Neurosurgery Coding Alert
No More E/M Documentation Guidelines?
Recently, the AMA announced on its Web site that on May 16, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy Thompson's Advisory Committee on Regulatory Reform voted 20-1 to recommend eliminating documentation guidelines for E/M services. According to the announcement, "The AMA has repeatedly informed the Department and the Regulatory Relief Advisory Committee that physicians identify E/M documentation guidelines as the single largest paperwork burden imposed by the Medicare program."
The Advisory Committee's recommendation will proceed to Secretary Thompson for a final decision. In the meantime, physicians and coders should continue to observe the current E/M documentation standards. Look to future editions of your Coding Alert newsletter for more information on this important issue as it becomes available.
Neurosurgery Coding Alert
- Have the Nerve to Report 64855-64902 for Optimal Results
Along with the usual concerns of properly reporting multiple procedures and avoiding bundled codes, confusing [...] - Be Precise:
Complete ICD-9 Coding Protects Reimbursement
Busy physicians sometimes fail to indicate pertinent information in the medical record, including all relevant [...] - You Be the Coder:
Failed Surgery
Test your coding knowledge. Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the [...] - Applicable Nerve Graft CPT Codes
64885 Nerve graft (includes obtaining graft), head or neck; up to 4 cm in length [...] - The Tick-Tock of the Clock Could Lead to Higher Payment
Lengthy but low-level E/M visits or time spent reassuring and counseling patients in the office [...] - CCI Update:
No News Is Good News for Version 8.2
National Technical Information Services (NTIS) has released version 8.2 of the national Correct Coding Initiative [...] - Reader Question:
Reporting Re-Explorations
Question: The neurosurgeon performs a re-exploration microdiskectomy at level L4-5 (unilateral) and an initial microdiskectomy [...] - Reader Question:
Gamma Knife
Question: Which is the proper code to report use of a gamma knife during surgery? [...] - Reader Question:
Diagnoses to Support Critical Care
Question: I'm confused by the Medicare instructions recommending that a diagnosis from the 800.0-959.9 range [...] - Reader Question:
Unlisted Procedures
Question: If I want to report a certain procedure for which CPT does not include [...] - News Brief:
No More E/M Documentation Guidelines?
Recently, the AMA announced on its Web site that on May 16, Health and Human [...]
