Stay tuned to consult code updates

Author: James Smith

Author: James Smith

If you want to enter a medical coding career, youll do well to know that it has great potential. But then you cannot become a medical coder overnight.

You have to constantly keep pace with medical coding updates if you are to make a mark in your career. As we enter the year 2010, there are a lot of things you need to keep up with. One thing that you will need to keep your eyes fixed on are consult codes as CMS wont be paying for consult codes in 2010. CMS eliminated consult codes because of the continuing confusion and disagreement regarding proper consult code use. Moreover, the universal misunderstanding of the related transfer of care issues also contributed to the deletion.

But dont do away with those codes as yet. Other players may allow you to use them. As such, youll need to know which payers accept consult codes.

Note: From January 1, 2010, CMS will do away with reimbursement for outpatient/ office and inpatient consultation codes 99241-99245 and 99251-99255.

Alternatives: For Medicare beneficiaries, in place of a consult code, youll be required to report an appropriate E/M code based on the place of service and patient type.

But be prepared to face the fee reduction facts

Reimbursement for consult codes has normally been higher for other visit codes. CMS will hike payment for the other EM codes to try to offset the consult codes. But dont expect this to make up for the loss of consult fees. The elimination of consult codes will hurt specialty practices in particular.

For more on consult codes and other medical coding updates, sign in for a one-stop medical coding website.About the Author:

We provide you simple, instant connection to official code descriptors & guidelines and other tools for ICD-9 coding, CCI edits that help coders and billers to excel in the work they do every day.

POST COMMENT

How To Cure Leucoderma Naturally