When talking to family about Patient Care, can I report an E/M code that includes that time in the visit?

Posted by & filed under Recent Announcements.

The answer to this question is YES.  The E/M CPT’s are defined as “face-to-face time spent with the patient and/or family”.    Because of this verbiage, the Physician can bill for time spent with a patient’s family member discussing the patient’s treatment, condition(s), and plan of care.  Medicare makes this a bit more complicated.  Read the full article from SuperCoder.com below: Published by:  The Coding Institute:  SuperCoder.com  February 29, 2016 As long as the patient is present, CMS allows you to bill an E/M code based on time. It happens frequently in Part B practices—a patient presents with her family members, who…
Learn More

CMS OFFERING QUICK LINKS TO ASSIST WITH ICD-10 TRANSITION

Posted by & filed under ICD-9 to ICD-10, Recent Announcements.

If you haven’t become familiar – OR – have not re-familiarized with CMS’s website lately, (Center for Medicaid & Medicare Services) – AND – if you participate in any of their programs, CMS has done a pretty decent job of posting ICD-10 Transition information in a “Quick Link” format.  We have provided several for you below. Diagnosis Coding: 115 Page PDF Document CMS documentation and coding basics for clinicians by Specialty: Family Practice 31 Page PDF Document Internal Medicine 32 Page PDF Document Pediatrics 28 Page PDF Document OB/GYN 19 Page PDF Document Cardiology 29 Page PDF Document Orthopedics 36 Page PDF Document