Choose your specialty from the list below to see how our experts have tackled a wide range of client questions.
Looking for something specific? Utilize our search feature by typing in a key word!
Billing for Costotransversectomy
If the exposure is thoracic, for example in a thoracic corpectomy, and the documentation states a costotransversectomy was performed, can that be billed separately?
Billing for Intraoperative Injury
A major blood vessel was accidentally nicked while a general surgeon was performing a complex case. A vascular surgeon was called in to repair the blood vessel. Since they are different specialties, can the vascular surgeon bill for the repair, even though she is in the same group as the general surgeon?
2021 Evaluation and Management Codes: Is a History Required?
My coder just told me about the new guidelines for 2021 office visit codes. She said I no longer have to document a History. This doesn’t seem right to me.
2021 E/M Guidelines and Consultation Codes
I am new to an Orthopaedic practice where the coders do all the coding. The current coding staff is applying the 2021 E&M Guidelines to all encounters in the office; new, established and consultations (where the payors still recognize consultations). Is this correct? We did not do that in my former practice. I want KZA’s opinion before I bring this to the manager.
Billing for Lesion Intervention Crossing Territories
Our vascular surgeon documented a single intervention for a lesion that crosses the margin between the fem/pop and tibial/peritoneal territories. Should we bill one code or one for each territory?
Attempted Foreign Body
When billing a foreign body removal code of 10120, the surgeon incises the finger and looks around for 25 mins and no foreign body is found, do we bill a 52 since no FB was found or do we bill the 10120 without the modifier since the provider did perform the procedure? I can’t seem to find any guidance on this. Can you help?
Do you have a Coding Question you would like answered in a future Coding Coach?
If you have an urgent coding question, don't hesitate to get in touch with us here.