Primary Care Coding Alert

Tip: Double check before reporting G0396, G0397 with E/M services. You're probably accustomed to looking through the Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) edit changes each quarter, because staying updated on new code pairs can mean the difference between claim acceptance and denial. If you haven't yet read through the 2012 CCI coding guidelines, check out two important updates on how to report unclassified drugs and certain screenings/assessments, thanks to Kristi Stumpf, MCS-P, CPC, COSC, ACS-OR, owner of Precision Auditing and Coding. Assign 1 Unit to J3490 Most medications your family physician administers can be found in HCPCS. You might have times, however, when a specific code doesn't apply and you must resort to J3490 (Unclassified drugs) as your catch-all medication code. Take note: When you report J3490, only submit one unit of service, no matter how much medication your physician administered. Document details about the drug and total dosage in the [...]