Part B News | Part B News

Stakeholders seek expedited process for vaping codes to gain ICD-10-CM approval

09/30/2019

Coding the variety of vaping-related illnesses and injuries that you may encounter can prove challenging without dedicated ICD-10-CM code sets To gain further clarity on recent efforts to create dedicated code sets for these types of encounters, Part B News reached out to Scott Manaker, M.D., MPH, vice chair of regulatory affairs in the department of medicine at Penn Medicine in Philadelphia and an advocate for adopting ICD-10 codes related to electronic nicotine delivery devices (ENDS).

Anthem’s new prepay review policy will target Correct Coding Initiative bundles

09/30/2019

by: Julia Kyles, CPC

Review your practice’s use of modifiers that break edit pairs and check the policies for using those modifiers if Anthem is in your payer mix. Anthem BlueCross BlueShield, the nation’s second largest private health insurer, rolled out a prepayment review of claims reported with common Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) modifiers starting Sept. 1.

CCI follows AMA coding policy fix for bone allograft codes in October update

09/30/2019

by: Laura Evans, CPC

The Oct. 1 update of Medicare’s National Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) code pairs actually brings a bit of good news for orthopedic practices. It is following up on a significant correction that the AMA made to its coding policy for two new 2019 bone allograft codes 20933 (Hemicortical intercalary, partial) and 20934 (Intercalary, complete).

A tale of two sides: Practices report more right- than left-side modifiers

09/30/2019

by: Richard Scott

When delivering common injection and procedure services, providers tend to veer to the right side of the body more often than the left. That’s what an inspection of claims with RT (Right side) and LT (Left side) modifiers reveals.

Avoid double dipping on venipuncture with specific lab services, watchdog warns

09/23/2019

by: Jim Dresbach

Don’t get lax on how frequently you report venipuncture code 36415 (Collection of venous blood by venipuncture) or you may elicit auditing activity on a service that is grossly overreported under the Part B fee schedule.

Last call: Get ready as new Medicare cards, MBIs become mandatory on Jan. 1

09/23/2019

by: Roy Edroso

Mark your calendar: The end of the Medicare card and Medicare beneficiary identifier (MBI) transition period occurs on Dec. 31 – after which the new cards and numbers are de rigueur. Review the essentials and make sure you’re ready for the cut-off.

Registries, QCDRs face higher burdens in MIPS rule — and so do providers

09/23/2019

by: Roy Edroso

New burdens aimed at qualified registries and qualified clinical data registries (QCDRs) would, if finalized, mean higher costs for them and maybe for you.

Master common repeat modifiers to prevent duplicate claim denials

09/23/2019

by: Richard Scott

Question: I’ve recently received a spate of denials with duplicate claims messages. Why -- and what can I do to avoid this?

Provider charged with child porn? Get him out, and follow the cops’ lead

09/23/2019

by: Roy Edroso

Question: I’ve just heard about a doctor at Cedars-Sinai who was removed from his post after he was formally charged with possession of child pornography. I’m interested to know: If we were, God forbid, to have such a situation at our practice, would we be able to remove the doctor, even if he hadn’t gone to trial and been found guilty? Also, what do we tell the patients?

Not worth it: Codes wrongly bundled with blood draws pay too well to trifle with

09/23/2019

by: Roy Edroso

Auditors emphasize the amount of improper payments attributed to common venipuncture code 36415 with bundled codes in 2018. But it’s also worth noting that the codes with which 36415 may have been improperly claimed generally pay more — and it’s really not worth potentially gumming up your claims on those codes for a small extra payment on a blood draw.

Login

User Name:
Password:
Remember me Forgot password
Welcome to the new Part B News Online. If you are a returning user having trouble logging in, please click here.