Proper medical coding is critical for many reasons. They include receiving proper payment for services rendered, limiting denials and maintaining compliance with payor rules. Throughout 2015, PGM Billing launched a number of practice management tools that help ensure proper coding. These tools are free to access and use, and can be shared with coworkers and […]
4 ICD-10 Changes to the Laboratory National Coverage Determination Edit Software for January 2016
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced four changes that will be included in the January 2016 quarterly release of the edit module for clinical diagnostic laboratory services. The changes being made to the National Coverage Determinations (NCD) code lists as follows: Addition of ICD-10-CM codes N131 and N132 to the list of […]
CMS Issues 2016 HCPCS Update
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has posted its final Level II HCPCS application determinations for 2016. Level II of the HCPCS is a standardized coding system that is used primarily to identify products, supplies and services not included in the CPT-4 codes, such as ambulance services and durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, […]
CMS Discusses Payment Errors Associated With Co-Surgeon Modifier -62
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a Medicare Learning Network podcast intended to clarify CMS’s existing policy regarding payments errors because of a failure to apply properly the co-surgeon modifier -62, when two or more surgeons of different specialties participate in one operative session and each separately submit claims to Medicare. […]
FAQs About CPT Coding and Reimbursement for Psychiatrists
Following substantial changes to the current procedural terminology (CPT) psychiatry codes, the American Psychiatric Association updated its frequently asked questions (FAQs) about coding and reimbursement for psychiatrists. The update occurred in March. If your organization performs mental health billing and coding, these FAQs may be a valuable resource to review. The following are the questions […]
Certified Medical Coder Salaries Now Average More Than $50,000
Salaries for certified medical coding professionals increased an average of 8.4% in 2014 to $50,775 annually, according to the results of the 2014 annual coder salary survey conducted by AAPC. More than 14,000 medical coders responded to the survey. Other highlights include the following: Coders with a bachelor’s degree earned an average of $54,522 in […]