Primary Care Coding Alert
CMS Rejects New Hepatitis B Codes, Accepts Old Versions
Just when you thought you grasped the CPT 2003 changes, CMS reverses its decision to establish new hepatitis B vaccine HCPCS Q codes (Q3021-Q3023) and reactivates the CPT versions (90740-90747). CMS issued transmittal AB-02-185 on Dec. 31, 2002, which rejected three 2003 HCPCS Q codes: You should continue to report CPT codes 90740, 90743, 90744, 90746 and 90747 for these vaccines. Although Medicare will accept 90740-90747 starting Jan. 1, 2003, carriers will not accept the codes until April 1. For claims containing only hepatitis B vaccine codes with dates of service Jan. 1-March 31, you should hold the claims in your system and submit them in April. For claims containing additional services furnished on the same date, you may remove the vaccine charge and then submit an adjustment bill in April to receive payment for the vaccine CPT code. This way you can still receive prompt payment for the other services.
Primary Care Coding Alert
- Break Down Nebulizer Session to Capture Allowable Services and Procedures
Although CPT 2003 clarified the nebulizer training codes, family practice coders are still asking questions [...] - You Be the Coder:
To Append an Attempt or Not?
Test your coding knowledge.Determine how you would code this situation before looking at the box [...] - FPs Receive Double Whammy:
Fee Schedule for 2003 Slashes RVU Reimbursement, Amount
Medicare not only cut relative value unit (RVU) reimbursement for 2003 by 4.4 percent in [...] - Dont Let the Interim Fee Schedule Filing Rules Drive You Crazy
Juggling two fee schedules for one calendar year could drive the most patient family physician [...] - CMS Rejects New Hepatitis B Codes, Accepts Old Versions
Just when you thought you grasped the CPT 2003 changes, CMS reverses its decision to [...] - Reader Question:
Dont Charge Extra for Bilateral 69210
Question: For 69210, should we charge one price regardless of whether the physician irrigates both [...] - Reader Question:
On-Call Requires Patient-Specific Attendance
Question: How do the new on-call codes apply? Insurers will likely not pay for the [...] - The 2003 Fee Schedules Bottom Line:
CMS Cuts E/M Reimbursement Levels
