Dementia
Hint: Don't forget to check documentation for behavioral disturbances. If you need to fig... Read more
Pediatrics Corner:
Stay Prepared With These Tonsillitis Tips
Use these five tips to boost your coding accuracy. If you work with a pediatric practice,... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Use Available Information to Select Achilles Injury Code
Question: A patient received treatment for a right Achilles injury; there is no other info... Read more
Reader Questions:
Use This Excludes1 Guidance to Resolve Double Dx Dilemma
Question: In the Reader Question “Understand This Difference Between Excludes1 and Exclu... Read more
Reader Questions:
Apply This Common Saying to Coding, Too
Question: I know all about avoiding the coding of diagnoses using probable, suspected, and... Read more
Reader Questions:
Decipher ‘Vogt D’ for Correct Code
Question: The provider performed a level-three office evaluation and management (E/M) ser... Read more
Reader Questions:
Check for Polyps Before Choosing Colon Screening Codes
Question: Our physician provided anesthesia during a colonoscopy for a patient with a hist... Read more
Primary Care Coding:
From Segways to Sickle Cell, Stay on Top of Updates
Think of this as a survey of important code changes you need to know about. While some sp... Read more
Diagnosis Spotlight:
Dive Deep into Myocardial Infarction Coding
Knowing the specific terminology surrounding different types of myocardial infarctions is... Read more
Ophthalmology Updates:
Incorporate These Eye Care Codes Now
You should now add more specificity with these laterality changes. If you've been followi... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Know the Difference in Types of Salter-Harris Fractures
Question: What ICD-10 code should I report for a Salter- Harris physeal fracture in a pati... Read more
Reader Questions:
Understand This Difference Between Excludes1 and Excludes2
Question: I am still confused by the Excludes1 and Excludes2 instructions in ICD-10. Can y... Read more
Reader Questions:
Ignore ‘High-Risk’ for ICD-10 Coding COVID-19 Testing
Question: We saw a patient for a cough, and the ED physician wanted the patient to get tes... Read more
Reader Questions:
Use This Code for Streptococcal Meningitis
Question: My neurosurgeon documented a diagnosis of Streptococcal meningitis, but I'm not ... Read more
Reader Questions:
Look to This Code for Hammertoe
Question: The podiatrist diagnosed the patient with right-footed, acquired, rigid hammerto... Read more
Urology Updates:
Beware Recategorization, New and Deleted Codes
Some code changes may seem peripheral to urology but are important to know. With code ch... Read more
Otolaryngology Focus:
Look to New Vaping Disorder Code, Among Other Updates
Don't miss expansion of G96 code category. Otolaryngolgy wasn't spared this year in terms... Read more
Orthopedic Spotlight:
Check Out Updates for These Conditions
Know these updates to juvenile osteochrondosis and arthritis coding. 2021 ICD-10-CM chang... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Know These Other Terms for Corkscrew Esophagus
Question: The physician performed an EGD and described the distal esophagus as “app... Read more
Reader Questions:
Note Effect on Function with This Dx
Question: A year after our surgeon excised a basal cell carcinoma on a patient's left... Read more
Reader Questions:
Rely Upon These Two Codes for These Heart Conditions
Question: A computed tomography (CT) scan of the heart indicates that the patient has hype... Read more
Reader Questions:
Use This Code for This Herniated Disc Condition
Question: The patient had a herniated disc L4-L5 with radiculopathy. The surgeon made a mi... Read more
Anesthesia Update:
Check These New Codes to Specify Patient Status
Hint: The code changes may affect patients' physical status modifiers. CMS has released t... Read more
Ob-Gyn Focus:
Heed These Code Changes
Don't dismiss these updates, though there are indeed fewer than usual. The 2021 ICD-10-... Read more
Radiology Spotlight:
Don't Get Overwhelmed by These Radiology Changes
Start learning these changes today. You already know to expect ICD-10-CM code changes thi... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Use This Code for Bruise Without Known Cause
Question: Our pediatrician just saw a patient who had a contusion on her left foot. Howeve... Read more
Reader Questions:
Keep this Coding Kernel Handy
Question: A primary care provider in our practice removed a piece of popcorn kernel from a... Read more
Reader Questions:
Code for Symptoms if Lacking Diagnostic Test
Question: We recently ran a rapid strep test on a young patient who came in complaining of... Read more
Reader Questions:
Code for Specificity With Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Question: My provider recently had me code for a non-Hodgkin lymphoma that affected the sp... Read more
Documentation:
Double Down on Query Protocols
Make sure you are fully utilizing the crucial ‘query' tool. Knowing how to query physi... Read more
Radiology Spotlight:
Delver Deeper Into Guidelines to Read Scans Properly
Hint: Don't get caught up on principal diagnosis. The COVID-19-specific updates to the IC... Read more
Ophthalmology/Optometry Quizzer:
Boost Urgent Eye Care Coding Skills
Don't let your skills for urgent care get rusty. Make sure you're able to code urgent eye... Read more
Reader Questions:
Don't Confuse Cyst With Tumor
Question: Our pathologist received a right salpingo-oophorectomy specimen and identif... Read more
Reader Questions:
You May Need to Apply this Dx After the Fact
Question: Our pulmonologist saw a patient in the hospital who had a suspected case of... Read more
Reader Questions:
Code Staph Infection From Toe Wound Like This
Question: A diabetic patient presents to the office stating that she dropped a dirty ... Read more
Reader Questions:
Confirm Active COVID-19 Infection to Use Dx
Question: We treated a coronavirus patient in the hospital and he later went home aft... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Look to This Code That Covers Both Conditions
Question: An established patient with rheumatoid heart disease and rheumatoid arthrit... Read more
COVID-19:
Check Your COVID-19 Coding Knowledge — Again
Make sure your navigating the coding process thoroughly, including pertinent Z codes. Sta... Read more
Ophthalmology Quizzer:
Boost Coding Accuracy With These Practice Scenarios
Tip: Narrow down cause of cataracts for the most accurate code. The significance of accur... Read more
Pediatrics Focus:
Dive Deep Into SDoH To Provide Context
Screen and document environmental factors that affect patient health. Asking questions ab... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Note This Difference in Attention-Deficit Disorders
Question: I'm confused by the F90.- codes, particularly which one to use when a patie... Read more
Reader Question:
Look to M25, not M79 Here
Question: During a level-two evaluation and management (E/M) service for a new patient, ou... Read more
Reader Question:
Code This Triplet Birth Scenario
Question: My ob-gyn delivered triplets vaginally. This mother did not have global ca... Read more
Reader Question:
Pocket This ICD-10 Crosswalk Tip
Question: While trying to bill anesthesia during a tubal ligation with 00851 and diagnosis... Read more
Reader Question:
Look to Documentation for Symptom Categorization
Question: Our provider documented that a type 2 diabetic patient's condition was “u... Read more
General Surgery Coding:
Brush Up on Appendicitis Diagnosis Coding
Hint: Pregnancy affects your code choices. Coding an appendicitis diagnosis may seem more... Read more
Orthopedics Focus:
Make Sure Your Hip Dislocation Dx Coding is Up to Snuff
Keep these code sets handy for this major surgery. Accuracy is everything in diagnosis co... Read more
Radiology Spotlight:
Become More Familiar with the Nuances in These Radiology Scenarios
Keep your finger on the alphabetic index. Getting in the coding groove during the workday... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Don't Use Hernia Code if Hernia Not Present
Question: A patient came into our practice saying he thought he might have a hernia. Our p... Read more
Reader Question:
Know the Layman's Term for This Joint Condition, Too
Question: I have an operative report in front of me with a puzzling diagnosis. The encount... Read more
Reader Question:
Shore Up Documentation
Question: I keep losing out on the reimbursement I think my providers deserve. What things... Read more
Reader Question:
Know Side of Body for Lumbago
Question: What ICD-10 code should I report for physician-documented lumbago with sciatica?... Read more
Emergency Department:
Code These Seasonal Complaints Like This
Dig deeper to find the most accurate descriptor for these diagnosis situations. Many seem... Read more
Back to Basics:
Remember Guidelines Amidst Code Set Updates
Pay particular attention to sequencing rules. With annual code set updates, coders are ... Read more
Clip and Save:
Keep These Burn Tips on Hand
Know how these categories — location, severity, and type — determine burn code choices... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Specify Type of Heart Failure
Question: My cardiologist documented that the patient has hypertensive heart disease with ... Read more
Reader Question:
Understand How Neurofibromatosis Type 2 Differs
Question: Which ICD-10 code should I report for neurofibromatosis type 2? Alaska Subscrib... Read more
Reader Question:
Don't Let Signs, Symptoms Cloud Dx
Question: We have one physician who reports every sign and symptom that the patient presen... Read more
Reader Question:
Look to Injury, Disregard Age
Question: We saw a 6-year-old patient with a second-degree burn to the palm of her left ha... Read more
Diagnosis Spotlight:
Prepare for COVID-19 with These Coding Tips
U.S. experts believe that it's just a matter of time until we are encountering COVID-19 in... Read more
Clip and Save:
Use this Pediatric Abuse Primer for Objective Coding
Be prepared for one of the toughest types of encounters. Pediatricians are regularly face... Read more
Neurosurgery Focus:
Focus on Location for Ankylosing Spondylitis
Hint: Juvenile ankylosing spondylitis has its own codes. Narrow down your ICD-10 code cho... Read more
Family Practice Coding:
Steer Through the Haze of Synonyms Surrounding Dermatitis
Prioritize contact type and understand the synonyms. A condition by any other name would ... Read more
Reader Question:
Look for This Term in Pathology Report
Question: Our surgeon excised a “lump” from a patient's right forearm based on a ... Read more
Reader Question:
Use This Code Combo for Alcohol Dependence and Withdrawal
Question: What is the correct ICD-10 coding for a patient diagnosed with alcohol use disor... Read more
Reader Question:
Determine What Constitutes 'Loose Body' then Choose This Code
Question: Our provider recently submitted a claim with a final diagnosis of loose body in ... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Call on a Resource for This Tricky Situation
Question: My ob-gyn is treating a patient who is bi-polar and has an intellectual disabili... Read more
Cardiology Update:
Note These Cardiology-Specific NCD Changes
See which updates are coming in 2020. Stay informed on recent updates to the to National ... Read more
Outpatient Facility Focus:
Compare Your Cancer Dx Coding with These Scenarios
Don't let the rarity boggle your brain too much. Zero in on these clinical encounters to ... Read more
Coding Quizzer:
Test Your Bronchitis Coding Knowledge
Use these expert tips to hone your skills further. Each of these four questions relates t... Read more
Coding Quizzer Answers:
Spotlight Bronchitis
Check your answers here. Don't forget to incorporate these tips into your own coding prac... Read more
Clip and Save:
Don't Lose this Discography-related Code List
While it's important to check with individual payers for approved and complete diagnosis l... Read more
Reader Question:
Remember this Pineal Gland Tumor Code
Question: My surgeon diagnosed the patient with a benign tumor of the pineal gland. Which ... Read more
Reader Question:
Avoid Claim Submission Error in this Pressure Ulcer Situation
Question: How should I code a patient who has two stage-two pressure ulcers on the right b... Read more
Reader Question:
Use this Code for Orbital Fracture
Question: Our ophthalmologist evaluated an inpatient who was in a car accident. The patien... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Know When to Use This Z Code
Question: If a provider writes out a prescription for a drug pending the results of a lab ... Read more
New Condition Spotlight:
Use This Guidance for Coding Vaping
Hint: Code known diagnosis first. With severe vaping-related health conditions occurring ... Read more
Clip and Save:
Institute Error-Checking Procedure
Don't let reimbursement opportunities slip through the coding cracks. Even if you know al... Read more
Neurosurgery Focus:
Distinguish Between These Two Similar-Sounding Conditions
Hint: Secondary Parkinsonism is different than Parkinson's disease. Coding Parkinson's di... Read more
Reader Question:
Spot Difference Between Bunion Conditions
Question: A patient returns to my podiatry practice's office, complaining of continuing bu... Read more
Reader Question:
Select Amongst These Z Codes for Immunization Encounter
Question: If a patient comes in to have our pediatrician review, and then sign off on, an ... Read more
Reader Question:
Choose This Code for Use Without Abuse
Question: What diagnosis code should I assign to an 80305 urine test after a patient tests... Read more
Reader Question:
Get the Skinny on These External Cause Codes
Question: I'm new to coding, and I was looking through the external cause codes in the ICD... Read more
Reader Question:
Check Documentation for Heparin Use
Question: In a patient who was reported to have venous thrombosis, our physician has docum... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Choose a Dx Code that Reflects Results
Question: We recently ran a rapid strep test on a young patient who came in complaining of... Read more
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