Coding

Keeping abreast with changes in government coding regulations, and recommendations to improve coding efficiency.

• Reporting the Confirmation of Pregnancy Visit ACOG often receives questions from Fellows as to whether the initial visit to confirm a pregnancy may be reported as an E/M visit separately from the global OB package....

• CMS Correct Coding Initiative 19.0 (Effective January 1, 2013) For the 1st quarter of the 2013 CCI (version 19.0, January 1), there were no new bundling edits specific only to OB/GYNs. ...

• ICD-9 to ICD-10 Crosswalks The ICD-9-CM (I-9) to ICD-10-CM (I-10), and I-10 to I-9 crosswalk tools are based on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) General Equivalency Mapping (GEMS) documents. Per the CMS Gems guide: ...

• Medicare Screening Services 2013 Physicians are often confused about how to document and report preventive services provided to their Medicare patients. This is particularly true with the ongoing implementation of the Affordable Car...

• Medicare Relative Value Units and Payment Indicators for 2013 ACOG’s Coding Department has assembled the latest Medicare updates for 2013 of codes normally used by ob-gyns. The charts include information concerning Medicare's 2013 Relative Value Units (RV...

• ICD-9 Code Set Status Update Due to the ICD-10 code set implementation delay and code freeze, there are no new, revised, or deleted ICD-9 codes effective for October 1, 2012....

• Coding Laparoscopic Hysterectomy Procedures ACOG frequently receives requests for an explanation of the differences between coding for total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) and laparoscopy with vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH).  As a resu...

• Correct Use of Surgical Modifier 52, Reduced Services CPT-4 states that sometimes a service or procedure is partially reduced or eliminated at the physician’s discretion.  In this case, the procedure is reported with modifier 52.  This p...

• Coverage of "Free" Preventive Care for Women's Services Expanded Now that the Supreme Court has affirmed the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), practices should focus on the parts of the law that effect their operations. The ACA is intended to hel...

• ACOG Successful in Efforts to Increase Value of Maternity Services Two years after a comprehensive review of the value of physician work for maternity services, CMS accepted most recommendations made by the RBRVS Update Committee (RUC), resulting in 2012 increases o...

• ICD-10 The International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) is currently being used in most countries. The United States is among a very few industrialized nations ...

• Coding Tip: Reporting HCPCS Code Q0091 Reporting HCPCS code Q0091 (Screening Papanicolaou smear; obtaining, preparing and conveyance of cervical or vaginal smear to laboratory)...