OTHER EAR, NOSE, MOUTH AND THROAT O.R. PROCEDURES WITHOUT CC/MCC DRG Code 145

Question: We identified a small data breach in our lab system that impacted about 145 patients. Because the breach was small and we contained it, do we still need to report it to anyone? AAPC Forum Participant Answer: Yes, you [...]

Everybody recorded a profit in 2021. If you feel like you’ve barely kept your head above water during COVID-19, take heart — the pandemic has thrown massive challenges in the way of all home health and hospice providers. Take a [...]

Look beyond E/M to get the most out of the final rule. At this point, you’re all too familiar with the 2021 evaluation and management (E/M) shakeup that’s currently underway. The 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) final rule went [...]

Pointer: Document your efforts to persuade patients to allow visits. If home health agencies aren’t careful, creeping LUPA rates can make the difference between sinking or swimming under PDGM and COVID-19. Consider this expert advice to cope with Low Utilization [...]

Give your provider the best shot at a positive payment adjustment. Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) reporting requires that coders, practice managers, and physicians are routinely on the same page. If not, there are financial repercussions at stake for the [...]

Include these codes for your best shot at a maximum payment adjustment. It’s imperative that coders, physicians, and even practice managers are on the exact same page when it comes to Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) reporting. That’s because the [...]

Tip: Focus on the nail to make an accurate choice. Test your knowledge on the multitude of codes for open wound of the toe by looking at the questions below. Remember that damage to toenail and associated infections are distinguishing [...]

Hint: Make sure you know whether the patient has nail damage or not. Reporting diagnosis codes for open wounds of the toe can be challenging because there is so much information you must know such as whether the patient sustained [...]

Hint: You’ll have lots more urethral stricture options. The next round of ICD-10-CM changes won’t go into effect until Oct. 1, but CMS has released information on new, revised, and deleted codes for the next year. Changes applicable to urology [...]

Most specialties will be asked to submit six total measures including one outcome measure and one cross-cutting measure. However, these measures apply exclusively to patient-facing physicians. So, for radiology providers, two additional high priority measures can be used in their [...]