Click here for more sample CPC practice exam questions with Full Rationale Answers

Practice Exam

Click here for more sample CPC practice exam questions and answers with full rationale

Practice Exam

CPC Practice Exam and Study Guide Package

Practice Exam

What makes a good CPC Practice Exam? Questions and Answers with Full Rationale

CPC Exam Review Video

Laureen shows you her proprietary “Bubbling and Highlighting Technique”

Download your Free copy of my "Medical Coding From Home Ebook" at the top right corner of this page

Practice Exam

2018 CPC Practice Exam Answer Key 150 Questions With Full Rationale (HCPCS, ICD-9-CM, ICD-10, CPT Codes) Click here for more sample CPC practice exam questions with Full Rationale Answers

Practice Exam

Click here for more sample CPC practice exam questions and answers with full rationale

patient seen before admission (inpatient/observation)

Thoughts on this? Are rules still the same that you have to look back and see if the pt is new/established?

EX: HP completed on 03/12/18, but there is no admit/observation status until 03/13/18

CPT : all EM services provided by the physician in conjunction with the admission are considered part of the initial hospital care
when performed on the same DATE as admission.

So the provider is actually performing the HP, before the date of admission. We cannot consider it part of the initial care, because it was not performed on the same DATE as admit

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

99211 when patient left before being seen by provider

I work in an urgent care/primary care setting. We have standing triage orders based off complaints so x-rays and labs are ordered by an MA (usually) before the providers see patients. Sometimes the patients leave after having x-rays or labs but before the providers seen the patient. I am under the impression you cannot bill an E&M for these visits but others say to go with a 99211. We don’t bill "incident to" really. Our claims are filed under the extenders’ names and numbers with the supervising provider as the co-signer.

Is the 99211 appropriate? Where can I find the supporting documentation?

Thanks!!!!!

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Identify Code Edits Before They Hold Up Claims

Section-specific examples have been added to the Medicare National Correct Coding Initiative (NCCI) Policy Manual. These examples reveal the rationales behind the edits contractors use to vet medical claims for incorrect code combinations. Take the Initiative to Correct Coding The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented the NCCI to promote national correct coding methodologies […]
AAPC Knowledge Center

Joint Commission: Test pregnant women for HIV and syphilis before childbirth

On July 1, 2018, The Joint Commission will implement three new elements of performance (EP) for maternity care. The announcement, which came in the latest R3 Report, is intended to reduce the risk of transmitting diseases like HIV and syphilis from mother to newborn.

HCPro.com – Briefings on Accreditation and Quality

Office Visit Before Colonoscopy (medicare)

Medicare patient here for Office Visit before setting up a Colonoscopy, due to Personal History of Colon Polyps. Sent for EKG – will possibly need clearance before procedure, am I correct that I cannot charge for this visit as it is included in the Medicare global fee for Colonoscopy?

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Anesthesia preop eval some days before the procedure

We are about to bill for a new group… who seem to think we can bill an e/m for the standard preop eval if it was done over 72 hours before the procedure.. as a standard practice. I said absolutely not.. to me that Is outright unbundling. Because the visit would be the pre anesthesia eval and not done for a separate unrelated illness. Just had to share this silliness.

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Important Questions To Ask Before Selecting A Medical Spa

What is a Medical Spa

Medical Spas could provide outpatient cosmetic procedures. The Med spa can be described as mixture among a Medi clinic and a day spa which operates under the oversight of medical doctor. A Medical spa can focus on facial conditions like dark spots, redness, and lines that cannot be remedied in most circumstances or as effectively by an ordinary esthetician. Med spa services differ, however patients can customarily receive procedures like laser hair removal, photofacials, Radiesse as well as dermal fillers, dermal tightening and others.

Questions To Ask Prior to Choosing A Medical Spa

Ask who owns as well as if the owner operates the medical spa.
Ask if the Med Spa is owned by a doctor as well as whether the physician is genuinely overseeing the spa, and performing treatments. A medical doctor generally must oversee the treatments carried out in the medical spa, but this may not indicate the doctor is physically working at the property. Check the regulations for Med Spas in your town.

Inquire about the technology.
Study the brand of equipment they use during treatments. As the technology is quickly improving, patients demand the state of-the-art machines. More recent innovations assist to decrease pain during treatments. Inquire how recently the lasers were acquired. Prices for advanced laser machines may be very expensive. Skin cooling has become a very important aspect of current State-of-the-art laser hair removal devices. Newer laser devices can dispense significant power, resulting in high temperature near the roots of hair, while at the same time guarding the easily harmed outer area of the epidermis.

Ask who would be performing the procedures
Make sure staff have the relevant qualifications. Qualified Physicians must carry out any cosmetic injections, cosmetic fillers, and laser resurfacing procedures. State rules could vary in regards to the necessary licenses to perform laser hair removal. Again, investigate the regulations for laser skin treatments in your city. Customers typically request photos of previous patients before and after their procedures. An additional helpful question is the credentials the doctor possesses.

What are the likely outcome from a procedure.
Each persons personal scenario are unique and expectations should be considered. Knowledge regarding the treatment the patient is contemplating will help in arriving at the appropriate decision. In addition, the med spa should present a warm, comfortable atmosphere. Inquire about what results should be expected from a partcular procedure. For example, will a procedure reduce skin scarring, reduce wrinkles as well as creases near the eyes, enhance aging skin, stimulate collagen creation as well as the recovery time.

A lot of Medical Spas encourage costless cosmetic discussions to plan the best treatment course for each individual’s unique demands and desires. The best way to learn additiona information is to schedule a complimentary consultation. A consultation at a Med Spa might help to determine if a procedure can enhance the personal image, self-esteem and wellness. Enjoy the road to education and discovery of the numerous options at your local medical spa.

Want to learn additional information about Med Spa in NYC and Perlane in New York City.

Read reviews about Med Spa’s in New York City.

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Medical Tourism – Know the Risks and Protect Yourself Before You Go

People regularly go overseas for healthcare to save themselves money and cut waiting times. However, there are some dangers inherent in having surgery carried out overseas and it’s worth investigating them before taking the plunge.

Things like organ operations can be secured for as much as 50% of the cost of the same procedure back in the west, and minus the long and annoying waiting lists intrinsic to the majority of western countries.

Research shows that many American citizens go overseas every year for kidney transplants. However, surveys show that people who go overseas for this kind of operation can risk greater chances of complications like infection or acute rejection, and the level of these complications is accentuated by being a medical tourist.

A piece of research from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) showed that kidney rejection happens in up to 30% of medical tourists who undergo transplant operations abroad while just 12% of people who had operations at UCLA had kidney rejection.

The Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology reports that the most common destinations for kidney transplants via medical tourism are China (18%), Iran (12%), the Philippines (9%), India, Pakistan, Peru, Egypt, Turkey, Mexico and Thailand (3%).

However, with that in mind, the motives for becoming a medical tourist or a transplant tourist are pretty convincing. The USA has just 10,000 kidney transplant operations carried out per year, but the country has around 70,000 patients who need a new kidney. The average waiting list is around five years. Remaining on dialysis for this period is something most patients would do anything to avoid.

Some people consider it simpler and undoubtedly cheaper to seek out a transplant overseas, risking the possibility that the donor was a prisoner, deceased or otherwise.

Things to think about when considering overseas surgery:

Pick a reputable hospital or clinic
Investigate the surgeon’s qualifications and experience
Investigate the credentials of the medical board which certified the surgeon
Find out if the surgeon can speak English
Request an in-person consultation with the surgeon ahead of the operation
See what post-op care is offered
Be informed of what to in the event of complications on return home
Don’t judge on just price

Seek Advice First

Before you go ahead and book an operation overseas it’s worth speaking to a surgeon in your own country. A domestic doctor might well advise you against a procedure. If you find you require a procedure then you must talk about any likely risks and dangers inherent in the process.

If you do plump for overseas operations, it’s worth meeting your surgeon in person before you go ahead with the procedure. Check that you accept his post-op plan, and ask him about his training, experience and credentials to give yourself peace of mind.

Results

You might end up not getting what you really wanted. If you find that the operation you have abroad leaves you dissatisfied, then the surgeon won’t be there to talk to when you get back home.

People who have cosmetic surgery overseas can find that the results are not up to the level they hoped for. This means that they could then have to fork out additional money to have the work put right.

Safety

This should be one additional main worry for potential medical tourism patients – picking a facility which is regulated and subject to scrutiny is a definite. Being a medical tourist, you’ll most likely not see the hospital ahead of your surgery, and by then it might be too late to turn back.

Price

In thinking about how much the procedure will cost it’s worth considering what you get for your money. Surgery overseas might be cheap but people can risk missing out on vital aftercare, making the trip not cost-effective. Don’t forget your health is invaluable.

Post-Op Care

A major worry for people who want surgery overseas is post-op care. For example, anyone having a gastric band fitted in the UK will get years of post-op care which medical tourism cannot offer.

People who have operations privately around the world don’t get much by way of aftercare or post-op looking after, even though this is an important part of the procedure. There are lots of examples of people heading home only to find that they then experience complications that require further care.

Having no aftercare or post-op support can mean long-term problems so it’s worth checking out what kind of post-op care you actually need to make the best possible recovery.

Discover Medical Tourism is a free information site for patients to research and learn about medical tourism and dental tourism. Covering most of the major countries specializing in medical, health and dental tourism.