Transcript Subterm

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Welcome, during the seminar, the chat
feature will be disabled so that I am
able to complete my agenda for the
evening! Be sure to have your
CPT
coding manual out for tonight! I will
answer questions at the end. Thanks,
Professor Campbell
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Final Project
Unit 5 Overview
Introduction to HCPCS Coding
Introduction to CPT Coding
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For your Final Project, you are to write a
paper that addresses why the ICD-10-CM has
not yet been adopted in the United States, the
reasons it is needed, and whether or not the
ICD-10-CM is a classification or a
nomenclature. You will also be asked to
describe the layout and the major
conventions used in ICD-10-PCS as well as
include a table that will show the mapping of
ten ICD-9-CM codes to their ICD-10-PCS
counterpart.
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Read Chapters 7 & 8
Participate in Discussion
Participate in Seminar
Practice on your own using your workbook.
Complete Assignment
◦ Access dates:
 8/3/2011 12:00:00 AM to 8/9/2011 11:59:59 PM
◦ Can be reviewed in Gradebook on:
 8/16/2011 11:59:59 PM
◦ Number of times can be taken:
 1
◦ Time allowed to complete:
 1hour
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CPT Modifiers
CPT Symbols
CPT Guidelines
Unlisted Procedures & Special Reports
Identifying the main term
National Correct Coding Initiative
CPT Coding (multiple choice)
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Moe Howard is a patient in Acme Alcohol
Rehabilitation Hospital. He has just received
an injection of methadone. The code used to
report the service will be:
Correct answer is
◦ H0020
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Define key terms in Chapters 7 and 8
Differentiate between HCPCS Level I and Level
II codes
Assign accurate HCPCS Level I and Level II
codes
Identify situations where both Level I and
Level II codes will be assigned
Interpret CPT guidelines
Explain modifiers and assign to CPT codes as
appropriate
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Level 1
◦ Current Procedural Terminology (CPT)
 Maintained by AMA, updated every year January 1st
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Level 2
◦ National Codes (HCPCS manual)
 Maintained by CMS, updated every year January 1st
Introduction to HCPCS Level 2-National
Codes (HCPCS)
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Medicare patients and other payers
Updated every by CMS
A0000–V9999
Services and supplies, such as:
◦ Drugs
◦ Durable medical equipment (DME)
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Either two alpha characters or alphanumeric
Modifiers may be used with any level of
HCPCS code
E1: upper left, eyelid
LT: left side
NU: new equipment
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Sections- examples
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A: ambulance
D: dental
E: Walkers, Wheelchairs
J: drugs (medications)
Index
Table of drugs
Instructions
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Evaluation and Management (E/M)
Anesthesiology
Surgery
Radiology
Pathology and Laboratory
Medicine
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Office visit codes
Consultation codes
Emergency Department Services
Critical Care
Nursing Facility Care
Preventative Medicine
Hospital Visits
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Anatomic format
Include general, regional, supplementation of
local anesthesia
Includes preop and postop visits, monitoring,
administration of fluids and/or blood
Some insurance carriers use time for
reimbursement
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Largest section and most difficult
Note section divided into:
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Section (Surgery)
Subsection/category (Urinary system)
Subcategory (Kidney)
Heading (Incision)
Procedure codes (50010)
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Four subsections
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Diagnostic radiology
Diagnostic ultrasound
Radiation oncology
Nuclear medicine
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Most hospitals maintain codes in computerized
file (chargemaster)
Physicians maintain list of common procedures
performed (superbill or computer file)
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Specialized section
Types of codes
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Psychiatric services
Physical therapy
Ophthalmological services
Cardiac catheterization
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Added in 2004
Performance measurements
For data collection
End with letter F
Use is optional
Example:
4002F Statin therapy, prescribed
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Emerging technology
Alphanumeric codes
Used for data collection
Temporary
Updates available on AMA’s Web site
Payment depends on the payer
Example:
0085T Breath test for heart transplant rejection
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A service or procedure has both a professional and technical
component.
A service or procedure was performed by more than one
physician and/or in more than one location.
A service or procedure has been increased or reduced.
Only part of a service was performed.
An adjunctive service was performed.
A bilateral procedure was performed.
A service or procedure was provided more than once.
Unusual events occurred.
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Complete list of CPT modifiers with definitions
List of selected modifiers (CPT and HCPCS)
approved for Hospital Outpatient Use
37600 Ligation; external carotid artery
37605
internal or common carotid artery
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Code 37600 stands alone, meaning it needs
no interpretation.
Because code 37605 is indented, it relies on
the description before the semicolon in the
preceding entry to complete the code
description.
Therefore, Code 37605 reads as:
Ligation; internal or common carotid artery
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Indicates a new code for the current year
Listed in Appendix B
•Indicates a revised code for the current
year
•Listed in Appendix B
•Indicates new or revised text
•Used throughout CPT
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Designed as an add-on code
Must be used in addition to the primary procedure code
Summary of codes in Appendix D
11200
+ 11201
Removal of skin tags, multiple
fibrocutaneous tags, any area; up to
and including 15 lesions
each additional ten lesions, or part
thereof (List separately in addition to
code for primary procedure)
Note: 11201 is used in conjunction with 11200.
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Exemption to modifier 51 
◦ Alerts coders to the fact that the code cannot be
appended with modifier 51
◦ Applies to physician coding only
◦ All exempt codes listed in Appendix E
Example
 17004 Destruction (eg. laser surgery,
electrosurgery, cryosurgery, surgical
curettement), premalignant lesions (eg.
Actinic keratoses), 15 or more lesions
Indicates that CPT code includes conscious sedation
as an inherent part of providing the procedure
Example:  33010 Pericardiocentesis; initial
Identifies codes for vaccines that are pending FDA
approval
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CPT codes do not appear in numeric
sequence
For example:
46221 Hemorrhodectomy; internal, by rubber band ligation(s)
#46945 Hemorrhoidectomy, internal, by ligation other than
rubber band; single hemorrhoid column/group
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Allows the coder to assign a code to a procedure
not listed in CPT
Assigned as a last resort
Payers want documentation (operative report)
Note: The Alphabetic Index lists all unlisted procedures.
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Appendix A: List of modifiers
Appendix B: Summary of additions,
deletions, and revisions
Appendix C: Clinical examples for E/M
coding
Appendix D: Summary of add-on codes
Appendix E: Summary of CPT codes exempt
from modifier 51
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Appendix F: Summary of CPT Codes exempt
from modifier 63
Appendix G: Summary of CPT Codes which
include conscious sedation
Appendix H: Alphabetic index of
performance measures by clinical condition
or topic
Appendix I: Genetic testing code modifiers
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Appendix J: Electrodiagnostic medicine
listing of sensory, motor and mixed nerves
Appendix K: Product pending FDA approval
Appendix L: Vascular families
Appendix M: Crosswalk for deleted CPT
codes
Appendix N: Summary of Resequenced CPT
codes
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CPT Assistant—authoritative reference
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CMS Medicare/Medicaid Transmittals
◦ Contains payer advice
◦ Can be confusing if it contradicts CPT guidelines
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Put puzzle together
CPT codes contain 5 digits, HCPCS Level II
codes are alphanumeric
Modifiers are two digits appended to code to
explain special circumstance
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Section
Subsection
Parenthetical Notes
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Locate codes in Alphabetical Index under:
◦ Name of procedure
◦ Name of service
◦ Eponym
◦ Anatomic site
◦ Medical abbreviation
◦ Diagnosis
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Range of codes given in Alphabetical Index
must be narrowed down through search of
Tabular Listing
Tabular Listing is in numerical order
Each code has precise meaning, allows code
to “stand alone”
Coders must never code from the index!
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Main Term
◦ Repair
Subterm
◦ Abdomen
Secondary Subterm
◦ Suture
Final Code
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Main Term
◦ Femur
Subterm
◦ Abscess
Secondary Subterm
◦ Incision
Final Code
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Main Term
◦ Fracture
Subterm
◦ Ankle
Secondary Subterm
◦ With manipulation
Final Code
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Main Term
◦ Skin
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Subterm
◦ Excision
Secondary Subterm
◦ Lesion, Benign, leg, 4.1 cm
Final Code
Operative Report
Procedure:
Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
Esophagus: This area was well visualized in its entirety and appeared macroscopically
normal. A 1.5 to 2-cm hiatus hernia was present. No macroscopic abnormalities were noted
in the distal esophagus. A biopsy was taken approximately 5-cm proximal to the
macroscopic gastroesophageal junction.
Stomach: The antrum was normal. On retroflexion, the cardia was minimally incompetent.
The body of the stomach was normal. Biopsies were taken from the antrum and body of
the stomach.
Duodenum: There was a moderate degree of duodenitis in the bulb. The postbulbar and
descending duodenal areas appeared normal. A biopsy was taken from the bulb.