Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert
In other news...
If you think coding to the highest level of specificity only applies to outpatient claims, you're way off. NGS Medicare, a payer in 20 states, recently released the results of its Comprehensive Error Rate Testing (CERT) analysis, revealing that "providers are not coding the principal diagnosis to the highest level of specificity and/or selecting the most appropriate code for the inpatient services." The peril of miscoding diagnoses in the hospital is that the facility consequently collects overpayments or underpayments for its services. "Coders should review the complete medical record for the appropriate principal diagnosis, the condition known to have caused the admission once all pertinent diagnostic testing is complete," the report indicates. To read the complete notification, visit www.ngsmedicare.com/content.aspx?CatID=2&DOCID=22288.
Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert
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