Tip: Dual coding in CPT and ICD-10-PCS presents challenges
APCs Insider, May 9, 2014
Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to APCs Insider!
Some hospitals plan to dual code in both CPT® and ICD-10-PCS so they can compare data across inpatient and outpatient departments. There are several challenges for comparing data between CPT and ICD-10-PCS, however. CPT contains many combination codes that would require multiple ICD-10-PCS codes to capture the same information.
For example, CPT code 52234 (cystourethroscopy, with fulguration [including cryosurgery or laser surgery] and/or resection of; small bladder tumor[s] [0.5 up to 2.0 cm]) highlights many of the risks of trying to pull equivalent data between code sets. The coder would first have to determine if the tumor was fulgurated or resected, which would result in different ICD-10-PCS root operations. If the physician treats multiple tumors, coders would need to report multiple codes that might include the same seven characters. Even after looking for more documentation and creating additional codes, ICD-10-PCS cannot capture the size of the tumors, while CPT has three options.
This tip is adapted from “Facilities consider using CPT and ICD-10-PCS to improve data collection” in the May issue of Briefings on APCs.
Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to APCs Insider!
Related Products
Most Popular
- Articles
-
- Joint Commission creates new Sentinel Event Alert for violence against healthcare workers
- Practice the six rights of medication administration
- Note similarities and differences between HCPCS, CPT® codes
- Differentiate between types of wound debridement
- Don’t forget the three checks in medication administration
- OB services: Coding inside and outside of the package
- Q/A: Correctly determining billing units for drugs
- Complications from immobility by body system
- Avoid Eyewash-Related Regulatory Compliance Issues
- Coding tip: Be aware of primary versus secondary neoplasms
- E-mailed
-
- Joint Commission creates new Sentinel Event Alert for violence against healthcare workers
- Joint Commission now allows partially-used oxygen canisters in 'full' rack
- Dig into the details of wound care documentation
- Initial vs. subsequent. New vs. established. Will it be an issue?
- Examine documentation for clinical indicators that provide context for MCCs
- Do not append modifier -52 to procedures involving equipment failure
- Differentiate between types of wound debridement
- Data gathering/reporting: One CDI specialist shares her hospital's methodology
- Communication strategies for nurse leaders
- CMS and Joint Commission clarify door-closing devices standards
- Searched