Listserv Lately 8
by Suzan Hvizdash, CPC, CRN Senior Auditor, Instructor
Is the diagnosis code 799.0 correct? What about 585? Why or why not?
What’s the difference between the AS, 80, and 81 modifiers?
Why would a medical office bill for an Elm Tree?
Can your client e-mail you information or should he/she fax or mail it?
When does a patient’s condition changed from current to history of?
The answers to all of these questions have been answered in the List Serve this week. To see the answers and the threads click here.
Also discussed at great length was whether one has the ability from a legal and ethical standpoint of discounting deductibles. The answers, in detailed are found on the list. Briefly, a good faith effort must be made to collect the appropriate amount from the patient. An office must also consider the patient enticement factor, HPIAA regulations, Anti-kickback legislation, and the OIG’s guidelines before embarking on a discount of a deductible to a patient.
If a lab is ordered and one is also reviewed, can that count for two points in the Medical Decision-Making of an Evaluation and Management (E/M) service? What about an x-ray and an ultrasound? Although the physician is clearly doing more work and has a more involved MDM, only one point can be given for the labs and one for the radiology work. To read more about that well, you know the drill!
All of the certifications and courses out there!! How do you know which one is right for you? Ask us! Ask your peers! Research the web. Check out the CRN website for courses (live, telewebinars, teleconferencing, and college level courses). Educating yourself on which credential is right for you as well as specialty examinations is extremely important. Looking at job ad requirements helps too.
And lastly, an office was looking at hiring a coder to do the coding instead of the physicians who have been doing it up to this point. Is that a good idea? Read the details on the list. Short answer: ABSOLUTELY!
Until next time,
Joining the list serve: $0
Asking questions on the list serve: $0
Advice received on the list serve: Priceless
Reading your weekly CRN newsletter: $0
The value of reading your weekly CRN newsletter: Priceless
Suzan