Don’t miss guideline instructions for two conditions. When it comes to diagnosis coding, labs and pathologists have different roles — but coders for both specialties need to understand ICD-10-CM guidelines and how coding can impact coverage. One rule in particular [...]
Shifting hospital discharges from facilities to home care helped shave $17 million off Medicare spending. A new analysis of Medicare’s Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) model shows that home care can produce savings for the benefit program. Reminder: Under [...]
Question: Our oral surgeon recently diagnosed a patient with osteonecrosis of the mandible. The patient was previously on bisphosphonates for treatment of early breast cancer. I am thinking of 526.4 although I am not too sure of reporting this ICD-9 code [...]
Here’s how to ensure you’re reporting the correct scan types and the right timeframes. Claims for bone density scans can drain your practice if you neglect details in these simple procedures. You need to be clear for the types of [...]
Stronger claims come from choosing correct scan types and diagnoses. Paying attention to three details for your patients’ bone density scans can make or break your claims success. Follow our experts’ advice regarding the types of tests, appropriate diagnoses, and [...]
Your options will get more specific under ICD-10. When your physician diagnoses sciatica, you currently have a single ICD-9 code to report: 724.3 (Sciatica). Coding notes explain that 724.3 applies to neuralgia or neuritis of the sciatic nerve, but should [...]
Tip: Confirm underlying disease and site before you pick up the right code. Vertebral fractures are nearly twice as common as other osteoporotic fractures in the wrist or hip, according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. Osteoporotic vertebral fractures [...]
Question: Which diagnosis code should I use for an SI joint fracture? Ohio Subscriber Answer: When looking at these types of fractures, you should keep in mind that you can’t have a sacroiliac (SI) joint fracture because you can’t fracture a joint, [...]
M81.0 applies to senile, postmenopausal, involutional, and unspecified osteoporosis. The first step to coding low bone density is to distinguish between osteoporosis and osteopenia. The two are specific conditions and are different. There is not a real one-to-one match for [...]
Tip: Confirm underlying disease and site before you pick up the right code. Vertebral fractures are nearly twice as common as other osteoporotic fractures in the wrist or hip, according to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. Osteoporotic vertebral fractures [...]
