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Worried about the complexities of the new rules under OPPS and APCs? Briefings on APCs helps you understand the new rules and how they impact hospital health information management systems and processes, coding, billing, and reimbursement.

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Briefings on APCs

Issue 6, June 1, 2013 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Check out the view from the industry as ICD-10 implementation draws closer

  ICD-10 implementation challenges will vary from organization to organization, depending on size...

• Shrink radiation oncology coding confusion

  Radiation oncology uses high-energy radiation to shrink or kill tumors or cancer cells with minimal...

• CMS releases details on Part A to B rebilling

  Providers were glad to see CMS' ruling (CMS-1455-R) released March 13 (published in the Federal...

• This month's coding Q&A

  Our experts answer questions about hydration, excludes notes in ICD-10-CM, L codes for...

Issue 5, May 1, 2013 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• CMS changes Part B inpatient billing in hospitals

  Successful appeals can actually lead to CMS policy changes. Facilities have been successfully...

• Molecular pathology reimbursement still unclear

  The AMA revised the molecular pathology codes in the CPT® Manual in 2012, but at that time...

• CMS corrects edit 84, deletes modifiers

  CMS corrected edit 84, added five APCs to the I/OCE, deleted two APCs, and changed the description...

• This month's coding Q&A

  Our experts answer questions about modifiers for diagnostic interventional procedures, Medicare...

Issue 4, April 1, 2013 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• CMS changing MUEs

  CMS is making a significant change to the Medically Unlikely Edits (MUE) by changing some of them...

• New molecular pathology coding still complex

  Editor's note: Facilities need to address coding, payment, and coverage issues for molecular...

• Audits help lock down processes, clarify coding

  Being audited is rarely fun. After all, you're probably going to lose money, face a fine, or both...

• This Month's Coding Q&A

  Our experts answer questions about, modifier -25, cardioversion performed during an ED code...

Issue 3, March 1, 2013 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Follow the right path for coding nonvascular interventional radiology

  When coders hear the words "interventional radiology," many think of vascular procedures...

• AMA revises, deletes radiology codes for 2013

  The AMA added five new nuclear medicine codes to the radiology section of the 2013 CPT Manual...

• CMS adds significant number of new codes

  CMS added 410 new codes and seven new therapy and patient condition modifiers to the I/OCE as part...

• This Month's Coding Q&A

  Our coding experts answer your questions about physician supervision for chemotherapy, billing...

Issue 2, February 1, 2013 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• Note major changes in ­medicine section

  After 14 years of few to no changes, the psychiatry section of the CPT® Manual received a major...

• New codes for cardiology procedures added to manual

  In November 2011, the FDA approved ­transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) to treat...

• AMA introduces neutrality for provider types

  One of the major changes to the 2013 CPT Manual is the replacement of the term...

• Ensure correct reporting of place of service code

  Physicians and other providers practice in many ­different areas within a hospital. To...

• This Month's Coding Q&A

  Our coding experts answer your questions about reporting MRI, MRA together, reporting negative...

Issue 1, January 1, 2013 - VIEW THE FULL ISSUE

• CMS finalizes changes to drug payments, relative weight calculations

  Hospitals earned a big win with drug payments this year in the 2013 OPPS final rule, released...

• CMS packaging clarification could raise problems

  As part of the 2013 OPPS final rule, CMS finalized a clarification to 42 CFR 419.2(b) that could...

• Hospitals see therapy, molecular pathology changes

  The biggest operational change for outpatient facilities for 2013 does not appear in the 2013 OPPS...

• Begin teaching providers to speak ICD-10

  Providers and coders seem to speak two different languages-clinical and coding. Providers already...

• This Month's Coding Q&A

  Our coding experts answer your questions about reporting fetal ultrasound codes, bell curve for E/M...

• Briefings on APCs 2012 index

  Track down that hard-to-find Briefings on APCs article. Use our index to find articles we published...