Listserv Lately 16
by Suzan Hvizdash, CPC, CRN Senior Auditor, Instructor
Topics! Topics! And more topics! There were a lot of discussions taking place on the list over the past few weeks. Coding questions from vaginal dilation to neonatal billing, to allergy prep drops, as well as a diagnosis debate were asked and answered!
A lister had asked for references regarding Pain Management and got several sites to reference such as www.nlm.nih.gov, www.guidelines.gov, and www.uptodate.com. I hope they were all helpful!
A few of the bigger debates dealt with HPI elements and billing under an individual billing number as opposed to a group number.
The HPI debate started when a lister asked us to pull out the HPI elements of her example. Several chimed in with their thoughts. The original question dealt with using the elements more than once. That isn’t an option and didn’t need to be considered in this example once a few offered their opinions. Then the debate over using negative symptoms as signs/symptoms came up. One lister referenced an AMA source that stated this cannot be done and then another lister offered a reference on where to find the explanations of each of the HPI elements. It was a productive discussion and I hope everyone took a lot away from it. I know I did.
The next big discussion dealt with the billing numbers of a practice. Can you bill group services under individual numbers? Do you have to have a group number? What about the situation with a PA? Does that change the billing numbers? What about when we begin using NPIs. It was suggested that the lister ask a tax attorney what the best way to approach this might be. Others remarked that it isn’t a requirement to bill under a group as each physician may make his/her own decision regarding participation with the insurances/Medicare. The thread is definitely worth reviewing. This thread could be read at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/CRN-L/message/51912?threaded=1 and http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/CRN-L/message/51857?threaded=1.
Very noteworthy!
A little over three weeks until the AAPC Nation Conference, “The Spirit of Coding” in St. Louis starts April 2-5, 2006!
Joining the list serve: $0
Asking questions on the list serve: $0
Reading your bi-weekly CRN newsletter: $0
Advice received on the list serve: Priceless
The value of reading your bi-weekly CRN newsletter: Priceless
Until next time,
-- Suzan