AUDIOCONFERENCE ON TAPE OR CD
Sponsored by Briefings on APCs
presented on February 14, 2007
Did you notice that the global and technical fees for cardiac catheterizations in Medicare’s 2007 fee schedule are missing?
While an emergency transmittal replaced the cardiac cath injection codes, reimbursement is in a terrible state of flux and you will need to carefully watch any cardiology claims with injections for the next few weeks—and possibly months.
Coding for coronary angiography and interventions is a complex process. In fact, because of all its subtleties, it’s easy for coders to miss something that is separately billable. Coders frequently miss clues in operative reports that should trigger a change in coding methodology or the application of a modifier.
Listen to CPT Coding for Heart Catheterizations and Coronary Interventions where our experts take you through diagnostic coronary angiography, coronary interventions, and same day intervention. Using case studies and proven guidelines, they demonstrate how to properly bill for procedures, as well as identify when it’s appropriate to append modifiers.
Having a solid understanding of current coding guidelines is necessary to ensure your cardiologist is receiving full reimbursement while remaining in compliance. Let our experts show you how to stay on the right track and secure additional reimbursement when you’re entitled to it.
AGENDA
- Anatomy and clinical aspects of coronary procedures
- Cardiac cath component codes, including:
- Catheter placement
- Cardiac catheter injections
- Supervision and interpretation
- The technical side of cardiac caths
- Why the fees are missing for Medicare’s 2007 fee schedule
- The recent emergency transmittal and its significance to the cardiac cath injection codes
- Carrier reaction
- What happens next
- Interventional codes
- Stents
- Angioplasty
- Atherectomy
- Common problem areas in adequate reimbursement:
- Unsuccessful procedures, such as the physician being unable to cross the lesion
- Multiple interventions and the need for modifiers, e.g., -52 and -53
- Selected case studies
A question and answer session will follow the presentation.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
- Recognize the subtleties and complexities of coronary coding and be able to identify each of the different components of a study.
- Explain the current situation surrounding the global and technical fees for cardiac catheterizations that are missing from Medicare’s 2007 fee schedule.
- Illustrate how to code for a complicated procedure or one that a physician could not complete.
- Indicate what criteria to consider when appending modifiers for additional reimbursement in difficult procedures.
- Relate to the payer’s perspective in order to assess what documentation is required to support attaching modifiers to help make sure you obtain appropriate reimbursement—and have the data to dispute inappropriate denials.
MEET THE SPEAKERS
Jim Collins, CPC, CHCC, ACS-CA, is president of The Cardiology Coalition. He directs the firm’s compliance and revenue enhancement services, writes the highly acclaimed Cardiology Coalition Member Newsletter, and develops each of the organization’s online coder proficiency tests. Mr. Collins has over 14 years of experience working closely with physicians to achieve optimum profitability and regulatory compliance. He limits his practice to cardiology and is a nationally recognized expert in each of the cardiology sub-specialties.
Linda Gates-Striby, CCS-P, ACS-CA, is the principal of Gates Physician Services, which provides various educational and auditing services, and technical editor for the Cardiology Coder's Pink Sheet. She is also the cardiology chair on the national advisory board of Advanced Medical Coding and led the development of the ACS-CA exam. In addition, she is co-editor of the Interventional Radiology Pink Sheet and she is a contracted consultant to the Medaxiom Cardiology network, The Cardiology Leadership Alliance, and numerous state chapters of the American College of Cardiology.
WHO SHOULD LISTEN?
HIM managers and staff, especially physician coders and hospital outpatient coders; compliance officers and staff; reimbursement specialists and consultants; appeal/denial specialists and payment posters; cardiologists.
Purchase a tape or CD of the program and listen when you can. It's a perfect training tool for new staff or as a refresher for veteran staff.
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