- Technology & Innovation: Screen for Colorectal Cancer With a Blood Test - (Feb 13, 2025)
Question: Physicians in our practice refer several patients for colorectal cancer screenings, but only about two-thirds of the patients are following through and getting the procedures done. Are there colon cancer screening tests that have a high adherence rate available? [...]
- Urology Coding: Assess This Problematic Abscess Procedure - (Feb 11, 2025)
Question: The urologist performed a procedure with operative notes as follows: Following the administration of general anesthesia, the patient was positioned in lithotomy. Sterile preparation and draping were performed on his penis, perineum, and lower abdomen. An incision was made at [...]
- Urology Coding: Figure Out This French Whistle Tip Stent Scenario - (Feb 10, 2025)
Question: My urologist says he put in ureteral stents for another physician during a diverticulitis surgery. The physician stated these were French whistle tip stents. Am I correct in my understanding that these are not indwelling ureteral stents and should be [...]
- Oncology Coding: Use Two Claim Lines in This Bilateral Mastectomy Scenario - (Feb 06, 2025)
Question: We recently had a patient come in for a bilateral mastectomy. The left breast had cancer, and surgeons performed a prophylactic removal on the right breast. The CPTÒ code we used was 19303 with diagnosis codes C50.912 and Z40.01. [...]
- Anesthesia Coding: Find Split Billing Payment Answers - (Feb 03, 2025)
Question: Can an AA (anesthesia assistant) bill with a QZ modifier? Does this mean all AAs have to be supervised? Also, we are going to change our split billing from 50-50 to 60-40. Medicare does not require that you bill [...]
- Optometry/Ophthalmology Coding: Are Strabismus Surgery Procedure Codes Bilateral? - (Jan 30, 2025)
Question: I have an operative note detailing an ophthalmologist’s strabismus surgical procedure on both eyes of a patient. The note indicates the surgeon resected the lateral rectus muscle of the left eye and resected the medial rectus muscle of the [...]
- Otolaryngology Coding: Test Your Thyroidectomy Coding Skills With This Quiz - (Jan 28, 2025)
You may have your thyroidectomy work cut out for you. Question 1: What is the difference between a hemi-thyroidectomy and a completion thyroidectomy? Answer: In a hemi-thyroidectomy, the surgeon excises half of the thyroid, usually due to the presence of [...]
- Oncology Coding: Code This Chemo Infusion Administration Scenario - (Jan 23, 2025)
Don’t forget to pay attention to 2025 HCPCS deletions and revisions. Coding infusions is perhaps the most difficult part of an oncologist coder’s job. But the best way to improve is to practice. That’s why we’ve put together this infusion [...]
- Otolaryngology Coding: Look to Laterality to Bill Concha Bullosa Services Correctly - (Jan 23, 2025)
Question: What is the CPTÒ code for this? This is all that is documented: “Using the 0-degree endoscope and a large Takahashi forceps, the middle turbinate concha bullosa was compressed on both the right and left side. Using a degree [...]
- Pediatric Coding: Identify These Common Rashes in Pediatric Patients - (Jan 15, 2025)
Hint: Some rashes may be specific to newborns. Pediatric rashes can develop for various reasons and frequently display character differences. Contracting a rash can result from a patient trying new food, having been exposed to an illness or virus, dry [...]