ICD-10 Codes Aren't Oppressive After All

Published: Tue, 03/14/17

ICD-10 Codes Aren't Oppressive After All

Alexander Miller, M.D., a dermatologist in Yorba Linda, Calif., has a simple message for colleagues grappling with the new ICD-10 codes: Don't panic!
"It's just a matter of restructuring one's thinking," Dr. Miller tells Dermatology Times. "It was no problem for us to handle these codes," he says, even in his office that continues to rely on paper health records.
Contact with Nonvenomous Frog, Subsequent Encounter

St. Joseph’s Healthcare System (SJHS)in Paterson and Wayne, N.J. is truly an ICD-10 success story. Under a new administration and clinical documentation management process (CDMP) program, System physicians spent 2015 immersed in a system-wide effort to transform their ICD-10 awareness and anxiety into lasting, proficient, and efficient documentation skills to satisfy medical and coding needs.
Modifier 50 Is the Backbone to Your Bilateral Spinal Surgery Reimbursement

Spine surgeons who perform bilateral surgeries such as lumbar laminotomies (63030) should append modifier 50 (Bilateral procedure) to the procedure code and double their charges rather than report multiple units. Coders who follow this rule will be well prepared to report complex procedures, such as bilateral laminotomies, on several levels.
The Opioid Payment Crisis

Addiction services may be a societal necessity – especially as the Central Massachusetts opioid crisis proves particularly fatal – but it is a business, and in this area of medicine, the playing field is not necessarily equal for patients or providers...

How to Take Advantage of New Coding Opportunities in 2017

A new year means new codes and new revenue opportunities for medical practices—but also new challenges to ensure the codes are used correctly.
Below is a brief summary of new current procedural terminology (CPT) codes, modifiers and place of service codes that went into effect January 1, 2017.