Medical Coding Updates
The United States will begin using code U07.1 COVID-19 as of April 1 – rather than the usual effective date for new codes of October 1. This new code is being fast-tracked to allow for the urgent need of immediate data collection. Interim coding guidelines from the CDC are still to be used between now and the effective date (CDC, 2020). Review our previous article, “Coding for Coronavirus Outbreak: Interim Guidance from the CDC,” for additional information about code U07.1.
With the number of COVID-19 (2019-Novel Coronavirus) cases expected to rise in North America, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has provided information on how to medically code and bill all encounters related to COVID-19 for Medicare beneficiaries (CMS, 2020).
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease outbreak a public health emergency of international concern on January 30, 2020 (CDC, 2020). As a result of the public health emergency, the document, “Announcement New ICD-10-CM Code 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19),” was released to provide guidance on coding this virus.
Selecting the right E/M code can be tricky – and sometimes, costly – business. On the one hand, the coder does not want to choose a diagnosis that’s too high, which could potentially incur audits or claims denials. But, if the coder selects a code that’s too low, there’s a chance of losing revenue for his or her organization. According to Medical Economics, “payers and auditors use a quantitative scoring process that requires specific elements (i.e., history, exam, and medical decision-making [MDM] – or time spent counseling and coordinating care) for each E/M level” (2020).
Starting January 1, CMS began testing the condition for Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC) requiring a qualified Clinical Decision Support Mechanism (CDSM) consultation by a qualified provider for payment on Advanced Diagnostic Imaging for Medicare beneficiaries. Claims must include the ordering professional’s NPI, which CDSM tool was utilized for the consultation, and “whether the service ordered would or would not adhere to consulted AUC or whether consulted AUC was not applicable to the service ordered” (Medicine Learning Network, 2018). The program will be fully implemented by January 1, 2021.
The WHO Family of International Classifications (WHOFIC) Network Classification and Statistics Advisory Committee (CSAC) convened to establish a new emergency code to be used by WHO. This new emergency code, U07.0 – Vaping-related disorder, was implemented and valid for immediate use as of September 24, 2019, for ICD-10.
Physician group acquisition by major health systems remains a common trend in the industry. One survey of over 8,700 physicians indicates that only 31% of physicians surveyed identify as an independent practice owner or partner as of 2018. This is down from 48.5% in 2012, a whopping 35% decrease in independently owned practices in only 6 years (Merritt Hawkins, 2018). In these acquisitions, the question remains: Who will manage the physician group?
CPT 2020 changes took effect on January 1, 2020. In Part 2, we continue with a discussion of revisions in the Evaluation and Management, and Medicine sections, along with an overview of updates in the Radiology, Pathology and Laboratory, and the new Category III codes.
The World Health Organization released the 11th edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). This release was presented at the World Health Assembly on May 25, 2019 for adoption by member states, and will come into effect on January 1, 2022. However, note that it is still unknown when ICD-11 will be ready for implementation in the United States.
As we turn the calendar to a new decade, the 2020 CPT code changes take effect. This year there are a total of 394 changes to CPT, bringing the total number of codes to 10,471. This includes 248 new codes, 71 deletions, and 75 code revisions, according to the American Medical Association (AMA). This is Part 1 of a 2-Part Series. In this article, we will discuss the changes in the Surgery Section.