By Victoria Jennings, RHIA, CCS, CPC-A CPT coding of office visits changed significantly in 2021. Now is a good time to conduct a review of your documentation for office visit codes to ensure current compliance and start preparing for whatever changes are slated for 2022. Your clinical staff involved with documentation in the record (Doctors, […]

By Lynn Kuehn, MS, RHIA, CCS-P, FAHIMA The FY2022 ICD-10-CM update contains new codes related to 35 different topics. Some of the new codes describe less common diagnoses but two new codes in particular could be used far more often than others. The update contains several codes that I have been hoping for over the […]

by Barry Libman, MS, RHIA, CCS The ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS code changes for FY 2022 will go into effect October 1 and the CPT changes for 2022 will follow January 1. There will be new codes and guidelines to apply and implications to be understood and explored. Rather than a solitary activity, mastering the code […]

by Ann Barnaby, CPC, CRC, CASCC, Founder and Managing Director of Project Resume A friend of mine once said “Going from working at a start-up to working at a large corporation is like going from riding a freight train, to riding a tricycle.” As someone who has worked in both situations, I have to agree […]

By Faye Kelly, RHIT, CCS Queries are essential to the process of creating strong and complete documentation that captures the patient’s health condition and supports accurate coding and appropriate billing that will withstand an audit. I think of queries as part of a continual improvement process for everyone involved in documentation. I start with the […]

By Lynn Kuehn, MS, RHIA, CCS-P, FAHIMA The ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting FY 2022 have arrived and bring us 30 changes and updates, with many being significant. Coders are advised to review and understand the changes to the guidelines and be ready to apply them for discharges starting October 1, 2021. What […]

by Angela Lima, BS, CCS, CDIP, COC, CIC, AAPC-Approved Instructor Coding is serious stuff.  If you are one of those coders who recognizes their role in ensuring their organization will continue to be financially viable, then you know that getting it right is important. No one has to tell you that coding compliance risk is […]

by David Zielske, MD, CIRCC, COC, CCVTC, CCC, CCS, RCC Question: When performing a duplex scan of arterial inflow and venous outflow for preoperative vessel assessment prior to creation of hemodialysis access (93985/93986), if you were to perform a duplex scan on the entire radial and ulnar artery as well as the palmar arch, would […]

by Lynn Kuehn, MS, RHIA, CCS-P, FAHIMA The ICD-10-PCS code changes for FY 2022 include 15 “New Technology Substance” additions or changes reflecting the continued advancement in highly specific and tailored medicine to treat conditions. Understanding how these drugs work and are administered is essential for coders who wish to accurately and completely capture these […]

By Angela Lima BS, CCS, CDIP, CIC, COC, AAPC-Approved Instructor “One-third of US hospitals’ average denial rates are in ‘danger zone,’ survey finds” Did this catch your attention? This recent article in Becker’s reported results of a survey by consulting firm Harmony Healthcare indicating 33% of hospital executives said their average denial rates were more […]

by Cari A. Greenwood, RHIA, CCS, CPC, CICA Education Specialist, Libman Education In the coding profession, credentials matter. They signify to employers and peers that you have mastery level coding skills, and that you will adhere to the rigorous ethical standards of our profession. Getting a credential is a significant step on the career path […]

By Angela Lima BS, CCS, CDIP, CIC, COC, AAPC-Approved Instructor Group training is a powerful tool to ensure your workforce is ready to do the work you need them to do.  Employers purchase coding skills training for their team for many different reasons: Ensuring everyone is on the same page when it comes to yearly code […]

By Victoria Jennings, RHIA, CCS, CPC-A Getting providers to pay attention and perhaps make changes in how they document or code their services can be challenging. As a coding educator, I find a combination of different techniques is sometimes necessary. My husband is a manufacturer’s representative and has been in sales all his life. He […]

by Lynn Kuehn, MS, RHIA, CCS-P, FAHIMA No one wants to make mistakes. We never want to find out later that we did something wrong. This is especially challenging when a coder feels there was no resource available for finding the answer when the question came up. They did their best under the circumstances. A […]

by Cheryl A. Cyrus, BGS, AS, RHIT, CPMA, CDEO, CRC Life is always moving forward and changes are always happening. Many things you learn may not seem like education at the time but they make you who you are and prepare you for your next challenge. I started working during the summer between my junior […]

by Lynn Kuehn, MS, RHIA, CCS-P, FAHIMA Your coding queue is threatening to overtake you and the cases seem to get more complex all the time. With high dollar cases on the line, how do you assure that your team codes cases correctly and that the coding is defensible in an audit? You need a […]