SKIN GRAFT FOR SKIN ULCER OR CELLULITIS WITHOUT CC/MCC DRG Code 575

Question: The practitioner’s notes indicate that the patient was treated for a “contracture of foot.” How do I choose a diagnosis code for this condition? AAPC Forum Participant Answer: Per ICD-10, a “joint contracture results from connective tissue (tendon, muscle, ligament) that [...]

Question: The practitioner’s notes indicate that the patient was treated for a “contracture of foot.” How do I choose a diagnosis code for this condition? AAPC Forum Participant Answer: Per ICD-10, a “joint contracture results from connective tissue (tendon, muscle, ligament) that [...]

Question: Can a provider bill a separate evaluation and management (E/M) service for confirmation of pregnancy, or is it considered to be initial OB? Patient saw her primary care physician (PCP) via telemedicine prior who diagnosed amenorrhea with positive home pregnancy [...]

Question: The medical documentation indicates that my podiatrist treated a patient with “contracture of foot.” How do I choose the correct ICD-10-CM code for this condition? Florida Subscriber Answer: Per ICD-10, “Joint contracture results from connective tissue (tendon, muscle, ligament) [...]

Question: Encounter notes indicate that the provider treated a patient with “contracture of foot.” How do I choose a diagnosis code for this condition? North Carolina Subscriber Answer: Per ICD-10, “Joint contracture results from connective tissue (tendon, muscle, ligament) that becomes stiff [...]

A potential crackdown on chronic care management service payments to physicians could have a chilling effect on home care referrals. An HHS Office of Inspector General audit found $436,877 in overpayments in 2015 and 2016 for instances in which providers [...]

Question: Does ICD-9 have a default way to code acute versus chronic if the medical record does not specifically document the distinction? For instance, if the doctor just writes “Cholecystitis,” what is the best way to determine acute versus chronic? California [...]

In Table 3 of the 2014 Home Health PPS Final Rule, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services lists the deleted codes most used in 2012. The top deleted codes used were: 1. 401.0 (Malignant essential hypertension), 34,207 episodes; 2. [...]

 Examine your claims to make sure you’re using these codes correctly.   In Table 3 of the 2014 Home Health PPS Final Rule, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services lists the deleted codes most used in 2012. The top deleted [...]

Hint: Don’t code separately if the condition occurs with cholelithiasis or choledocholithiasis. When your gastroenterologist arrives at a diagnosis of cholecystitis, you will need know chronicity details to report this accurately when ICD-10 becomes effective Oct. 1, 2014. Note Reporting [...]