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OSI Blog // Medical Billing and Coding

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Take Note of New Urology ICD-10 Codes to Report in 2019. March Is Observed As National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Gastroenterology Medical Coding. Accurate Medical Coding - Some Additional Tips and Ideas. Increased PA Requirements affecting Patient Care. Split/Shared Services - Benefits and Billing Guidelines. Documenting Bronchospasm - Learn These ICD-10 and CPT Codes. Understanding Unbundling or Fragmenting Medical Billing Codes. Documenting Osteoporosis Condition with ICD-10 Codes. Updates for Anesthesia Coding and Reporting Guidelines in 2019.

Reporting Scoliosis - An Overview of the Condition and Medical Codes. Mid-revenue Cycle Management and CDI Market Growth Analysis for 2023. February Is Observed as National Children's Dental Health Month. ADA Takes Steps to Improve Dental Care Access for the Disabled. What Compliance Means for the Chiropractic Practice. You’ll Love These ICD-10 Codes for Valentine’s Day Woes.

Celebrate American Heart Month in February - Learn More about CHD. Medical Billing and Coding Arthroscopic Knee Surgery. Celebrate World Cancer Day - Generate Global Awareness about Cancer. World Cancer Day (WCD) – a one-day campaign aimed to increase global awareness of cancer – is observed internationally on February 4 every year.

Celebrate World Cancer Day - Generate Global Awareness about Cancer

Organized by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), this campaign offers a unique platform to rally the international community to save millions of preventable deaths each year by increasing awareness and education about cancer. The event aims to encourage governments, organizations and individuals across the world to take timely action against this deadly disease. Regarded as the second leading cause of death in the world, cancer refers to the growth of abnormal cells in the body that divide uncontrollably and infiltrate and destroy normal body tissue. The condition can spread throughout your body resulting in tumors, damage to the immune system and other impairment that can be fatal. Diagnosing cancer at its earliest stages often provides the best chance for a cure. Billing and Coding Telemedicine Services - Key Considerations. Emerging Trends in Medical Billing and Revenue Cycle Management. Key HCPCS Code Changes Effective January 1, 2019. Correctly Report ICD 10 Codes for Opioid Use Disorder.

Atopic Dermatitis - An Overview of the Symptoms and ICD-10 Codes. Check These CDT Coding Changes, Revisions and Deletions in 2019. How to Code for Gingivitis Using ICD-10 Medical Codes. Survey Identifies Healthcare Revenue Cycle Risks in 2019. Medical Coding Steps and Guidelines for Lesion Excision. Observe Cervical Health Awareness Month in January. Dentists Concerned about Declining Reimbursement Rates, Says Survey. Clear Up Your Misconceptions about CMS’ Chiropractic Billing. 2019 ICD-10 Medical Coding Updates for Cardiology.

How to Document and Code for Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. Maximizing Care and Reimbursement with CCM Codes. Key Tips to Avoid Obsolete Spinal Coding Practices. Medical Billing and Coding Peripheral Nerve Blocks. MDPP Services - CMS' Key Billing Practices and Payment Rules. 2019 ICD-10 Code Changes for Chiropractors. Medical Codes for Documenting and Coding Narcolepsy Sleep Disorder. Know the ICD-10 Codes for Coding Christmas Season Injuries. Hospital Revenue Cycle - Trends and Predictions for 2019. New Medical Research throws up Startling Findings. Learn About How to Successfully Appeal Denied Claims. Anomalous Anesthesia Billing Practices - Review of A JAMA Study. Documenting and ICD-10 Coding for Hypopituitarism. Sharing is caring!

Documenting and ICD-10 Coding for Hypopituitarism

Hypopituitarism is a rare disorder of decreased pituitary hormone secretion wherein the pituitary gland fails to produce normal amounts of one or more hormones. The pituitary gland is a small bean-shaped gland situated on the underside of your brain (behind your nose and between your ears) which secretes hormones that influence nearly every part of your bodily functions. The gland produces eight types of hormones – each of which can affect your body’s routine functions related to growth, controlling metabolism, blood pressure and reproduction. The condition can develop very slowly, over several months or even over several years. Treatment for this condition basically involves hormone correction. Unlock the Signs and Symptoms Hypopituitarism is often a progressive condition. Diagnosing and Treating an Underactive Pituitary Gland If your physician feels that you have hypopituitarism, he/she will conduct several tests to check the levels of various hormones in your body.

Five New Strategies for Revenue Cycle Management. Documenting Preventive Medicine Services with CPT and ICD-10 Codes. Common Black Friday Shopping Injuries- Be Ready with the ICD-10 Codes. Learn About The Top ICD 10 Codes for Thanksgiving. Get Familiar with Key Challenges in a Dental Practice. Get to Know Those Spooky ICD-10 Codes for Halloween 2018. Happy Halloween 2018!

Get to Know Those Spooky ICD-10 Codes for Halloween 2018

Each year, October 31 is celebrated as Halloween day, in remembrance of the dead. With celebrity costumes, scary appearances, witches and spooks, the day will be vibrant, exciting and eerie. However, injuries are also common during Halloween. While documenting such injuries, healthcare providers as well as medical coding companies must be aware of the associated medical codes. Coding Vaginal Hysterectomy - Be Familiar with the CPT Codes. Hysterectomy is the second most frequently performed surgical procedures in the United States with reports suggesting about 650,000 procedures being performed each year.

Coding Vaginal Hysterectomy - Be Familiar with the CPT Codes

The surgical procedure is done to remove a woman’s uterus or womb. After this procedure, a woman may no longer have menstrual periods and can’t become pregnant. In some cases, the surgery also removes the ovaries and fallopian tubes. If you have both ovaries taken out, you will enter menopause. Surgeons can perform hysterectomy vaginally, abdominally or laparoscopically, with each option depending on the person’s specific condition. As part of vaginal hysterectomy, the surgeon detaches the uterus from the ovaries, fallopian tubes and upper vagina, as well as from the blood vessels and connective tissue that support it. Reporting Rosacea: An Overview of Diagnosis, Treatment and Coding. Rosacea is a common inflammatory skin condition that causes redness and visible blood vessels in your face.

Reporting Rosacea: An Overview of Diagnosis, Treatment and Coding

The redness can slowly spread beyond the nose and cheeks to the forehead and chin. Often mistaken for acne, eczema, or a skin allergy, this condition may also produce small, red, pus-filled bumps. CMS Proposes Reporting Changes for Occupational Therapy in 2019. Our medical billing company reported on the Medicare 2019 Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule released by CMS, which includes proposals for the Quality Payment Program.

CMS Proposes Reporting Changes for Occupational Therapy in 2019

These govern Medicare Part B payment and quality reporting policies. CMS has proposed several significant changes to simplify reporting for physical therapists (PTs), occupational therapists (OTs), and speech language therapists (SLTs), and to improve care for outpatient Medicare patients served by therapists. Here is an overview of the proposed changes for occupational therapists billing Medicare Part B: Ending Functional limitation reporting (FLR): Starting July 1, 2013, CMS requiredPTs, OTs and SLTs to complete FLR on all Medicare Part B patients.

Aimed at demonstrating the link between rehab therapy and patient progress, FLR required therapists to document each patient’s primary functional limitation (FL), severity of the limitation and the patient’s goal for therapy. Coding Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS) - Quality Documentation is Vital. AMA Releases 2019 CPT Coding Changes - Check out the Key Updates. The American Medical Association (AMA) recently released 335 code changes to its 2019 CPT code set, which go into effect on January 1, 2019.

AMA Releases 2019 CPT Coding Changes - Check out the Key Updates

It is critical for healthcare providers as well as medical billing and coding companies to stay up-to-date with these coding changes. According to AMA President Barbara L. McAneny, M.D. “The latest annual changes to the CPT code set reflect new technological and scientific advancements available to mainstream clinical practice, and ensure the code set can fulfill its trusted role as the health system’s common language for reporting contemporary medical procedures.” New codes. Thyroid Surgery - Frequently Asked Questions and Answers. Thyroid surgery is a common procedure in which all or a portion of the thyroid gland is removed.

Thyroid Surgery - Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Also known as thyroidectomy, this surgical procedure is used to treat several thyroid disorders such as cancer, non-cancerous enlargement of the thyroid (goiter) and overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism). The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped endocrine gland located at the base of your neck, intricately placed right on top of the windpipe and next to the food pipe. The thyroid produces hormones that regulate every aspect of your metabolism (right from your heart rate to how quickly you burn your calories). If the thyroid enlarges, it can squeeze these important structures and cause problems with breathing or swallowing. Unlisted CPT Codes - Frequently Asked Questions. What are unlisted codes?

Unlisted CPT Codes - Frequently Asked Questions

Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes or Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Level II codes describe a procedure or service. On the other hand, unlisted codes are designated for services or procedures that are not otherwise specified, that is, they do not describe a procedure or service. National Celiac Disease Awareness Day - Follow a Gluten-free Diet.

Appropriate Use of Modifier 22: Key Considerations. Appropriate use of modifiers is a critical element in medical coding, billing and reimbursement, as experienced coders in medical coding companies know.

Appropriate Use of Modifier 22: Key Considerations

Modifiers are used to indicate to the payer that the work done by the provider does not exactly correspond to the CPT code descriptor. Not appending the correct modifiers or appending inappropriate modifiers can raise red flags with payers, attract audits, and lead to loss of revenue for the practitioner. Modifier 22, increased procedural services, indicates that the work performed during a particular procedure was substantially greater than that typically required. Overusing modifier 22 is a common medical coding mistake that leads to claim denials, according to a recent report from the American Medical Association (AMA).

Coding for Mastectomy - Use the Correct ICD-10 and CPT Codes. Most women with breast cancer choose mastectomy, the surgery to remove all breast tissue (including the nipple and the areola) from one or both breasts. Primarily performed to treat or prevent breast cancer, mastectomy is normally carried out to remove existing cancerous cells within the breast and thereby reduce the potential for breast cancer to spread. The procedure is often done when a woman cannot be treated with breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy), in which only the tumor is removed from the breast. Dental Insurance Verification. Outsource Strategies International (OSI) offers dental insurance verification services to dental offices in the United States, providing eligibility and benefits information from insurance companies. We understand that there are several procedures in dentistry that requires verification and prior authorization for specific codes such as crowns, posts and so on.

We can do that for you while you and your team focus on patient care. We are capable of handling the hold times with insurers and if required, we can get additional information by contacting the patient. Our insurance verification specialists work ahead of your schedule, verifying all patients in advance. We will ensure that you have all the required information regarding the patient’s coverage, insurance eligibility and patient’s out of pocket costs before the point of service, which results in: Reduced claim denialsImproved productivityEnhanced quality of patient care. Steps to Ensure Efficient AR Management in ASCs. Managing accounts receivable (A/R) is an important activity in any specialty, including ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), as it assists providers in receiving appropriate reimbursement for services rendered and includes insurance eligibility verification, preauthorization of services, capturing charges and posting payments, billing and claims submission, account follow-up and payment resolution.

For an ASC, A/R is the money owed by a patient for services already provided and A/R days refer to the average number of days it takes to collect patients’ owed balances for services rendered. This measurement helps ASC revenue cycle management staff in determining where to concentrate collection efforts. As ASCs are focused on providing same-day surgical care, including diagnostic and preventive procedures, revenue cycle management can be a challenge. Collection of co-insurance and deductibles before surgery is critical to accounts receivable management in an ASC. Check monthly A/R reports. Accurate Chiropractic Medical Billing for Optimal Reimbursement. Recent reports indicate positive trends for the field of chiropractic, the hands-on, drug-free approach to health care. According to the Port Herald, market analysts predicted that the chiropractic care market will grow at a CARG of 3.67% during the period 2017-2021. August Is Observed as Gastroparesis Awareness Month.

Top Challenges in ASC Medical Billing and Strategies to Deal with Them. How to Code Cellulitis Using ICD-10 Medical Codes. Documenting and Coding Acute Respiratory Failure (ARF) Respiratory failure refers to a syndrome which occurs when the respiratory system fails in one or both of its gas exchange functions – oxygenation and carbon dioxide elimination. The condition happens when the capillaries or tiny blood vessels (surrounding your air sacs) can’t properly exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen. Respiratory failure may be acute or chronic. Typically treated as a medical emergency, acute respiratory failure (ARF) occurs when fluid builds up in the air sacs in your lungs, which stops lungs from releasing oxygen into your blood. If not treated quickly, this condition in most cases may lead to death. With appropriate and timely treatment, the serious complications caused by acute respiratory failure can be reversed.

Acute respiratory failure (ARF) is classified as hypoxemic (low arterial oxygen levels), hypercapnic (elevated levels of carbon dioxide gas), or a combination of the two. 60% Doctors Still Not Familiar with MIPS, Finds Study. Key Considerations in Billing and Coding Spine Procedures. Billing Dental Procedures to Medical Insurance - Key Considerations. The focus on integrated care delivery based on the Accountable Care Organization concept is well reflected in the emerging integrated dental-medical care models.

The goal of such integration and consolidation is to improve care management, increase efficiencies in care delivery, and enhance patient outcomes. Audiology Insurance Verificationto Avoid Reimbursement Pitfalls. Audiologists provide comprehensive hearing tests including vestibular tests, hearing aid services such as hearing aid evaluations, fittings, repairs and adjustments, sale of hearing aids, hearing aid fitting, and hearing aid counseling and aural rehabilitation. Outpatient audiology services are usually covered by health plans, but with limitations, making audiology insurance verification crucial for efficient medical billing.

Documenting and Reporting Collaborative Care Management in 2018. An estimated 54 million Americans are affected by some form of mental disorder in a given year, according to Mental Health America. Outsource Medical Billing to Minimize Denials & Maximize Revenue. This is an update on the August 2, 2011 blog “What Are the Services Offered by a Medical Billing Company? Five Common Summer Ailments - Be Ready with the ICD 10 Codes. National HIV Testing Day - Get Tested for HIV Virus Infection. National HIV Testing Day is observed annually in the United States on June 27 every year. New Medical Billing and Payments Survey reveals Consumerism Trends. With increasing regulatory challenges and changing payer rules, many healthcare organizations outsource medical billing to improve their revenue cycle management process and remain competitive. Blue Cross delays Rollout of Controversial ER Billing Process. As a provider of emergency room medical billing services, we are focused on ensuring that physicians are adequately reimbursed for the services they provide.

The news that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) has postponed the rollout of the controversial emergency room (ER) claim review process for members holding HMO policies came as a relief for many of our clients. Coding Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Using Correct Medical Codes. How to Code and Bill Observation Services in 2018. Coding Personal Injuries and Accidents in ICD-10. Billing and Coding for Physician Home Visits. Code for Open Wounds Using ICD-10 and CPT Medical Codes. 2018 CPT Coding Changes for Endovascular Repair of Abdominal Aorta. Reporting Tuberculosis Diagnosis and Testing. Medical Coding for Closed Treatment of Fractures without Manipulation. April - Irritable Bowel Syndrome Awareness Month. Celebrate World Parkinson's Day on April 11 - Spread Awareness about PD. 2018 World Health Day Focus on Universal Health Coverage.

Diagnosing and Documenting Pneumonitis - An Overview. March is National Kidney Month - Take Control of Your Kidney Health. Celebrate Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month in March. How to Report Screening for Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Medicare Wellness Visits Increased Practice Revenue, Says Report. Health Data Breaches Still Rampant - How to Prevent PHI Exposure. Healthcare Trends and Challenges to Look Out for in 2018. Celebrate Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week (CHD) 2018. Increased Claim Denials Cost Hospitals $3.5 million, Finds Survey. Medical Coding Services.

Implications of the 2018 PFS for Anesthesia Providers.