March 2022

Newsflash: Is your healthcare organization TJC “Survey Ready” for 2022, or maybe not?

Healthcare organizations that achieve Joint Commission accreditation meet or surpass CMS’s standards for acceptance into the Medicare and Medicaid programs. To keep accreditation in good standing being permanently prepared for “surprise inspections” is integral as requirements change.

Read More
August 2016

Coding Canapes - Cervical disc disorder with myelopathy and selecting correct root operation for surgeries

HCCS’s Coding Canapés: Tasty tidbits of coding delivered directly to your desktop!

Coding cervical disc disorder with myelopathy involving different levels.

Outpatient coders for physician offices, clinics in the hospital setting, or ER coders may see a similar situation such as this one with cervical disc disorders.  If there are different levels, how do I know which level to code?  Is it the highest level or all the levels?  See the coding clinic to determine the correct code.

A patient is diagnosed with cervical disc disorder with myelopathy involving different levels.  How do I code this?

Read More
August 2016

Coding Canapes - Respiratory failure following drug overdose and fiberoptic bronchoscopy

HCCS’s Coding Canapés: Tasty tidbits of coding delivered directly to your desktop!

Respiratory failure following a drug overdose, sequela or a manifestation?

Inpatient or observation coders for acute hospital settings may see a similar situation such as this one with chronic respiratory failure following drug overdose.  How do I know if it is a sequela or a manifestation?  Coders may find it difficult to know whether to follow the poisoning guidelines or not.  See the clarification from the coding clinic to determine the correct path.

Read More
April 2016

Coding Canapes - Perinatal Period & Pitocin to Augment Active Labor

HCCS’s Coding Canapés: Tasty tidbits of coding delivered directly to your desktop!

Topic

What is perinatal period in ICD-10-CM? Is the administration of Pitocin to augment active labor coded separately in ICD-10-PCS?

ICD-10-CM-

 Question  

The Official ICD-10-CM Guidelines for Coding and Reporting in the chapter on the perinatal period state, “For coding and reporting purposes the perinatal period is defined as before birth through the 28th day following birth.” Therefore, does this mean that the perinatal period ends on the 29th day of life, making the day of birth equal 0 days?

 

Read More
April 2016

Coding Canapes - HFpEF or HFrEF


HCCS’s Coding Canapés: Tasty tidbits of coding delivered directly to your desktop!

The Topic:

Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction and Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction

ICD-10-CM-

Question

Please reconsider the advice previously published in Coding Clinic, First Quarter 2014, page 25, stating that the coder cannot assume either diastolic or systolic failure or a combination of both, based on documentation of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) or heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Would it be appropriate to code diastolic or systolic heart failure when the provider documents HFpEF or HFrEF?

Read More
April 2016

Work from Home in 3 Simple Steps - Medical Coding


Are you interested in working from home while Medical Coding?

Review the infographic below for some helpful tips.

Learn about:

  • The role a medical coder plays and their responsibilities.   
  • The education necessary to become a medical coder.
  • Setting up a home office for optimal coding.
  • The future of medical coding and earning potential.
Read More
Contact HCCS for additional information about coding at info@hccscoding.com.