OASIS Alert
It's Time For The Annual Code Shuffle
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If you aren't using the new ICD-9 codes come October 1, the red you see may be more than the fall leaves. Each October providers must deal with new codes on claims and OASIS forms, and this year is no exception. It's time now to focus on educating staff to prevent costly reimbursement delays from claims denied for incorrect codes. Two new codes home health agencies should get friendly with are 728.87 (muscle weakness) and 728.88 (rhabdomyolysis), advises Chapel Hill, NC-based consultant Judy Adams with the LarsonAllen Health Care Group. These codes "will be used considerably within home health," Adams predicts. HHAs also will use three new general symptom codes, Adams adds: 780.93 (memory loss), 780.94 (early satiety) and 781.94 (facial weakness). The memory loss code is sure to see considerable use, Adams says. HHAs must download either a new HAVEN release or a patch from CMS' Web site to install the new codes, once it becomes available, coding expert Prinny Rose Abraham with HIQM Consulting told listeners in a recent Eli teleconference on coding. Watch Out For Deleted Codes As Well As Added Ones While most of the changes for 2004 add a fifth digit to increase code specificity, the exception is the deletion of six five-digit codes for difficulty walking, Adams observes. A new code, 719.7 (difficulty in walking) will replace 719.70, 719.75, 719.76, 719.77, 719.78 and 719.79. Following, in numerical order, are new codes Adams and Abraham expect home care providers to use most when they go into effect Oct. 1:
Plus, 282.64 (sickle-cell/Hb-C disease with crisis) and 282.68 (sickle-cell thalassemia with crisis) are two additional codes for sickle-cell disease with crisis. Editor's Note: A list of the new codes is at www.cms.gov/manuals/pm_trans/AB03091.pdf.
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