Dermatologists frequently see patients for skin checks, to examine their skin for signs of pre-malignant or malignant lesions. Some of these patients … [Read more...]
Diagnosis coding for biopsy sent for pathology
Question: What diagnosis code should you use when sending a biopsy to pathology? a) D49.5 Neoplasm of uncertain behavior of skin, or b) D49.2 … [Read more...]
Five urban legends about risk-adjusted diagnosis coding
Originally published on kevinmd.com Betsy Nicoletti, M.S., CPC When I talk to medical practices about Hierarchical Condition Category (HCCs) … [Read more...]
Diagnosis coding for screening colonoscopy
Some of you have read my blog post on coding for screening colonscopy. The questions I get about that article are all related to diagnosis … [Read more...]
HCC’s in brief | The difference between CMS-HCC and HHS-HCC
Demographics and diagnoses Risk adjusted diagnosis coding is a model used to predict future health care costs based on demographics and … [Read more...]
Changes in HCC diagnosis coding from V22 to V23: what you need to know
CMS pays Medicare Advantage plans differentially based on Hierarchical Condition Category (HCCs). This coding model uses demographics and diagnoses … [Read more...]
How to improve the accuracy of your diagnosis risk scores | Dr. Edwin Knights
This reference is the companion resource for the webinar I presented in June with Edwin Knights, M.D., Improving the accuracy of your diagnosis risk … [Read more...]
Diagnosis Coding | Not just for claims anymore
Physician claims paid based on CPT, are often denied based on diagnosis codes Physicians use CPT or HCPCS codes to tell the payer WHAT was done … [Read more...]
ICD-10 coding for suspected cancer
Diagnosis coding for possible malignance How would you feel if your primary care physician and your general surgeon told you—and your insurance … [Read more...]
Improving the accuracy of your diagnosis risk scores | Webinar
Recorded June 6, 2018 Presented by Betsy Nicoletti with guest speaker Edwin Knights, MD Edwin Knights, M.D. was the physician leader in his … [Read more...]
Diabetes coding in Hierarchical Condition Coding (HCC)
Introduction | Diabetes coding in HCC In fee-for-service medicine: Diagnosis coding establishes medical necessity, and may be the reason for a … [Read more...]
Depression coding in Hierarchical Condition Coding (HCC)
Introduction | Depression coding in HCC In fee-for-service medicine: Diagnosis coding establishes medical necessity, and may be the reason for a … [Read more...]
Dear Resident, Do you Understand Relative Value Units (RVUs)?
Measuring physician productivity with work RVUs: News flash! Physicians are more interested in medicine than coding. No doctor undertook the … [Read more...]
Can you screen for an existing condition? | Diagnosis Coding for Lab Services
Can you screen for an existing condition, “In the absence of any signs, symptoms or associated diagnosis” Sometimes, the hardest thing about coding … [Read more...]
Compliance issues in ICD-10 coding for risk based contracts and HCCs
Everyone loves to read the general guidelines at the front of the ICD-10 book, right? No? Well, here’s an excerpt. “Code all documented conditions, … [Read more...]
HCC diagnosis coding: what medical practices need to know about risk adjusted diagnosis coding
Webinar - Recorded December 14, 2017 Risk coding is all the rage! Are you up-to-date? In fee-for-service medicine, physician services are paid … [Read more...]
HCC diagnosis coding: Can you add a code from the past medical history?
Recently a fellow coder wrote to me about risk adjusted diagnosis coding. She was responding to an article that I wrote in which I stated the … [Read more...]
What’s the difference between B20 and Z21? Which is right for positive HIV status?
ICD-10-CM diagnosis coding for positive HIV status Question: For an HIV positive patient without symptoms, is the correct diagnosis code Z21 or … [Read more...]
Overview of HCCs | Risk-adjusted diagnosis coding
Lunch and Learn - July 2017 How do we get paid for physician services in medical practices? Watch this 10 minute video and download the handouts … [Read more...]
Screening pelvic/breast exam and pap smear denials | G0101 and Q0091
Lunch and Learn - June 2017 Updated for 2018 We received this question from one of our members: "We have a medicare patient for whom we … [Read more...]