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Internal Medicine Coding Alert

CPT 2002 Codes for Internal Medicine To Face Scrutiny From Medicare
 New codes for trigger point injections, administration of intranasal vaccines, and ... Read more
Navigating the Choppy Waters of Observation Coding
Observation care coding is complicated, but time spent learning about these E/M codes c... Read more
Internists Field Complaints of Anthrax Exposure
With the ongoing reports of biological terrorism saturating the media, many internists a... Read more
Reader Question:
First Office Visit for Former Hospital Patient
Question: When a patient presents to the office for the first time after hospital discharg... Read more
Reader Question:
Mini-Mental Status Exam
Question: Our physicians frequently perform mini-mental status exams on some of our older ... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Coding a Venipuncture
Test your coding knowledge.  Determine how you would code this situation before ... Read more
2002 Update:
Asthma and Menopause Top the List of Diagnosis Code Changes for 2002
There are 83 changes to the 2002 edition of the ICD-9-CM manual that affect internists... Read more
Lower-Level E/M Codes May Generate Higher Revenue
Proper use of low-level office visit codes (99201, office or other outpatient visit for ... Read more
Reader Question:
Modifiers for Lesions
Question: We have a Medicare patient who had multiple procedures (11200, 11201, 11201-59, ... Read more
Reader Question:
Care Plan Oversight
Question: Should I use care plan oversight (CPO) codes on a nursing-home patient?Illinois ... Read more
Reader Question:
Annual Exam Reimbursement
Question: How can we get reimbursement for a Medicare patient who needs an annual physic... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Port Catheter Flush
Test your coding knowledge.  Determine how you would code this situation before look... Read more
Draw Distinction Between Modifiers -51 and -59 to Avoid Denials
CPT language describing modifiers -59 (distinct procedural service) and -51 (multiple pr... Read more
Medicare Revises the ABN To Create a Standard
CMS' release of a program memorandum on June 27, 2001, introduces medical providers to a... Read more
News Brief:
Medicare Expands Coverage of Actinic Keratosis Destruction
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced July 20, 2001, in decisio... Read more
Conference Targets Pediatric, Ob-Gyn Coding and Compliance
"The National Pediatric and Ob-Gyn Coding and Compliance Conference: 2001" will be held i... Read more
Reader Question:
Guaiac Tests
Question: What is the proper billing for checking occult blood using a guaiac test? T... Read more
Reader Question:
Comprehensive Versus Mutually Exclusive Codes
Question: The national Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) has listings for correct coding edi... Read more
Reader Question:
Counseling and Psychosis
Question: If I use a psychosis code as a second or third diagnosis, will the reimbursement... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Hospice Care
Test your coding knowledge.  Determine how you would code this situation before loo... Read more
Use CMS Transmittal To Appeal Denials for Preoperative Clearance Exams
Internists may find it difficult to receive proper reimbursement for a preoperative clea... Read more
Modifier -25 Know the Conditions for Its Use
Internists must understand that proper use of modifier -25 (significant, separately ident... Read more
Reader Question:
Bronchoscopy With Washings
Question: Recently my internist (who specializes in pulmonology) did a bronchoscopy with... Read more
Reader Question:
PCP in the Nursing Home
Question: Which code should we use when a patient is transferred to a nursing rehab center... Read more
Reader Question:
Symptoms of Hypertension
Question: What symptoms qualify as malignant hypertension? Are there specific diastolic/s... Read more
Reader Question:
Anesthesia for Perineum
Question: CPT codes 00400 and 00900 both deal with lesions of the perineum. When would one... Read more
Reader Question:
Clonidine Suppression Test
Question: How should I code the physician part of a clonidine suppression test? Under evo... Read more
Reader Question:
Coding an Aspiration
Question: On some procedures such as chest x-rays or upper GIs we receive "aspiration" as... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Kenalog Injection
Reviewed on May 27, 2015   Test your coding knowledge.  Determine how yo... Read more
Get Paid for Same-Day Pelvic/Breast Exam and Problem-Oriented Office Visit
Effective July 1, 2001, Medicare's Program Memorandum 1823 released on Feb. 1, 2001, c... Read more
News Brief:
HCFA Changes Name to CMS
The Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), which administers Medicare and Medicaid... Read more
Use Counseling Time To Code Higher-Level E/M
A higher level of E/M may be reported if an internist spends the majority of an offic... Read more
Reader Question:
Contraception
Question: How should we bill for the new and widely requested contraceptive injection Lun... Read more
Reader Question:
Pulmonary Function Tests
Question: Are internists performing pulmonary function tests (PFTs) as part of their prac... Read more
Reader Question:
Certification Services
Question: How much can I charge for G0180, and when does the date of service begin?Maine ... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Biofeedback
Test your coding knowledge.  Determine how you would code this situation before loo... Read more
Dont Get Burned by Using the Wrong Burn Treatment Code
Internists treating patients with first- or second-degree burns often report E/M co... Read more
HCFA Fee Schedule has a Wealth of Information for Coders
Every year, HCFA updates its Fee Schedule for Physicians . The 2001 national Physi... Read more
Calculating Medicare Payments From RVUs and GPCIs
By definition, geographic practice cost indices (GPCIs) differ from region to region. H... Read more
Insert:
Example of 2001 National Physician Fee Schedule Relative Value File
CPT Codes and descriptions are copyright 2001 American Medical Association. ... Read more
Reader Question:
Injections During an E/M
Question: If an osteoarthritis patient receives a celestone injection, can I bill for t... Read more
Reader Question:
Suture Removal
Question: Occasionally, our doctor will remove sutures that were placed elsewhere. As fa... Read more
Reader Question:
When to Use Time-based Coding
Question: If an established patient presents with a rash but most of the time is spent c... Read more
Reader Question:
Preventive and Problem-focused Coding
Question: If an internist performs a complete physical exam (CPE) on a 35-ye... Read more
Reader Question:
Pelvic/Breast Exam Fees
Question: The current Medicare fee schedule for Vermont allows only $28 for a gynecolog... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Tetanus and Hepatitis A Vaccines
Test your coding knowledge.  Determine how you would code this situation before look... Read more
How to Use Diagnosis Codes to Support Hypertension, Diabetes and Anemia Claims
So much attention is paid to CPT codes in regard to billing and reimbursement that it so... Read more
Avoid Hospital Admission Coding Errors When Billing For Absent Internists
There are two arrangements absent internists can make with other providers to get paid fo... Read more
Reader Question:
Swing-bed Status
Question: A hospital inpatient is discharged to swing-bed status but remains in the hospit... Read more
Reader Question:
Copayments With Prothrombin Time
Question: We have just started to bill for Prothrombin Time (PT) in our office for patient... Read more
Reader Question:
Partial Dialysis Treatment
Question: How does our office get paid for performing only a partial month of dialysis? We... Read more
Reader Question:
Diagnostic Tests
Question: Is it appropriate for us to bill for diagnostic tests conducted at the same time... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Lupron Injections
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at... Read more
Common Wart Removal Codes Offer Greater Reimbursement
"Internists are dealing with straightforward integumentary complaints that were once readi... Read more
Making Preventive Medicine Services Work:
Understand The Intricacies Of Coding and Educate Patients on Payment
A popular coding myth is that internists steer away from preventive medicine services beca... Read more
Reader Question:
Team Management
Question: Our practice treats medium- to high-risk seniors with comprehensive healthcare p... Read more
Reader Question:
Rules for Preoperative Time
Question: A patient came in for a preoperative visit three days before his surgery. Can we... Read more
Reader Question:
Diagnostic Tests With Office Visits
Question: Is it OK to bill for diagnostic tests conducted at the same time as an office vi... Read more
Reader Question:
Breathing Treatments
Question: How do I code for a nebulizer breathing treatment? Ohio Subscriber Answer: The c... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Pap Smear Diagnosis
Question: I recently asked my Medicare carrier about coding for a pap smear. My CPT codes ... Read more
Coding for Dermabond and Simple Laceration Repairs Is Carrier-specific
"To ensure proper reimbursement when using Dermabond for simple laceration repair, interni... Read more
Learn New Standards for Proper Critical Care Coding
Critical care reimbursement for 2001 has increased by more than 10 percent over last years... Read more
Reader Question:
Presurgical Physicals
Question: How do I code for a presurgical physical (99244) so insurance carriers will pay ... Read more
Reader Question:
Coding for Supplies
Question: Were administering fluids for rehydration in our office and are having trouble f... Read more
Reader Question:
Emergency Office Visit
Question: A patient came to our office for a scheduled visit and was sent to the hospital ... Read more
Reader Question:
Diagnosis for Pap Smear
Question: I recently asked Medicare about coding for a Pap smear. My CPT codes are correct... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Mini-mental Exams
Question: What is the correct way to bill for a mini-mental status examination (MMSE)? A n... Read more
Follow Prequalification Factors to Get Proper Payment for Remicade
Remicade infusions offer added reimbursement for internists treating patients who are amon... Read more
Home Health Certification and Recertification Can Be Reported For Added Stream of Revenue
Effective Jan. 1, 2001, HCFA will reimburse internists for doing something they were alrea... Read more
HCFA Suspends a Large Portion of the CCI 6.3 Edits
In an extraordinary about-face, HCFA has suspended edits of evaluation and management (E/M... Read more
Reader Question:
Diagnosis Codes for PFTs
Question: We purchased equipment to perform pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in our office ... Read more
Reader Question:
Code for Postoperative Care
Question: Our internist was asked to do a pre-operative evaluation of a patient with hype... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Modifier -51 and Multiple Trigger Point Injections
Question: We attach modifier -51 for trigger point injections performed on two or more bod... Read more
Use of Doppler Add-on Codes Can Boost Reimbursement for Echocardiography
The codes for transthoracic echocardiography (TTE, 93303-93308) are among the 50 most fre... Read more
How to Assess Medical Decision-making for High-level E/M Visits
Reimbursement for an office visit increases dramatically when going from a level-four (992... Read more
CPT Defines Level-four and Level-five Office Visits
The CPT manual requires the following levels of history, examination and medical decision-... Read more
News Brief:
Congress Increases Frequency of Covered Pap Smears and Pelvic Exams
The U.S. Congress recently passed legislation that increases the frequency of Pap smear te... Read more
Reader Question:
Nurse Injections
Question: When a nurse gives an injection, should we bill 99211 or the injection code 9078... Read more
Reader Question:
Commercial Insurers and Preventive Exams
Question: Are preventive service visits billed the same for commercial insurance carriers ... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Flu Vaccine Policy
Question: Has Medicares flu vaccination policy changed again? Texas SubscriberTest your co... Read more
New Procedures for Prothrombin Time Tests May Change Reimbursement
Due to advances in medical technology, the manner in which Prothrombin time laboratory tes... Read more
Bill Preoperative Exams as Consults to Optimize Reimbursement
Internists seldom act as consulting physicians or bill the CPT consultation codes. Preoper... Read more
Reader Question:
Reporting Time Spent with Family
Question: What is meant by the time spent counseling the patient and coordinating care? Do... Read more
Reader Question:
Physical Exam for New Medicare Patients
Question: We have recently opened a new clinic, and several new Medicare patients have com... Read more
Reader Question:
New Nutrition Codes and Diabetes Education
Question: How can our internal medicine practice report nutritional counseling provided by... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Hospital Discharge to Swing Bed Status
Question: A hospital inpatient was discharged to swing bed status, but remains in the hosp... Read more
Available Years:  2001  2000  1999  1998