HCPro.com: Ambulatory Surgery Coding & Reimbursement Insider

Each month in Ambulatory Surgery and Compliance Reimbursement Insider you get more of our exclusive working tools: model guidelines, policies, forms, etc., that you can use to comply with OIG and HCFA, reduce claim denials, and get paid in full and on time.

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March 2008 (Volume 5, Issue 3)	view entire issue

Plan implementation carefully to reap the rewards of an EHR system
Editor's note: This article is the second in a two-part series. The first article ran in the February ASCRI. After you lay the proper groundwork and select an electronic health record (EHR) system for your ASC, success in implementing that system depends on in-house preparation to ensure that your organization benefits from the efficiencies an EHR system can provide. One important part of planning is performing a readiness assessment, which determines how prepared your organization is for EHR implementation. You can then address any weaknesses this assessment may reveal.

Two strategies to make ASC investment more attractive
Q: Our surgery center would like to try to increase profits by bringing in new physicians, so we are looking to sell interests to new physician investors. However, we are an established facility that is making a fair amount of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA). Therefore, purchasing equity interests is somewhat cost-prohibitive to physicians we are trying to attract. How can we make purchasing ownership interests in our ASC more appealing?

Common coding mistakes by specialty
Editor's note: This article is the first in a two-part series. Many common coding mistakes are rooted in both insufficient physician documentation and coders' inadequate knowledge of the anatomy involved in various specialties. To rectify common errors, make it a priority to provide communication between coders and physicians about the procedures themselves and the CPT guidelines for coding those procedures.

Know the new and revised CPT orthopedic codes
The AMA made some significant changes to the orthopedic section of the 2008 CPT Manual. This article summarizes some of the new and revised codes for procedures that ASCs frequently perform. Note the new language used in many of the fracture code descriptions. The code descriptions now state, "includes internal fixation when performed," meaning that the codes now exclude external fixation.

Other recently-published articles from Ambulatory Surgery Coding & Reimbursement Insider:

Billing rules for devices can be different for each payer

Ambulatory Surgery Coding & Reimbursement Insider 2008 index

Medicare modifiers for ASCs

ASC tackles CFCs to avoid tumult in the future

Be a G whiz: Understand when to assign G codes

Medicare modifiers for ASCs: -50, -52, -58, and -59

Tips to tackle five ASC operational challenges

Understand the billing methods for different types of lenses

Check up on ASCs under the 2008 Medicare payment system

Choose the correct code when reporting SI joint injections

Implement a payment policy and stick to it

Don’t shoot your finances in the foot

ASC 2009 proposed rule holds few surprises

Tackle 12 important medical record documentation issues

Take caution with out-of-network billing strategies

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