PDGM to create winners and losers. A payment rate increase that would usually draw praise is getting largely ignored as home health agencies try to figure out what their finances will look like in 2020 under the Patient-Driven Groupings Model. [...]
CMS wants to hear from you on wage index woes. Home health agencies will see an additional $250 million in Medicare payments next year — as long as punishing behavioral adjustment cuts don’t get in the way. The Centers for [...]
Question: A patient came in for a well check. The pediatrician ordered a urinalysis, which came back abnormal. The child came back in the next day to repeat the test, which came back normal. For the second test’s diagnosis, should [...]
Question: We currently have a situation where urine cytology showed cells positive for high grade carcinoma; however, direct tissue biopsy of the bladder revealed no evidence of malignancy (benign). How should we proceed with coding this patient? Oklahoma Subscriber Answer: [...]
Question: A physician orders an IFE test for a patient with protein in the urine. What CPT® and ICD-9 codes should we report if the test demonstrates lambda free light chain monoclonal protein? Ohio Subscriber Answer: You should report the test [...]
Question: A patient came in for a well check. The pediatrician ordered a urinalysis, which came back abnormal. The child came back in the next day to repeat the test, which came back normal. For the second test’s diagnosis, should [...]
Question: Our cytopathology lab received a bladder washing specimen with the clinical diagnosis of "hematuria." After examining direct and concentrated smears, the pathologist noted an atypical finding of "reactive clusters of transitional cells." How should we code this? Michigan Subscriber [...]
Question: We know that Medicare is reviewing urine reflex cultures, and we're wondering if we can reflex to urine culture due to findings indicative of UTI: positive esterase, nitrite and WBC?Minnesota SubscriberAnswer: As you mentioned, reflexing to urine culture based [...]
Question: A patient came in for a well check. The pediatrician ordered a urinalysis, which came back abnormal. The child came back in the next day to repeat the test, which came back normal. For the second test's diagnosis, should [...]
Question: A private pay patient came in for a well check. The internist ordered a urinalysis, which came back abnormal. The patient came back in the next day to repeat the test, which came back normal. For the second test's [...]
