Coding Resource Center
July 2020
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has implemented 12 new procedure codes to describe the introduction or infusion of therapeutic substances into ICD-10-PCS, effective for discharges on or after August 1, 2020. The ICD-10 MS-DRG Grouper software package Version 37.2 will accommodate these new codes. All of the […]
The FY 2021 ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes have been released and are available on the CMS 2021 ICD-10-CM page and CDC ICD-10-CM page. These FY 2021 ICD-10-CM codes are to be used for discharges effective October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021. The updates include FY 2021 official guidelines, alphabetic index tables and addenda, tabular list and addenda, and Present on Admission (POA) code list table. Of interest, the update summary includes: Total ICD-10-CM codes 490 […]
June 2020
CMS announced physicians will have the option to opt-out completely or partially from the 2020 Merit-Based Incentive Program (MIPS). In order to do this a hardship exemption must be completed and indicate the hardship is due to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) Individuals and groups will have until December 31, 2020 to compete the application. Physicians […]
The Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) has released new clinical practice guidelines on the appropriate care and treatment of aneurysms of the visceral arteries. These clinical practice guidelines are provided to vascular surgeons who treat patients with visceral artery aneurysms (renal, celiac, splenic, gastric/gastroepiploic, hepatic, pancreaticoduodenal, gastroduodenal, super mesenteric, jejunal and ileal). These type aneurysms make […]
CMS recently released the ICD-10-PCS procedure code updates for FY 2021 and are available on the 2021 ICD-10-PCS page. These FY 2021 ICD-10-PCS codes are to be used for discharges effective October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021. The updates include FY 2021 official guidelines, code tables, index, definitions addenda and, conversion table. The update summary includes: Total ICD-10-PCS codes Addition of 544 new […]
May 2020
On May 11, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that updates Medicare payment policies for hospitals under the Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) for fiscal year (FY) 2021. CMS has published this proposed rule to meet the legal requirement to update Medicare payment policies for IPPS hospitals on […]
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, section 3709, temporarily suspended the 2 percent payment adjustment pertaining to all Medicare Fee-For-Service (FFS) claims due to sequestration. The suspension of this adjustment is effective from May 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020. The sequestration is expected to be reinstated on Medicare claim charges beginning […]
April 2020
OEIS Provides Interventional Procedure Recommendations During COVID-19 Pandemic The Outpatient Endovascular and Interventional Society (OEIS) announced to its members new procedural recommendations in determining what constitutes elective versus non-elective procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are 18 categories that are addressed in the recommendations, and each addresses associated procedures; potential risks of postponement; and specific […]
The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) announced the publication of the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) vascular access guideline update for 2019. These guidelines are evidence-based and serve to assist practitioners in efforts to care for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)/End Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) patients and their vascular access needs. The update is available online […]
March 2020
In revised MLN Matters® Article SE 1418, CMS clarifies the proper use of modifiers -59 and -XE, -XP, -XS, -XU in the existing policy. This information is for physicians and providers submitting claims to Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) for services provided to Medicare beneficiaries. The revision specifically includes the addition of modifiers -XE, -XP, -XS, […]
