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Diagnostic Radiology Coding:

Separate Cirrhosis From an Abnormal Mass With Liver Scans

Published on Tue Dec 24, 2024

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December 2024

Oncology Coding:
Define the Difference Between Diagnostic Bone Marrow Procedures
Question: When I read an op note for a bone marrow procedure, I’m confused about the [...]

ICD-10-CM Coding:
Don’t Bang Your Head in Frustration Over This Headbanging
Question: I’m reading encounter notes for a patient who presented with neck pain after an energetic [...]

General Coding:
Explore +G2211 Usage Past and Yet to Come
Hint: Going forward, modifier 25 can be in play. The road to reimbursement for services [...]

Pulmonology Coding:
Identify and Report Different Emphysema Conditions With This Refresher
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Compliance:
Beware Dangers of Precharting
Question: What are some of the potential downsides of a provider filling in some parts [...]

Optometry/Ophthalmology Coding:
Investigate This Bilateral IOL Calculation Coding Conundrum
Question: I have an operative note that mentions the physician performed a bilateral intraocular lens [...]

Path/Lab Coding:
Focus on These 4 Lymph-Node FNA Pathology Exam Tips
Check out this case study to see if your coding is on point. Physicians may [...]

Neurology & Pain Management Coding:
Dig Deep for Details on Post-Traumatic Headache
Question: When encounter notes indicate that a patient is suffering from a post-traumatic headache, what [...]

Anesthesia Coding:
Rekindle Your Memory by Revisiting the Year’s Important Topics
Review valuable coding updates of 2024 to prepare for 2025. Whether you’re a novice or [...]

Optometry/Ophthalmology Coding:
Learn How to Report Eyelid Retraction Correctly
Question: A patient presented to their ophthalmologist with severe discomfort and dryness in their left [...]

Neurology & Pain Management Coding:
Choose Single Dx Code for This Pain Syndrome
Question: When a patient suffers from chronic pain syndrome (CPS), what exactly does that mean? [...]

Diagnostic Radiology Coding:
Know What Makes up a 3-Phase Study
Question: We had a patient visit our radiology clinic for bone and joint imaging of [...]

Diagnostic Radiology Coding:
Build Your Bimalleolar Fracture Coding Knowledge
Question: I have a radiology report where the radiologist’s findings are listed as a displaced [...]

Primary Care Coding:
Pay Attention to Code Descriptor for This Z Code
Question: In what situation should I include ICD-10-CM code Z79.899? A lot of the patients [...]

Practice Management:
Consider Government Scrutiny Before Offering Gift Cards
Question: Are doctors’ offices allowed to give out gift cards or other gift-type incentives for [...]

General Coding:
Count Face-to-Face Time Only Once
Question: If a patient comes in for a follow-up and sees a nurse practitioner (NP), [...]

Urology Coding:
Explore These Laparoscopic Nephrectomy Codes
Question: The urologist prepared the patient by positioning them face down and sterilizing the surgical site. [...]

Diagnostic Radiology Coding:
Separate Cirrhosis From an Abnormal Mass With Liver Scans
Find out if you know what ‘static only’ means. Patients who present with upper-right abdominal [...]

Neurology & Pain Management Coding:
Target These Areas for Can’t-Miss TPI Claims
PM provider must list muscles injected for proper coding. Patients will often report to pain [...]

Pediatric Coding:
Clear Up Conjunctivitis Coding Practices
Use these tips to distinguish between codes for viral, bacterial, and allergic conjunctivitis. Conjunctivitis, better [...]

Oncology Coding:
Use These Keys to Unlock Breast Cancer Coding (Part 2)
Take this advice, take your breast cancer coding to the next level. In the

Optometry/Ophthalmology Coding:
Get Familiar With Coding Goniotomy Procedures
Find out when you need to turn to Category III codes. Recently, there have been [...]

Neurosurgery Coding:
Keep Hematoma, Seroma Straight With This Dx Advice
Question: While recovering from a craniotomy, the patient suffers a “brain hematoma,” according to the [...]

Neurosurgery Coding:
Count Segments on Osteotomy Claim
Question: Encounter notes indicate that the neurosurgeon treated a patient with thoracic postural kyphosis. From [...]

E/M Coding:
Lean on E/M Codes for Outpatient Enema
Question: If a provider performs an enema as an outpatient procedure in the office, is [...]

Compliance:
Avoid FCA Problems by Coding What’s Documented
Question: I’m a new hire at a practice that primarily sees patients concerned they have [...]

Medicare Regulations:
Find Out Which Beneficiary Counseling Situations May Be Reimbursed
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Oncology Coding:
Take This Nonneoplastic Infusion Coding Advice
Question: I am being instructed to code Z51.12 for a patient seen in our infusion [...]

ICD-10-CM Coding:
Refresh Your Winter Virus Coding Knowledge With These FAQs
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Urology Coding:
Check Your Catheter Coding Skills
Focus on technique and placement is key. It’s crucial to meticulously review the medical records [...]

General Surgery Coding:
Test Your Appendectomy Knowledge
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Cardiology Coding:
Overcome the Challenges of Coding for Conduction System Pacing
Location over function leads code selection for his bundle and left bundle branch pacing. As [...]

Neurosurgery Coding:
Documentation Details Are Vital on These Neurological Diagnoses
Some codes include character options for laterality and anatomy. One of the most important parts [...]

Otolaryngology Coding:
Override This Guideline for Provider-Identified Influenza
Question: A patient reported to our practice with fever, muscle pain, sore throat, earache, cough, [...]

Podiatry Coding:
Warm Up Your Winter Injury Coding With 3 Cases
Find out if you need to report activity codes. Snow, ice, and cold temperatures can [...]

Cardiology Coding:
Credentials May Matter for EKG Readings
Question: Can I report 93000-93010 when a nonphysician practitioner (NPP) produces a reading of an [...]

Podiatry Coding:
Stabilize Your Plantar Fasciitis Coding Knowledge
Question: An established patient presented to their podiatrist for treatment of their plantar fasciitis. The [...]

General Coding:
Appending Modifier 22? Add an Explanation
Question: Do you have any tips for getting claims paid when the procedure code is [...]

Pediatric Coding:
Look to Encounter Reason for Primary Diagnosis
Question: Our provider saw a patient whose appointment was scheduled to discuss the patient not [...]

Podiatry Coding:
Remember the 6th Character When Coding Joint Effusion Dx
Question: I have a medical record that lists the diagnosis as “effusion of the left [...]

E/M Coding:
Code Cerumen Encounter Based on Method of Removal
Question: Are multiple procedure codes required for a physician to both diagnose and treat cerumen [...]

Cardiology Coding:
Become Familiar With Acronyms Surrounding Heart Failure
Question: There are so many acronyms pertinent to cardiology! What’s the difference between the acronyms [...]

Otolaryngology Coding:
Let Guidelines Lead You to Correct Long COVID Reporting
Question: What is long COVID, how is it coded, and how does that differ from [...]

Emergency Department Coding:
Don’t Slip and Miss This Reportable Fracture Tx
Question: A patient reports to the emergency department (ED) after slipping and falling off the [...]

Medicare Regulations:
Don’t Use an ABN to Counteract a MUE
Question: Is it ever appropriate to fill out an advance beneficiary notice (ABN) form for [...]

General Surgery Coding:
Drain the Confusion From This Pleural Drainage Procedure
Question: Our surgeon wrote an op note in which they drained pleural fluid and performed a [...]

Gastroenterology Coding:
Pinpoint the Correct Peptic Ulcer of Esophagus Code
Question: I have a gastroenterologist’s report that lists the diagnosis as “peptic ulcer of the [...]

Otolaryngology Coding:
FESS Up to Endoscopic Sinus Surgery Coding Confusion
Don’t forget to pay attention to combo codes and descriptors. Coding for functional endoscopic sinus [...]

Gastroenterology Coding:
Does G-Tube Removal Have a Designated CPT® Code?
Question: A patient presented to a gastroenterology practice for removal of the patient’s gastrostomy tube [...]

General Surgery Coding:
Clarify Venipuncture Code Variances
Question: What are the differences between venipuncture codes 36400-36410, 36420-36425, and 36415 other than the age [...]

Emergency Department Coding:
Don’t Let Typhoid Dx Options Overwhelm You
Question: A patient who returned from an overseas trip a week ago reports to the [...]

Anesthesia Coding:
Use Correct Modifier to Specify Medical Supervision
Question: I’m hoping you can help me with understanding medical direction versus medical supervision. All [...]

ICD-10-CM Coding:
Stay on Top of Code Updates
Question: I’ve been using code F50.8- pretty regularly for years, but I tried to use [...]

Emergency Department Coding:
Follow These Steps to Correct ED Arthrocentesis Coding
Labs, X-rays could be part of ED E/M. Arthrocentesis, commonly known as joint drainage or [...]

Technology & Innovation:
Don’t Rest on MFA Protections
Question: Our IT team requires us to use multifactor authentication (MFA) for all logins throughout [...]

Pediatric Coding:
Look to Modifier 59 for This Combination Test
Question: When our practice tests one patient for flu A and flu B simultaneously, we bill [...]

Ob-Gyn Coding:
Adopt These Subtle but Extensive E/M Changes Before January 1 Hits
Say goodbye to 99441 through 99443 next year. When CPT® 2025 becomes effective on Jan. 1, [...]

Technology & Innovation:
Precisely View at all Distances With IOLs
Question: I’ve recently heard of intraocular lenses (IOLs) to treat patients with vision difficulties. What [...]

Primary Care Coding:
Find Medication Source to Bill Injections Correctly
Question: When a patient comes to one of our providers for an injection, does the [...]

Practice Management:
Don’t Change a Lab Order Without Authorization
Question: Our practice is submitting claims for lab orders and they keep getting denied. Our [...]

Gastroenterology Coding:
How Well Do You Know the Top 5 Gastroenterology Codes?
Refresh your knowledge of 91200, 91065, 91110, 91010, and 91122. You don’t have to memorize [...]

Urology Coding:
Figure Out This Foreign Body Removal With Urethrotomy
Question: During the procedure, my urologist made an attempt to remove a foreign object that was [...]

Ob-Gyn Coding:
Learn How to Report Simple Skinning Vulvectomy
Question: I have a procedure that has me wondering if it meets the requirement for a [...]

Ob-Gyn Coding:
When You Should Start the Ob Record
Question: My ob-gyn saw a patient who knows that she’s pregnant via a positive home [...]

Primary Care Coding:
Get to Know the New Obesity-Designated-by-Class Codes
Go beyond documentation to help end the stigmatization of your obese patients. On Oct. 1, [...]

Orthopedic Coding:
Follow These Steps to Osteoarthritis Dx Success
Question: I am new to orthopedic coding; only on the job six months. One of [...]

Technology & Innovation:
Everything You Need to Know About Participating in the TEFCA
TEFCA allows for secure information sharing between health information networks. A reliable, secure way to [...]

Orthopedic Coding:
Check Approach, Then Code Kyphosis Treatment
Question: Encounter notes indicate the surgeon performed spinal arthrodesis for a patient suffering from cervicothoracic [...]

Orthopedic Coding:
Know Joint Size on Arthrocentesis Codes
Small, medium, or large? Deciding might not be so easy. When patients report to the [...]

Medicare Regulations:
Explore Whether Your Medicare Claims are at Risk
Federal agencies uncovered double payments after providers billed Medicare and the VA. A recent Office [...]

Anesthesia Coding:
Understand Context for Using GC Modifier
Question: Can you tell me if a GC modifier for residents is only required by [...]

Path/Lab Coding:
Distinguish Bone Codes for Accurate Payment
Question: Our pathologist examines many specimens of bones, joints, and various bony fragments from an [...]

Path/Lab Coding:
Get Ready for CRC Screening Under 2025 Medicare Rules
Question: I’ve heard there are recent changes to Medicare coverage for colorectal cancer (CRC) screenings. [...]

E/M Coding:
Could You Be Accused of Upcoding for Your Level 4 E/M Code Selections?
Hint: Never forget medical necessity when selecting codes. Ever since the evaluation and management (E/M) [...]

Practice Management:
Prep Your Holiday Schedule With 5 Proven Fee-for-Time Billing Tips
Accurately collect for these fill-in providers, previously called locum tenens. With the holiday season approaching, [...]

Compliance:
Find 4 More Crucial Elements to Boost Your Compliance Program
Tip: A log of issues is a means of troubleshooting — and insurance. CJ Wolf, [...]

Pulmonology Coding:
Know How to Identify Pleural Infection Codes
Question: A pulmonologist in a private practice saw a patient who was experiencing chest pain, cough, [...]

Pulmonology Coding:
Find Out What Critical Care Services Include
Question: I have a medical record that indicates the pulmonologist performed critical care services for a [...]

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