by Mary Beth York, CCS, CCS-P, CIC AHIMA announced that the CCA, CCS, and CCS-P certification exams will continue to test on the 2019 code sets until June 14, 2020 instead of updating to the 2020 code sets as originally planned for May 1, 2020. CCS and CCS-P 2020 Beta testing will also be postponed […]

by Angela Lehoux, BS, CDIP, CCS, CIC, CPC-I Instructor, Libman Education “Now is a great time to do education.” We heard this from a Director of HIM for a hospital that primarily provides elective procedures. Her hospital’s operating rooms are now ordered to sit idle. Her facility’s patient rooms are being emptied and made ready […]

by Kim Huey, MJ, CHC, CPC, CCS-P, PCS, CPCO, COC The most important thing to remember is that payers have differing definitions of what they consider telehealth. I recommend checking with the applicable insurer for the most up-to-date information affecting requirements for coding and billing of telehealth services. Here are a few things to ask […]

by Gail I. Smith, MA, RHIA, CCS-P A Medicare Telemedicine Health Care Provider Fact Sheet was released by CMS on March 17, 2020. Link: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/medicare-telemedicine-health-care-provider-fact-sheet CMS is expanding telemedicine benefits with a 1135 waiver that will pay for office, hospital and other visits furnished via telehealth starting with March 6, 2020 and lasting for the […]

by Kim Huey, MJ, CHC, CPC, CCS-P, PCS, CPCO, COC KGG Coding and Reimbursement Consulting, LLC Most experts expect Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to ease restrictions on coding and billing of telehealth services.  While new information is being published almost daily, as of 3/17/2020 at 10:00 a.m., we do not have any […]

Originally posted 11 March 2020 by Richard Pinson, MD, FACP, CCS Zoonotic diseases can be caused by viruses that infect one species and evolve through genetic mutations allowing them to make the leap to other species, including humans, where they spread.  The current coronavirus is the latest example of a zoonotic disease spreading rapidly through […]

by Rebecca Harmon, MPM, RHIA, CCA The option to work remotely seems like a dream come true for many of us. No rush hour traffic, some extra sleep, no dress code (sweatpants anyone?) and it saves a ton of money in gas. What’s not to love!? There’s a LOT to love about the option of […]

by Mary Beth York, CCS, CCS-P, CIC  AHIMA announced that beta versions of AHIMA’s CCS and CCS-P certification exams will launch on May 1, 2020. The beta testing process is used by AHIMA to ensure the validity and reliability of new questions on the CCS and CCS-P exams. AHIMA requires a significant number of people […]

by David Zielske, MD, CIRCC, COC, CCVTC, CCC, CCS, RCC If a diagnostic abdominal angiogram and bilateral runoff is performed (2 cath positions) (36200, 75716) and then the physician decides to do an intervention in the contralateral leg, do we need to drop CPT code 36200 (catheter placement for the diagnostic exam) or do we […]

by Stacy Swartz, RHIA, CCS, CPC In healthcare, an industry of constant evolution, there is absolutely no way to succeed without ongoing, continuous education. Coders require yearly training to remain current with annual changes to the coding systems and coding advice, changes to what is captured by coders (data for quality measures, risk adjustment, etc.) […]

by Mary Beth York, CCS, CCS-P, CIC and Barry Libman, MS, RHIA, CDIP, CCS Effective February 20, 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published guidance for coding and reporting of encounters related to the COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak. Their announcement (“New ICD-10-CM code for the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), October 1, 2020”) includes the […]

by John Goulart, Jr., MSM-HCA, BSMT(ASCP), CHC, 340B ACE Hospital Compliance Officer, MetroWest Medical Center/Tenet Healthcare Having worked at several large medical centers and multi-hospital networks, I have tailored the Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) Compliance Program Guidance documents to eight key elements that must be in place for our […]

by Stacy Swartz, RHIA, CCS, CPC Coding is not a one-size-fits-all occupation and experienced coders tend to focus their skills in one or more areas: inpatient vs. outpatient, Pro Fee vs. facility, and the vast range of medical specialties and care settings. It is vital to employ coders who are experienced in the type of […]

If you are responsible for a team of coders, there is a balance to be struck between the coder’s individual interests or ambitions and the needs of the institution. Sometimes they are similar and sometimes they are not. Let me suggest three ways in which to bring alignment to the training process.