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The first quarterly release of Coding Clinic focused on the changes and new codes effective April 1, 2024. If you wish to review the updated Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, they can be accessed here. Notable changes to the ICD-10 CM coding guidelines include: Section C.1.d.5.b, which speaks to the reporting of sepsis due to a post-procedural infection. This … Read more
Most of the fracture cases are coded in emergency department (ED) facility, hence it is important to understand the different scenarios that a coder come across for these fracture care. Scenario 1 A patient presents to the ED after falling and fracturing his tibia. The emergency physician calls an orthopedic surgeon for a … Read more
What are Signs and Symptoms? Many times we get confused with signs and symptoms and considered them as same by defination. But, if you see their is a very slight difference in both of them. Symptom can be only found out by patient. For example, if a patient is having some pain, that can be … Read more
Basics of CPT code 27405, 27407 and 27409 A surgical reconstruction means that the remnant of the torn ACL/PCL is removed, and a new ligament is created with tissue from elsewhere in the body or donated from a cadaveric donor. ACL/PCL reconstruction surgery has been very successful, but there are concerns that it may not … Read more
Basics of Rotator cuff CPT code CPT code 23410, 23412, 23420 and 29827 The rotator cuff is a group of muscles in the shoulder that allow a wide range of movement while maintaining the stability of the glenohumeral joint. The rotator cuff includes the following muscles: Subscapularis Infraspinatus Teres minor Supraspinatus A helpful mnemonic to … Read more
Basics of CPT code 23105 & 23106 Definitions: Arthroscopy: Use of an endoscope to examine the interior of a joint (diagnostic) or to perform surgery on joint structures (therapeutic) Arthrotomy: Surgical incision into a joint that may include exploration, drainage, or removal of a foreign body Synovectomy: Removal of the synovial membrane lining of … Read more
Basics of Lateral Extracavitary Approach (LECA) Spinal exam The lateral extracavitary approach (LECA) requires resection of the ribs, pleura and/or peritoneum and dissection of spinal/paraspinal tissues to access the vertebral bodies/disc. The advantage of this technique is that it provides the surgeon with access to both the posterior and lateral aspects of the spinal canal … Read more
Basis of Billing modifiers JW and JZ HCPCS Level II modifiers JW, Drug amount discarded/not administered to any patient, and JZ, Zero drug amount discarded/not administered to any patient, are required by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to report drugs and biologicals that are separately payable under Medicare Part B. Modifier JW … Read more
Basics about Pregnancy ICD-10 codes Before going ahead to learn about pregnancy code we have to first learn about some the common medical terms used to assign a pregnancy ICD-10 codes. Antepartum – The duration from LNMP / Day of conception till the day before delivery Childbirth – aka labour and delivery is Day of … Read more
Coding for Commode HCPCS or cpt code is quite confusing for coders since their are different variety of commode used by old age patients depending on their requirement. If coders can understand the which type of commode of used by the patient then it will be easy to assign the correct and right code. … Read more