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ACE 2009 AUDITS
Don’t forget to schedule your annual audits. We are now booking for 2009 so if you have an auditor preference; it is a good idea to get your audit on the books for next year.
PUMP-O-GRAM CODING CHANGE
In the past ACE has recommend the unlisted code for the diagnostic study of the implantable infusion pump when it was not working correctly. The AMA CPT Assistant finally answered our questions and published direction on billing this service. They recommend billing 61070 for the actual injection of dye with 75809 as the radiology component for the dye study. This is a change from what we have recommended in the past. Please note this change and update any billing practice.
CCI QUARTERLY UPDATES
Also on October 1, quarterly updates to Correct Coding Initiative go into effect. This will be version 14.3 and include all previous versions and updates. To view the CCI edits go to the CMS website
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalCorrectCodInitEd/
2009 ICD 9 CHANGES
The new ICD-9 codes went into effect October 1, 2008 and for anesthesia groups not much has changed. For pain providers who deal with headaches, you now have a boatload of ICD-9 codes to choose from to actually quantify the headache. All pain providers should review the new section (339) and the revised section on migraines (346). The changes can be viewed at www.cdc.gov/nchs/icd9.htm
We would also like to point out that there is rumor that ICD-10 will be put into place in January 2011. Practices should start speaking with computer vendors about expanding the ICD-9 table files to accommodate a seven digit ICD-10 files. They estimate that change will be equivalent to the 2000 date change in expense to practices.
REMINDER DECEMBER AUDIO CONFERENCE
The December audio conference is scheduled for Dec 16th and Susan West and Debbie Farmer will be presenting the CPT-4 and ASA changes. We believe that this is extremely important for all clients to have this information available that we are offering it at the $129.00 rate. Please sign up through the web site at www.aceanesthesiapain.com or call Marilyn or Erin at the ACE office 913-648-8572.
AMA – SPEAKS OUT ON RADIOLOGY/DIAGNOSTIC RADIOLOGY
If the patient is not getting relief form pain, and an intrahecal catheter is evaluated for dislodgment, discontinuity, or kinking what is the appropriate code to use for reporting implanted pulp catheter dye studies?
According to September’s CPT Assistant you should report code 75809 – Shuntogram for investigation of previously place indwelling, nonvascular shunt, for the radiologic supervision and interpretation (RSI) portion of such a procedure to evaluate for shunt catheter or leakage. This code is also used for evaluation and a number of similar and related nonvascular shunts catheters and devices and will require the injection of contrast.
There are times when evaluation for discontinuity is performed using plain radiography or CT imaging, with contrast injection. If this is the case it should is reported using appropriate radiography or CT codes which describe the correct anatomical area which were imaged.
Injection components and an RSI component are normally required on implanted pump catheter dye studies, therefore it would be appropriated to report code 61070 (puncture of shunt tubing or reservoir for aspiration or injection procedure) by the physician performing the injection.
UPDATE FROM CMS FOR ANESTHESIOLOGISTS
Make sure to check the CMS website for updates on news in anesthesia, here is the link to their website with the latest information
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/center/anesth.asp
HIPAA ENFORCEMENT
Yes it is true; the government is starting to crack down on practices and their compliance efforts in the area of privacy and security. The most recent is a $100,000 fine issued to Providence Health & Services in Portland Oregon. They were fined for five violations where laptops, tapes and disks were taken off premises that contained electronic protected health information. The lap tops and media were either lost or stolen according to the Health System. Interestingly there evidence on any of the information being used, only that it is missing. This should be a wake up call to all practices who take PHI offsite to get policies and procedures in place.
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