The Coding Institute
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Validate Signature Before Signing Off On Claims. Medicare will only accept stamped signatures in cases of disability.
When your physician or another provider performs a medical service for a Medicare patient, he must include either a handwritten or electronic signature in order to authenticate that fact. Consequences: If you submit claims without a signature that passes muster with Medicare, you could be in for denials. If payers detect a consistent pattern of signature-deficient claims, you could be in for much worse penalties. Check out this FAQ on keeping your signatures on the straight and narrow for every Medicare claim: What constitutes a ‘valid’ signature?
According to Medicare, a valid signature must: Authenticate services that the practitioner provided.Be handwritten or electronic — unless the author has a physical disability that permits her from providing a signature. What are the guidelines for an electronic signature? According to CMS, an electronic signature is valid as well, with some stipulations. Multiple Flu Tests Need Modifier 59. Using 87804 x 2 might result in denial.
If you’re performing a test that detects the flu via immunoassay in the office, your provider might test for two strains of the virus. Impact: When you file these claims properly, you’ll be paid for two flu tests rather than one. Read on for a bit of knowledge on making your flu test claims sail through on the first try. Use 87804 Each Time You I.D. a Flu Test When the provider performs a flu test via immunoassay, code the screening with 87804 (Infectious agent antigen detection by immunoassay with direct optical observation; influenza), says Maggie M. The 87804 code represents “a testing platform that yields a typically qualitative result by producing a signal on the reaction chamber,” explains Melanie Witt, CPC, COBGC, MA, an independent coding consultant in Guadalupita, N.M. If the test fits all the parameters put forth in its code descriptor, you should report 87804 for your provider’s flu test. ICD 10 Codes October 1 2015. Here’s why the first year with new codes might not be so bad.
Well, the ICD-10 implementation date appears like it’s going to stick this time. According to the latest update from CMS, there won’t be any more delays; ICD-10 will be the new diagnosis coding system beginning Oct. 1, 2015. Silver lining: While many medical practices probably would’ve welcomed another ICD-10 delay in order to more fully prepare, there have also been positive developments related to how Medicare will police ICD-10 reporting in the first year.
From Oct. 1, 2015 until Oct. 1, 2016, Medicare payers will not deny Part B claims “based solely on the specificity of the ICD-10 diagnosis code as long as the physician/practitioner used a valid code from the right [ICD-10 code] family,” according to the report. The American Medical Association (AMA) celebrated the Medicare decision, but warned medical offices not to take ICD-10 coding for granted. Use Updated Prolonged Services E/Ms to Capture Psychotherapy. Get more specific with new versions of these standard E/M codes.
When the 2016 CPT® coding books come out, you’ll have a revised set of E/M codes that should make coding for prolonged services that include psychotherapy a lot easier. “It’s good to see that CPT® is including psychotherapy in the prolonged services code set,” says Suzan (Berman) Hauptman, MPM, CPC, CEMC, CEDC, director of PB Central Coding at Allegheny Health Network in Pittsburgh, Pa. Read on to check out what the revised codes will look like, and get some expert input on when to use them. CPT® Adds Psychotherapy to Prolonged Services Codes 99354, 99355 CPT® 2016 will include updates to the following codes (emphasis added to show the revisions): See also: Learn New Prolonged Services Codes to Master ‘Team’ Coding Psychotherapy Can Push E/Ms Past Standard Time Limit. SuperCoder Illustrated Books for 2015. You’re aware of the new CPT® codes that went into effect Jan. 1, but do you know how to use them?
Get the lowdown on how to bill the codes for your specialty so you won’t face denials or lost reimbursement now, and as the year progresses — using SuperCoder Illustrated Specialty Coding Books. This incredibly useful spiral bound resource includes all 2015 new and revised CPT® codes with full descriptions, code-specific RVUs, global days, CCI, and code-specific coding tips to help you ensure yet another year of successful coding and reimbursement. Plus you’ll get the most up-to-date ICD-9 and HCPCS codes at your fingertips! Each specialty book also enriches your coding with: That’s right!
SuperCoder Illustrated Books for 2015 are available in the following 18 specialties: Order Now to Give Yourself the Edge and Ensure a Profitable and Compliant Year! As always, you are protected by our 100% Money-Back Satisfaction Guarantee. ICD-10-CM Manual for Diagnostic Coding in 2015. We deliver in 7 - 10 business days.
