DRG Deleted Code Details 455

Question: The pathologist received contents from a colonoscopy procedure in one container. The surgeon had noted “polyp” and “internal hemorrhoid, but had not marked to distinguish the tissue. The pathologist examined the tissue and identified two specimens, an adenomatous polyp and [...]

Type and precise method of treatment are keys to reimbursement heaven. Although hemorrhoids is a common ailment your GI will encounter, you may find this condition and its treatment is not so simple to code. Five rules will expose the [...]

Animal Therapy Helpful For Dementia Patients,New Study Shows A new study suggests your patients may benefit from interaction with animals. Therapy animals help to ease aggression and depression in nursing home residents suffering from dementia, according to a study published [...]

OCR Did Not Comply With HIPAA Requirements, Says OIG One governmental agency — the HHS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) — is saying that another agency — the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) — failed to comply with “certain [...]

It’s not just your imagination — you’ve gotten special attention from the ZPICs. One Zone Program Integrity Contractor "received almost $3 million for a completed project specifically examining potential fraud among home health providers," reveals the Government Accountability Office in [...]

Looking for some first hand insight on what’s going on inside the HHS Office of Inspector General? If you’re part of the west coast health care provider community, mark your calendar for April 11 — that’s when the OIG is [...]

Hint: The physician must return the patient to the operating room. Need to know when to apply modifier 78 instead of similar modifiers such as 58 and 79? Just ask yourself these three questions. If all the answers come up [...]

Look to the cause: The same surgery could be coded with two different aftercare codes. Although coding for aftercare is a frequent occurrence in home health, that doesn't mean it's always easy to select the right code. Make sure you [...]

You just studied tips for accurate ICD-9 coding in "3 Steps Focus Diagnosis Coding for Your Surgical Claims." Now you can practice those skills with the following example:Scenario: Your general surgeon excises an external thrombosed hemorrhoid (46320, Excision of thrombosed [...]

Beef up your documentation with details such as depth and type.Anoscopy (46600) is a method to view the anus, anal canal, and lower rectum. When the GI orders an anoscopy for a patient, one reason may be to determine whether [...]