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As of Oct. 1, we are officially applying the 2020 ICD-10-CM code set. Get your diagnosis coding year off to a good start by refreshing your knowledge of some of the not-always-obvious terms essential to accurate claims: NEC, NOS, and, with. If you want full details, check Section I. A of the FY2020 “ICD-10-CM Official […]
Continue reading...Monday, August 19, 2019
The FY2020 ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting (OGs) are available now so you can prepare for the 2020 diagnosis code changes and rule changes at the same time. Some revisions involved adding a missing word that was already obvious from context, so we won’t cover every change here. But this overview will give […]
Continue reading...Thursday, April 18, 2019
I’ve been working with ICD-10-CM notes recently, like Excludes1 and “code first.” One thing coders have to know about those notes is that they come with qualifiers. Let’s look at some of the not-so-obvious meanings of these ICD-10-CM notes. Excludes1 Means “NOT CODED HERE!” Unless … ICD-10-CM Excludes1 notes originally came with the explanation that […]
Continue reading...Monday, April 15, 2019
ICD-10-CM is picky about pain coding, and it’s no wonder considering all the possible variations. Fortunately you can turn to the 2019 ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting (OGs) to keep your coding skills sharp. Today we’ll take a look at some of these pain pointers. Walk a Fine Line for Pain Related to […]
Continue reading...Thursday, February 21, 2019
ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines state that your choice of diagnosis code is based on the provider’s diagnostic statement, but that’s not always as clear-cut as it sounds. Let’s dig in to this guideline. Work From the Official Guideline Wording The 2019 ICD-10-CM Official Guideline (OG) we’re discussing here is I.A.19: Code assignment and Clinical Criteria The […]
Continue reading...Monday, February 18, 2019
Flank pain is a complaint a lot of general practices and specialties see. Here are some pointers on how to code correctly for this common condition. Find Flank Under Abdominal in the Index The flank is the side area of the torso below the ribs. To code for flank pain, start by looking at the […]
Continue reading...Thursday, October 25, 2018
If you come across documentation that refers to ruling out a diagnosis, it’s time to go on high alert. There are some specific rules you need to follow for ICD-10-CM coding. Here are tips straight from the 2019 ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting (OGs). 1. Know When to Use Codes That Specify ‘Ruled […]
Continue reading...Monday, October 15, 2018
ICD-10-CM has a lot of codes (more than 150!) for pressure ulcers, and that means your clinicians’ documentation game has got to be on point for your to get the most accurate code for the case. These three steps should help you get the job done. 1. Know Where to Look for Pressure Ulcer Stage […]
Continue reading...Thursday, August 9, 2018
The ICD-10-CM 2019 Official Guidelines are out and offer more details on how to use new codes for sepsis following a procedure. Take a look at what’s new and get a handle on how to sequence these codes. Remember These New Codes to Improve Sepsis Coding ICD-10-CM 2019 includes these two new codes with instructional […]
Continue reading...Thursday, July 26, 2018
Reporting ICD-10-CM social information codes (Z55-Z65) based on documentation from nonphysicians is OK, according to official guidelines from the AHA. Before you change your approach to coding, here are the facts. Locate the Original Coding Clinic® Q&A In early 2018, AHA Coding Clinic® for ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS (vol. 5, no. 1) published an answer to […]
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Thursday, October 3, 2019
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