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Arthroscopy Coding for Major Joints - Shoulder
An accurate understanding of coding rules increases likelihood of receiving appropriate payment
Correctly reporting and billing for arthroscopy services is often confusing. Last month, AAOS Now reviewed the knee arthroscopy codes and outlined the appropriate use of modifiers. This month, the topic is coding for shoulder and hip arthroscopic procedures.
AAOSNow – March 2018
by Michael R. Marks, MD, MBA
An accurate understanding of coding rules increases likelihood of receiving appropriate payment
Correctly reporting and billing for arthroscopy services is often confusing.
Last month, AAOS Now reviewed the knee arthroscopy codes and outlined the appropriate use of modifiers. This month, the topic is coding for shoulder and hip arthroscopic procedures.
Arthroscopic shoulder procedures
The traditional coding rule about the shoulder is to consider the joint as one compartment. Due to continuous efforts by orthopaedic societies, a two-compartment (intra- and extra-articular) viewpoint is gaining acceptance. As a result, a few coding rules have changed. Intra-articular structures include the labrum, the long head of the biceps, a Bankart lesion, and the humeral and glenoid articular surfaces. Extra-articular structures include the rotator cuff (RC), the distal clavicle, and the subacromial space.
In 2017, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) made a significant change to the extensive débridement code (29823). There are now three situations in which this code can be billed if the extensive débridement portion of the procedure is performed in a separate area of the shoulder joint. This is similar to coding for the knee, which also has distinct anatomic compartments. The applicable codes are:
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Dropped Leads. Why They Happened and What to Do About Them
After mystery shopping, over 150 aesthetic plastic surgery practices are available through their websites, arid by phone. We've come up with a pattern for kerplunked leads. Whether the "lead" (AKA "prospective patient") calls or writes your office, you'll be surprised how many inquiries are not answered or answered well.
ASN Winter 2016
by Karen Zupko
After mystery shopping over 150 aesthetic plastic surgery practices through their websites and by phone, we've come up with a pattern of kerplunked leads.
New Physician Onboarding Checklist
Use this checklist to manage the orientation and onboarding activities for each new physician you hire. Ask for regular status updates - especially about the credentialing process. Items listed in each section are not necessarily in chronological order.
by Cheryl Toth, MBA
Use this checklist to manage the orientation and onboarding activities for each new physician you hire. Ask for regular status updates – especially about the credentialing process. Items listed in each section are not necessarily in chronological order.
Build Better Patient Relationships, Faster, Using the FORD Method
It’s a simple question that many patients ask. You can choose to give the patient a simple answer, for example, six weeks, and move on to the next topic on your laundry list of risk factors and scheduling logistics.
ASN Fall 2014
by Karen Zupko
“How long will I have to stop running after surgery?”