Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert
Mutually Exclusive Edits Threaten Reimbursement
The July release of the National Correct Coding Initiative includes only 111 mutually exclusive edits as compared to the 3,698 non-mutually exclusive edits it adds.
In one mutually exclusive edit, new CPT 29873 (Arthroscopy, knee, surgical; with lateral release) became much harder to bill with excision-debridement codes 11010-11012. You can use a modifier to override this edit.
The NCCI also makes new code 49419, for insertion of intraperitoneal cannula or catheter, mutually exclusive with similar codes 49420 and 49421.
Also, 76070 (Computed tomography, bone mineral density study, one or more sites; axial skeleton) is mutually exclusive with 76075 (Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, bone density study, one or more sites; axial skeleton). And both 76070 and 76075 are mutually exclusive with 78350 (Bone density study; one or more sites, single photon absorptiometry).
New code 76071 (Computed tomography, bone mineral density study; appendicular skeleton) is mutually exclusive with G0130 (Single energy x-ray absorptiometry).
Morphometric analysis code 88358, for tumors, has become mutually exclusive with +88313 (Special stains; Group II, all other, except immunocytochemistry and immunoperoxidase stains, each).
New code 92610 (Evaluation of oral and pharyngeal swallowing function) is now mutually exclusive with a number of other new codes for evaluative and therapeutic services: 92611, 92612, 92614 and 92616.
Meanwhile, 93797 (Physician services for outpatient cardiac rehabilitation; without continuous ECG monitoring) and 93798 (... with continuous ECG monitoring) became mutually exclusive with cardiography codes 93017, 93018 and 93025, and 93797 also became mutually exclusive with 93015.
Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert
- National Correct Coding Initiative:
Version 9.2 Promises Big Changes for Cardiology Coding
Heads up, cardiologists: If you're repositioning a pacemaker or electrode, you won't be able to [...] - Diagnosis Codes:
Providing ICD-9s for Lab Claims Just Became Your Job, CMS Says 'No' to Suspected Diagnoses
When you order labs, you don't always know what diagnosis the patient will end up [...] - Chill out with ICD-9s
The biggest change stemming from this new memo seems to be that CMS is leaning [...] - Studies & Surveys:
Billing, Malpractice Concerns Scare Soon-to-Be-Docs, A Quarter of Med School Students Wouldn't Do It Again - Studies & Surveys:
Physicians Capacity at the Breaking Point, Study Says, Medicare Patients Wait Longer for Fewer Services
Patients are waiting longer for appointments, and doctors don't have enough time with each patient.
That's [...] - NCCI:
Mutually Exclusive Edits Threaten Reimbursement
The July release of the National Correct Coding Initiative includes only 111 mutually exclusive edits [...] - Hematology:
New Edits Clarify: Don't Bill Consultation on Slides
Billing for hematology just became a puzzle again, thanks to a raft of new National [...] - Coverage:
Medicare Expands PET Scan Coverage
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services continues to make it possible to bill for [...] - Physician's Notes:
Dueling Proposals Compete to Reform Medicare, Physicians Caught in the Crossfire
