O.R. PROCEDURES FOR OBESITY WITH MCC DRG Code 619

Question: The lab performed a liquid-based Pap test that the physician ordered, which we billed to Medicare as G0144. The claim was denied because it turns out the patient had a prior Pap test nine months ago. How can we get [...]

Question: Our ob-gyn recently performed a repeat Pap smear for a woman as her Pap smear taken earlier a few months back had some abnormalities. Should I report a preventive service code for the visit or should I report it with [...]

Are you as brainy about bunions as you think? Once you’ve answered the quiz questions on page 3, compare your answers with the ones provided below. Answer 1: The primary difference between a bunion and a bunionette is location. A [...]

Question: What’s the difference between G0141 and 88141, and when should we use one code over the other? Texas Subscriber Answer: Both codes describe physician interpretation of an abnormal Pap smear: G0141 (Screening cytopathology smears, cervical or vaginal, performed by automated system, [...]

Hint: Unspecified and unstageable pressure ulcers are not the same. The 2021 ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting offer helpful insights on the rules you should follow for reporting various diagnosis codes, including those for pressure ulcers. If you [...]

Here’s why you’ll need to know intractable, status migrainosus definitions. Migraines are a whole lot of diagnosis codes for a single condition. But it’s such a headache to get the proper ICD-10 code for migraine patients for good reason: there [...]

Question: I have an operative report in front of me with a puzzling diagnosis. The encounter notes indicate that the patient suffered from Charcot’s joint in the shoulder. What ICD-10 code best represents this condition? Michigan Subscriber Answer: Also called [...]

Hint: Pregnancy affects your code choices. Coding an appendicitis diagnosis may seem more complicated than the surgeon’s work during the procedure itself. Remember to follow the ICD-10-CM guidelines and keep these expert tips on hand to simplify the appendicitis coding [...]

Question: I have an operative report in front of me with a puzzling diagnosis. The encounter notes indicate that the patient suffered from Charcot’s joint in the shoulder. What ICD-10 code best represents this condition? Indiana Subscriber Answer: Also called [...]

Don’t miss pregnancy impact. When your surgeon treats a patient with appendicitis, you may find coding the case is easy on the procedure side but complicated on the diagnosis side. Look to ICD-10-CM guidelines and the following expert tips for [...]