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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May 2008 (Volume 5, Issue 5)	view entire issue

Don't ignore NCCI edits and payment indicators
ASCs are four months into the new payment system, but many coders are still perplexed about how to report procedures affected by the new National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) edits and payment indicators, which CMS introduced with the 2008 fee schedule. Sometimes, coders mistakenly refer only to the payment indicators and bypass the NCCI edits altogether. "Coders should think of NCCI edits and payment indicators as two security checkpoints just as you might see at the airport," says Joanne Schade-Boyce, RDH, MS, CPC, ACS, PCS, vice president of FairCode Associates, LLC, in Towson, MD.

Improve coding ophthalmology at your ASC
Stay alert for new treatments; look for missed reimbursement opportunities Even though ASCs are still watching and waiting for claims to make their way through the new Medicare payment system, it's not too early to look for ways to improve coding and ensure that your center is billing for services appropriately. Due to their complex nature, ophthalmology procedures are a good place to start this review.

Understand gynecology procedures to ensure correct coding
In order to accurately code gynecology procedures, a coder must first understand: The approach, or method, for the procedure The destination of the scope (for scope procedures) Whether the procedures are separately billable when the codes are unbundled

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

Tackle 12 important medical record documentation issues

Take caution with out-of-network billing strategies

Review troublesome urology codes, coding practices

ICD-9-CM diagnosis coding: The key to coverage, payment

Stay current on the most recent AMA coding guidelines

CMS adds four separately payable drugs, deletes two other drug codes from list

Understand the new cholecystectomy procedures

Offset lower phase-in payments with enhanced service mix

Educate and reeducate physicians on documentation

Take a closer look at new orthopedic procedures

Understand gynecology procedures to ensure correct coding

Improve coding ophthalmology at your ASC

Don’t ignore NCCI edits and payment indicators

Solve knee coding procedure puzzles

Break the chain of common coding errors

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