VAGINAL DELIVERY WITH O.R. PROCEDURES EXCEPT STERILIZATION AND/OR D&C DRG Code 768

Hint: Proposal would cause one practice in our sampling to lose $25,000 in a year. If your practice often complains about the limitations that the 1995 and 1997 E/M guidelines place on E/M coding, CMS may have delivered a gift [...]

Question: Our carrier will only reimburse for visual evoked response testing if I code optic neuritis and not, for instance, for multiple sclerosis (MS). Is this correct? Maryland Subscriber Answer: Visual evoked potential (VEP) testing (95930, central nervous system, checkerboard [...]

HIE, blood codes specify type, baby. You'll want to update neonatologists on encephalopathy's code expansion and two hematological code revisions. When newborn disease is associated with hypoxicischemic encephalopathy [HIE] (768.7), your charge tickets will need to capture the type as: [...]

More specificity for bronchial valve replacement and thrombosis location. The 2010 ICD-9 procedure code updates throw a few more changes your way, making diagnoses of thrombosis and speech changes, for instance, ever more specific. Here's your briefing: 1. Identify Lobes [...]

New code 793.82 shakes up the whole 793.x range. The switch to ICD-9 2010 is only a few short months away; preparing now for three crucial changes in diagnostic imaging will put you ahead of the game. Remember: ICD-9 2010 [...]

Question: I heard recently that the Federal Register released new proposed ICD-9 codes and that several are relevant to pulmonology. Can you shed lights on which ones we may need to know about for claims processing? Georgia Subscriber Answer: The [...]

Question: We have one anesthesia record for the delivery of twins that says the anesthesiologist performed anesthesia for two procedures: a vaginal delivery for Baby A and an emergency cesarean section for Baby B. How should I code his services? [...]

Surprise: You could benefit from a new V code The ICD-9 code additions that will most impact pediatrics haven't been solidified yet, but here's a sneak peak at what could be in store. Four new ICD-9 code changes could be available [...]

Question: Our carrier will only reimburse for visual evoked response testing if I code optic neuritis and not, for instance, for multiple sclerosis (MS). Is this correct?Maryland Subscriber Answer: Visual evoked potential (VEP) testing (95930, central nervous system, checkerboard or [...]

Question: What code do I use for hypoxemia, subnormal oxygenation of arterial blood (PO2 less than 60) or saturated O2 less than 90 percent?Washington Subscriber Answer: The code for asphyxia (lack of oxygen) is 799.0. It excludes asphyxia due to [...]