Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert
This MAC Updates Its Modifier 51 Rules--Reminding You NOT to Use It
Plus: Don’t take ‘credit’ for toxic drug management if you aren’t monitoring it.
Both CPT® and CMS create modifiers to make your coding easier—but sometimes those modifiers aren’t actually necessary. Such is the case with one specific modifier, according to a recent transmittal by Part B MAC NGS Medicare.
On Feb. 6, NGS Medicare issued new policy education for modifier 51 (Multiple procedures) explaining that it “denotes more than one medical/surgical procedure is being performed by the same physician on the same day during the same encounter.”
However, the MAC adds, “Medicare does not recommend reporting modifier 51 on your claim submission.” The MACs’ systems contain “hard-coded logic to add the 51 modifier to the correct procedure code,” so you don’t have to add it again, NGS says.
To read the complete guidance from NGS, visit www.ngsmedicare.com.
Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert
- Part B Coverage:
Medicare to Cover Lung Cancer Screening Scans
Patients with long history of smoking can now qualify for LDCT. Although CMS usually saves [...] - Part B Revenue Booster:
3 Facts You May Not Know About Incident to
And one that you probably do know—but aren’t following properly. As most practices are aware, [...] - Pulmonology Coding:
4 Tips Lead You to VQ Study Reimbursement Every Time
Look for references to “inhalation” or “gases” for vent study documentation. When your pulmonologist attends [...] - Get to Know the VQ Scan Specifics
A lung ventilation/perfusion scan, or VQ scan, is a test that helps a pulmonologist measure [...] - Reader Question:
Be Ready to Send Documentation With Unlisted Code
Question: I’ve read that we should report 64999 for radiofrequency of the lumbar sympathetic chain, but [...] - Part B Coding Coach:
Achieve Sigmoidoscopy Accuracy With 3 Quick Tips
Knowing the correct situations to report control of bleeding will help avoid denials. With all [...] - Physician Notes:
This MAC Updates Its Modifier 51 Rules--Reminding You NOT to Use It
Plus: Don’t take ‘credit’ for toxic drug management if you aren’t monitoring it. Both CPT® [...] - In other news
As most E/M coders are aware, drug therapy requiring intensive monitoring for toxicity is considered [...]
