Home

  • Home
    • » e-Newsletters

Coding tip: Update your coding resources

Ambulatory Surgery Reimbursement Update, November 20, 2007

It's that time again. It's time to order new coding books for 2008. It is very important to purchase new copies of the ICD-9-CM Manual, CPT Manual and HCPCS Level II Manual every year, and keep updated CCI unbundling material (usually updated quarterly with important changes) for billing and coding staff members.

You need to list CPT codes on the claim form in order of descending relative value. This helps payers identify the primary procedure and prevents facilities from placing the procedure codes in an incorrect order on claim forms, which could result in lower reimbursement.

Medicare will begin using a new reference book, the APC Manual that will be necessary to add to the list for 2008. It is a good reference for APCs (Ambulatory Payment Classifications), which Medicare will begin using for ASC payments on January 1, 2008.

This tip is brought to you by Ellis Medical Consulting, Inc.

Most Popular