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Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Coding Strategy:
Follow These 5 Key Tips For Flawless Shunting Claims
You can earn for evaluation, revision, irrigation, and radiological supervision. When you... Read more
ICD-10 Coding:
Name And Number Are Key To Coding For Cranial Nerve Neoplasms
You will find specific codes for only the olfactory, optic, and acoustic cranial nerves.... Read more
Procedure Focus:
Check Out These 2 Simple Steps To EMG Coding
Key: Check extremity and any additional NCS services. Your provider may often be doing... Read more
Quick Refresher for Basics of Electromyogram
What is an EMG? Your provider will do an electromyogram (EMG) to measure the electrical ... Read more
Reader Question:
Code for Accessory Nerve as Cranial
Question: Our physician documented a diagnosis of neoplasm in the spinal accessory ne... Read more
Reader Question:
List Fluoroscopy as Add-On Procedure
Question: What are the changes in fluoroscopy codes that we can anticipate in the nex... Read more
Reader Question:
Restrict 99024 to Follow-up in Global Period
Question: In a patient with a tunneled spinal epidural catheter, our physician did a revis... Read more
You Be the Coder:
95972 Gets 1 Hour Exempt
Question: Our physician performed a complex spinal cord neurostimulator test and su... Read more
2017 Update:
Mark These Updates For Fluoroscopy and Moderate Sedation in 2017
Also: You continue to use same codes for phrenic nerve stimulation. The Centers for Me... Read more
Procedure Focus:
Following These 3 Key Steps Will Unlock Picture Perfect EEG Claims
Time the procedure and check if patient was awake, drowsy, asleep, or in coma. When yo... Read more
E/M Coding:
Do You Know When You Can Use Prolonged-Service Codes? Find Out
Key: Count only face-to-face time and document necessity. When your physician performs an... Read more
Reader Question:
Check Block or Destruction in Celiac Plexus Injections
Question: Our  surgeon  has  documented  a  celiac  ple... Read more
Reader Question:
Strike Off 77003 for Fluoroscopy with Epidural Injections in 2017
Question: How  can  we  report  fluoroscopic  guidance  ... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Refrain from Modifier 63 with Meningocele Repair
Question: How  can  we  report  the  repair  of  a... Read more
2017 Update:
2017: Connect With These New Telehealth CPT® Slated For Next Year
CMS decisions hold promise of potential patient benefits. The Centers for Medicare and Me... Read more
ICD-10 Update:
New Codes and Revisions Will Transform Your Occipital Condyle Fractures Coding
Laterality is important for fractures type I, II, and III; healing status; sequela. Ef... Read more
News You Can Use:
Understand And Utilize These Best Practices For PHI Security
Choose trusted partners and report any suspected PHI breaches. With growing cyberattac... Read more
Reader Question:
Differentiate Laminotomy, Laminectomy for Herniated Disc Repair
Question: How can we report repair for a herniated disc at the lumbar region? Does 63... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Check EEG in Epileptogenic Excision
Question: In a patient with resistant epilepsy, our surgeon did a craniotomy and ex... Read more
CPT® 2017:
2017: Add New CPT® Codes For Spinal Procedures And Devices In the New Year
Location and image guidance are key to coding for spinal interlaminar injections. With... Read more
ICD-10 Update:
Get Ready to Makeover Your Skull Base Fracture Coding
You can bank upon the side of fracture and initial encounters to find the right code. ... Read more
Procedure Focus:
Adopt These Tactics For Flawless Head and Neck Angiography Coding
Define discrete territories for vertebral, subclavian, and carotid arteries. Coding fo... Read more
Reader Question:
Define Acute vs Chronic For Diagnosis of Pain
Question: What are the diagnosis codes in ICD-10 for acute and chronic pain? Are th... Read more
Reader Question:
Laminectomy Guides Your Dural Repair Coding
Question: How can we report the repair of a traumatic dural laceration? Is there a ... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Count Views in Spine X-rays
Question: What are the new codes for scoliosis X-rays assessment introduced this ye... Read more
Coding Strategies:
Confirm Each Component of the Procedure For Easy Cervical Spine Coding
Clearly define services for decompression and fusion; add codes for grafts and instrumen... Read more
ICD-10 Update:
Prepare To Adopt New Hematoma And Cervical Disorder Codes
Specify procedure causing the hematoma; count each level of pathology in the cervical sp... Read more
Quick Quiz:
Take This Quiz To Assess Your Understanding For Seizure Management Procedures
Make clear concepts for access, electrodes, and excision of foci. In a patient with se... Read more
Coding Quiz Answers:
See if Your Seizure Management Procedure Coding Measures Up
Check if EEG was obtained when excising epileptogenic foci. Here are correct answers to t... Read more
Reader Question:
Global Period Determines the Postop Procedure Payments
Question: A patient who underwent a skull fracture reduction returns to our surgeon aft... Read more
Reader Question:
Check Risk of Double Billing before You Claim for Surgeon's Interpretations
Question: Our surgeon makes an interpretation for the diagnostic studies for a patien... Read more
Reader Question:
Duration of Service Is Key to Critical Care
Question: Our surgeon examines a patient with massive cerebral hemorrhage and provi... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Differentiate Cerebellar and Subdural Hematomas
Question: How do we report a craniotomy for evacuation of a cerebellar hematoma? Is... Read more
Coding Strategy:
Banish Your Burr Hole Coding Challenges With This Advice
Check for drainage, aspiration, evacuation, and exploratory cranial procedures. You ca... Read more
ICD-10-CM Update:
Look For Deletions And New Codes For GCS In The Upcoming ICD-10 Update
In addition to scores, timing becomes crucial for the right GCS code. In the last issu... Read more
News You Can Use:
CMS Brings In New Focus On Cost And Quality
You can choose form MIPS and APMs. Physician payment programs, established by the Medi... Read more
Reader Question:
Check Payer Policy for Observation Services
Question: In a patient who reported with a head injury after a traumatic fall, our ... Read more
Reader Question:
Now Bill Advance Care with E/M
Question: What are the recent reforms for advance care planning? Can we now bill thes... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Prepare To Distinguish Postprocedure Haemorrhage and Hematoma
Question: What are the anticipated changes for ICD-10 postprocedure haemorrhage codes?... Read more
Coding Case:
Solve Your Spinal Reporting Questions By Specifying Each Surgical Step
You need to avoid duplicates in inclusive services. Here’s why. Spinal coding ma... Read more
ICD-10-CM Update:
Redefine Neurological Assessments With New Codes And Updates
Each score in NIHSS will have a discrete code. Later this year, you are likely to spot... Read more
Payment Piece:
5 Key Questions Help You Understand CMS Rule For Overpayments
CMS has shifted the responsibility of identifying payment errors on providers and suppli... Read more
Reader Question:
Prove No Resident for Modifier 82
Question: Is there a difference in the reimbursement of procedures for modifiers 80 a... Read more
Reader Question:
Define Localized vs Generalized for Lymphadenopathy
Question: Can you suggest the ICD-10 options for the diagnosis of lymphadenopathy? ... Read more
Reader Question:
Wait Until Oct 1 Before You Report ICD-10 Codes for 2017
Question: By when is the new ICD-10-CM code set for FY 2017 likely to be final? Whe... Read more
Reader Question:
Earn for Foley Catheter Change
Question: For a patient with a urinary catheter, can we bill for the Foley itself w... Read more
Reader Question:
Submit One Code for Each Imaging Session of PET-CT
Question: Is PET-CT different from a PET scan? How can we report for a PET-CT imagi... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Detail All Steps for Spinal Mass Resection
Question: Our surgeon did a cervical laminotomy from C6-T1 with resection of a spin... Read more
Procedure Focus:
Simplify Your Claims For Cranial Reconstruction Procedures
Removal, retrieval, and replacement of flap codes are as essential as primary procedure ... Read more
Follow This 5 Step Guide for Cranial Bone Grafting Procedures
Cranial bone grafting may seem to be a coding challenge as there are multiple steps of t... Read more
ICD-10 Focus:
ICD-10: Dig Deep Into Diabetic Neuropathy Diagnoses Codes
Focus on type of diabetes and neurological complications. A common diagnosis you may c... Read more
News:
Be On a Watch for ICD-10 Changes Later This Year
New codes, additions, and deletions will account for revisions in October. Prepare to see... Read more
E/M Coding:
Expert Answers For Your 5 Key Critical Care E/M Questions
Duration of care for critical illness or injury is important for 99291/99292. Critical... Read more
Reader Question:
Focus on Muscle Vs Nerve for Piriformis Block
Question: We usually submit code 64445 for a piriformis nerve block, but the payer ... Read more
Reader Question:
Check Primary and Secondary Closure in Wound Dehiscence
Question: Is repair of wound dehiscence ever payable during the global period? If s... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Fix All Levels in Spinal Fusion
Question: How can we report a posterior spinal fusion from L3 to T7? Our surgeon al... Read more
Coding Tips:
Focus On Simple Vs Complex For Intracranial Aneurysms
Size, location, calcification, and infringement upon adjacent structures are all important... Read more
Procedure Focus:
Take The Pain Out Of Paravertebral Facet Joint Injection Coding
Remember that intra-articular and medial branch blocks are different. This year, CPT® up... Read more
ICD-10 Update:
Diagnosis Coding: Do Not Miss These 3 Common Central Benign Tumors
Look for specific codes for pituitary, pineal, and carotid body tumors. With surgery b... Read more
Basics of Carotid Paragangliomas
More than 60% of paragangliomas in the head and neck region arise in the carotid bodies.... Read more
Reader Question:
Physician Signatures are a Mandate on all Documents
Question: What are the necessary requirements for physician signatures? Are E-signa... Read more
Reader Question:
Check for Imaging Guidance in SI Arthrography
Question: What codes can we submit for sacroiliac joint arthrography? Do the codes ... Read more
Reader Question:
Confirm Global Period Before You Report Follow Up Of Spinal Catheter
Question: Our physician did a spinal epidural catheter revision. This was a tunneled ... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Be Specific for Coccygeal Nerve and Ganglion Impar Block
Question: Our physician did a radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the coccyx. This tec... Read more
2016 Update:
Update Your Practice For These New Codes For Intracranial Arterial Therapeutic Interventions
Distinguish thrombolysis and vasodilation, know services that the new codes include. I... Read more
ICD-10 Update:
Target Specific Code For Bell's Palsy Diagnosis
ICD-10 offers a simple single and specific code for this condition. Bell’s palsy... Read more
Compliance Check:
OIG Work Plan 2016: Prepare To Cover Any Compliance Gaps
On the OIG's radar for 2016 are quality reporting and inpatient care. On Nov. 2, the HHS... Read more
Reader Question:
Narrow Down to Symptoms of Zika Virus Infection
Question: Our physician is suspecting Zika virus infection in a newborn infant who wa... Read more
Reader Question:
Medicare Accepts 'G' Codes For Laceration Closure
Question: Our surgeon treated a patient for simple laceration of the scalp. Our sur... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Ignore Location for Critical Care Services
Question: Is it possible that we use critical care codes 99291-99292 for services p... Read more
CCI 22.0:
Latest CCI Edits Call For Attention To Modifier Indicators For PVB
Don’t be in a hurry to report PVB codes as many other procedures can override them... Read more
ICD-10 Quiz:
2 Steps Help Pinpoint Specific Codes For Nontraumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Confirm site and side of the bleed and pick up the most precise code from I60.XX series.... Read more
Assess Your Understanding Of Diagnosis Codes For Nontraumatic Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Answer 1: The correct option is a, I60.00. The ICD-10 codes for nontraumatic subarachn... Read more
News You Can Use:
Discover More About The Medicare Drug Spending Dashboard
Learn more about prescribing trends, drug utilization; do not expect to see price concessi... Read more
Reader Question:
Do Not Report Modifier 53 with E/M When the Surgery is Cancelled
Question: Our surgeon decided not to take the patient for an elective surgical proced... Read more
Reader Question:
Rectify Secondary Payer Error with Discussions
Question: Our surgeon did an operative procedure on a patient 11 months ago. We now... Read more
Reader Question:
Avoid ICD-9 and ICD-10 on Single Claim
Question: We have few patients who were admitted for procedures at the end of Septe... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Look for Laminectomy in Dural Repair Procedures
Question: How do you code a traumatic dural repair? This dural tear is not iatrogen... Read more
Coding Tips:
Strengthen Basics And Assess Your Understanding for Skull Base Coding
You need these three guides: Fossa, dura, and resected structures. When reporting skul... Read more
ICD-10 Update:
Explore Specific ICD-10 Codes When Reporting Thoracic Sprains and Strains
Check LCDs for what group of codes may allow you more numbers of patient visits. ICD-... Read more
Practice Updates:
Avoid Appeals By Meeting These 10 Essential Requirements
Align with MAC requirements and keep clean and precise documentation. Are you appealin... Read more
Reader Question:
Check for Any Personal History of Pulmonary Embolism
Question: A patient who was hospitalized for a neurosurgical procedure and had no h... Read more
Reader Question:
Modifier CT Could Mean A Pay Cut
Question: What are the revisions in HCPCS 2016 for CT machines? What are the fee cuts... Read more
Reader Question:
Do Not Submit Z91.81 as Primary Diagnosis
Question: A patient presents to the neurosurgery practice with a history of falling... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Be Specific For Simple Vs. Compound Skull Fracture Repair
Question: In a patient who developed motor weakness following an accident, our surg... Read more
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