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Pediatric Coding Alert

Telemedicine:
Stay Connected with Telemedicine Coding
Take your services out of the office with appendix P. The healthcare field changes rapidl... Read more
Coding Quiz:
Answer These Questions, Test Your Admissions Acumen
Take this quiz to brush up on your inpatient coding. Question 1: Your pediatrician sees a... Read more
Procedure Coding:
Follow This St(r)ep by Step Guide for Accurate Sore Throat Reporting
Go from test to dx to know your -itis. Sore throat. Strep throat. Pharyngitis. The terms ... Read more
Coding Quiz Answers:
Check Your Responses to Our Admissions Coding Quiz
Compare your answers to those of our experts. Answer 1: In this scenario, you can only bi... Read more
Reader Question:
Code These Rapid Tests Together? Not So Fast
Question: Our payer recently denied payment when we billed 87880 and 87804 for the same vi... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Choreograph These Codes Correctly to Document Dance Injury
Question: A 15-year-old female patient came to our office after rolling her right foot dur... Read more
E/M Coding:
Take These 5 Hints to Avoid Common E/M Reporting Errors
Learn what not to do by following this expert advice. Upcoding. Downcoding. Missing or no... Read more
Case Study Corner:
Follow These Guidelines for Successful ADHD Reporting Outcomes
Pay attention to payer rules for testing, treatment options. It's a common problem that s... Read more
E/M Coding:
Understand Preventive/Wellness Visit Coding With These Documentation Tips
Age, history, risk factor, and vaccinations set these E/M visits apart. It's safe to say ... Read more
Reader Question:
New Flu Vaccination Codes Won't Hurt a Bit
Question: Like most peds offices at this time of year, we're ramping up our vaccinati... Read more
Reader Question:
Learn How to Code This RAD-ical Condition
Question: An adolescent patient just presented at our office with asthma-like symptom... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Know Correct Vaccination Law for Accurate Rotavirus Reporting
Question: A mother came to us with her daughter, who had just started daycare. For tw... Read more
ICD-10 Coding:
Learn the Essentials of Eating Disorder Coding
Follow this guide to document the road to recovery. Princess Diana. Jane Fonda. Lady GaGa... Read more
Procedure Coding:
Take These Suggestions to Avoid Consultation Confusion
Collect cash for your consults with these three simple steps. It's hard to imagine a more... Read more
Mythbusters:
Bust These 4 Myths to Master Aftercare Coding
Follow-up codes mean care is over, not ongoing. When you think of follow-up, you probably... Read more
Reader Question:
Be Sure You're Using Modifier 24 at the Right Time
Question: A patient developed a postop infection during the global period of a surger... Read more
Reader Question:
Wrap Up the Answer to This Sprain Scenario
Question: A young athlete came into our office with a sprained elbow he received while pla... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Report One Code for Single-Component Vaccine
Question: Our pediatrician administered two single-component vaccines to a 14-year-ol... Read more
Case Study Corner:
Code for Lead Exposure when Symptoms Don't Add Up
And assess health risk with this recent CPT® code Strange symptoms? No specific diagnosi... Read more
ICD-10:
Severity Key to Coding Asthma Encounters
Make sense of fifth digits to complete the picture. Asthma is probably one of the most co... Read more
Coding Quiz Questions:
Answer these School Check-Up Questions, Go to Head of the Class
Also, can you get passing grades on these screening, immunization questions? The new scho... Read more
Coding Quiz Answers:
Check your Responses to Our Check-Up Encounter Quiz
Once you've answered the quiz questions on page 68, compare your answers with the ones our... Read more
Reader Question:
Mild, Persistent Dx Key to Accurate Anxiety Documentation
Question: Our provider has just seen an adolescent patient. The provider documented "... Read more
Reader Question:
Don't Go Back and Forth on the Answer to this Newborn Encounter
Question: Recently, our pediatrician was called to the hospital for a scheduled cesar... Read more
Reader Question:
Examine these Exam Codes for Correct E/M Reporting
Question: If our pediatrician sees an adolescent girl who is not yet sexually active ... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Know BMI to Solve this Coding Conflict
Question: Our pediatrician has routinely used E66.9 to code obese patients and E66.01... Read more
ICD-10:
New Dx Manual Hones Abuse, Diabetes Coding
Type 2 DM getting ketoacidosis entries. It’s official: The list of additions, delet... Read more
Clip And Save:
Remember these New ICD-10 Codes for your Peds Practice
Expert: Pediatric practices might miss these new Dx codes. There are several sets of ICD-... Read more
E/M Coding:
Mind These Codes to Report Mental, Behavioral Health
Let this refresher take you from assessment to diagnosis. If you’ve worked in a ped... Read more
Mythbusters:
Bust these 3 Myths for Summertime Coding Relief
Can you dispel these common warm-weather misconceptions? The summer is filled with hot, l... Read more
Reader Question:
Code the Disease, Not the Symptoms
Question: A 16-year-old female patient came to our office with infectious mononucleos... Read more
Reader Question:
Code This Critical Newborn Encounter with Care
Question: Our pediatrician was at the hospital for the birth of a normal newborn. Whi... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Coding for Foot FBRs
Question: A 12-year-old established male patient presents to the pediatrician with co... Read more
E/M Coding:
Use EHR, but Keep Your Eye on Exception E/M Time
Counseling exception can net you higher-level E/Ms … in specific situations. When ... Read more
E/M Coding:
Drive Hard for Details on Exceptions Claims
Providers play a vital role in counseling exception coding success. Pediatric practices t... Read more
ICD-10 Coding:
Arm Yourself with this Limb Pain Dx Primer
ICD-10 offers 1-, 2-code options for arm/leg pain. When patients report to your pediatric... Read more
ICD-10 Coding:
Z Codes Key to Code Newborn Low Weight, Weight Loss
But P, R codes spell success for specific diagnoses. Weight loss among newborns after bir... Read more
Reader Question:
When There's a Problem, Report a Problem-Focused E/M Code
Question: A patient came in for a physical exam. While there, one of our physicians a... Read more
Reader Question:
Risk Factor, Primary Illness Determine Group Session Coding
Question: Our office has set up a group for several new mothers and their babies that... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Location Determines Correct Z Code Use
Question: Our pediatrician performed a final hospital discharge for a newborn baby th... Read more
E/M Coding:
Use Different Codes for Some Peds Critical Care Patients
Hint: Observe the 71-month threshold for 99291, 99292. When a pediatrician has to provide... Read more
Coding Definitions:
Heed These 'Critical' Patient Care Parameters
Peds patients must still meet critical illness, injury standards. When you’re repor... Read more
Modifiers:
Grab Deserved Dollars on Multiple Excisions
You’ll use modifiers 59, 51—depending on payer preference. If a patient repor... Read more
E/M Coding:
Help PFSH Accuracy with Top-Notch Templates
Technology can help you track patients’ PFSH. Coders know that it’s vital to ... Read more
Reader Question:
Tread Carefully on Mixed CP Dx
Question: Our physician treated a patient in the observation unit of the local hospit... Read more
Reader Question:
Educate Physicians on 'Automatic' Coding Dangers
Question: I am having an issue with one of our physicians who wants to report almost all o... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Reporting Z Code for Screenings
Question: A patient presented to our practice after he failed a school hearing test, ... Read more
Procedure Coding:
Now Hear This: Not All FBRs Are the Same
Keep your ear to the ground to spot these FBRs. Coders at pediatric practices will often ... Read more
Modifiers:
Keep Modifier 26 Handy for Off-Site Services
If your practice owns the equipment, you can code without modifier. When your pediatricia... Read more
Ask an Expert:
Cut to the Chase with These Laceration Repair Answers
Remember, multiple repairs might not mean multiple codes. Patients that report to the ped... Read more
Clip And Save:
Get HPI Info with These Thorough Questions
Pointed, direct language will help you sort through HPI. During the history of present il... Read more
Reader Question:
Physicals Are Not 1 Size Fits All
Question: When a patient reports to our pediatrician for a school- or sports-related ... Read more
Reader Question:
Opt for R Code when Fall Cause Unknown
Question: When our practice treats patients with a history of falling, what ICD-10 co... Read more
Reader Question:
Be Thorough with Neck Sprain Dx
Question: Our provider recently provided an evaluation and management (E/M) service t... Read more
Reader Question:
Mind Open, Closed Wound Definitions
Question: What is the difference between an open and closed wound, and does open woun... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Reporting Ear Wick Insertion
Question: Our pediatrician recently saw a patient with an infection of the left inner... Read more
Procedure Coding:
Keep Up With I&D Rules, Cut to the Right Code Every Time
Be ready with 10061 for complicated, multiple I&Ds. Pediatricians performing incision... Read more
Procedure Coding:
Pick Different Codes for Acne, Pilonidal Cyst Procedures
Here’s why these services aren’t typical I&Ds. A patient reporting to the... Read more
E/M Coding:
Know PFSH, and Some E/M Coding Concerns Will Be History
PFSH level vital to accurate E/M history level. At some point in their careers, most code... Read more
Reader Question:
New Appendix Maps Out Telemedicine Codes
Question: How can we know whether or not a code is eligible for use with telemedicine... Read more
Reader Question:
Get a Grip on Migraine-Specific Dx Terms
Question: Choosing the correct ICD-10 code for our migraine patients is still difficu... Read more
Reader Question:
Let FB Depth Guide Your Removal Coding
Question: A patient reported to the pediatrician with a conjunctival foreign body in ... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Lipid Panels and Preventive Services
Question: A 15-year-old established male patient reports to the pediatrician for his ... Read more
Procedure Coding:
Avoid Pay Cut, Learn When Laceration Code Is Correct
For primary care providers, this service often walks the E/M-procedure line. Spring is ni... Read more
E/M Coding:
Read This FAQ for the 411 on ROS
You cannot choose an E/M code before settling on ROS level. One of the important aspects ... Read more
Quiz:
Put Your ROS Skills to Use on This Level-Check
Three scenarios, three ROS levels; do you know which is which? Coders that can quickly an... Read more
Case Study Corner:
Put 25/57 Decision into Focus with These Scenarios
Remember global periods for procedures to ease modifier choice. Evaluation and management... Read more
Quiz Answers:
Put Your ROS Skills to Use on This Level-Check
Three scenarios, three ROS levels; do you know which is which? Check out these answers to... Read more
Reader Question:
Tread Carefully with Preventive Visit-E/M Combo
Question: Our pediatrician often performs initial comprehensive preventive medicine s... Read more
Reader Question:
Choking Dx Choice Is 'Feeding Difficulties'
Question: Our physician evaluated a newborn baby whose mother said that the child wou... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Non-Surgical Services for Recovering Surgery Patients
Question: One of our patients underwent emergency appendectomy surgery at the local e... Read more
Procedure Coding:
Listen to the Experts on Coding Cerumen Removal
Addition of 69209 adds layer of challenge to choosing code. Since 2016, coders have ha... Read more
Modifiers:
Check Global to Nail 25/57 Encounters
Reserve modifier 57 for “major” surgeries. To get the most out of every pa... Read more
E/M Coding:
Code Prolonged Service After Discovering the Provider
Different staff has different CPT® codes to report. If your provider performs a pr... Read more
Reader Question:
Stay Alert on Self-Audit Frequency
Question: As the lead in our coding department, the practice manager recently place... Read more
Reader Question:
Often, Only Admitting Physician Can Code 99221-99223
Question: Can you use inpatient initial care codes 99221-99223 more than once in th... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Modifiers and Multiple Fracture Care Coding
Question: Encounter notes indicate that the physician performed a level-four evaluati... Read more
Procedure Coding:
Make Incision Decision Before Choosing FBR Code
These encounters could be FBRs, E/Ms … or both. Coding for foreign body removal... Read more
Ask An Expert:
Use This Nosebleed Repair Coding FAQ, Stop Hemorrhaging Money
Know what epistaxis is? Read on to find out. In news that should shock absolutely no o... Read more
Vaccinations:
Take These Tips to Heart to Cure Vaccination Coding Ills
Change coding when intranasal, oral admin occur. When your pediatrician orders vaccina... Read more
Reader Question:
Make the Right Modifier Choice on CLIA-Waived Tests
Question: Our practice recently got its Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments ... Read more
Reader Question:
Take These Tips, Master Rhinitis Coding
Question: Could you describe the differences between the following rhinitis types: ... Read more
Reader Question:
Getting Zika Diagnoses Right
Question: Have there been any changes in how you should report an ICD-10 code for the... Read more
Reader Question:
Note Insurer to Keep HPI Counts on Point
Question: An established patient reports to the pediatrician with a chief complaint... Read more
You Be the Coder:
Diagnosing Type I Diabetes
Question: I have recently started working for a pediatric practice, and I’ve ... Read more
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