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

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

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

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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

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

What’s Included in an AWV?

Set the record straight with patients to prevent surprise billing. If you work in a medical billing office, you know how frustrating it can be to get a phone call from a patient asking why they are getting a bill for their “free” visit. The patient is frustrated because they do not understand the components […]

The post What’s Included in an AWV? appeared first on AAPC Knowledge Center.

AAPC Knowledge Center

CPC-A, COC-A, CPMA credentialed, but have no experience. Resume included. Jax, FL

Looking for an entry level position and gain experience from the ground up in this field. I have no experience in the medical field or coding for that matter, but was able to obtain my CPC-A, COC-A, and CPMA credentials. Would love an opportunity to learn and start a career in Medical Coding in Jacksonville, Florida.
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Medical Billing and Coding Forum

CPT 43240- Is removal of Stent included?

Hi, I was informed that the removal of stents are included in the code for placement of stent. But for some of the procedure (such as 43276), the describes states remove and replacement or even a guideline to state the removal is included in the procedure. One of our GI providers are removing stents then performing the Necrostomy and then places new stents. We are going to code 43240 for the placement of stents and the unlisted code for Necrostomy but can we also code for the removal? The CPT I was thinking is 43247- Foreign body removal. Please any thoughts or guidanice will be greatly appreciated.

Thank You

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Preliminary Radiology Reports included in a Final Report Record in the ED.

Hi There,

I am wondering if anyone could clarify the correct way to document a Final Report in the ED.
To my knowledge – especially when dealing with Medicare Claims; a Preliminary Radiology Report should not be a part of a Final ED Note. In other words – the Radiology Report should be finalized as well, when it is interventional and a part of the diagnosis decision making process. Am I correct in this thought or is it incorrect? Please enlighten me.

Thank You –

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Please Help! CFA/SFA/Profunda/Iliac Endarterectomy? Confused! OP Report Included

Good Morning All!

I’m struggling with this OP report today, I could use ANY opinions or advice on which CPT-4 codes to use for this.

The common femoral artery itself was large and a little bit bulbous. The patient was systemically heparinized to the profunda femoris as well as the distal external iliac artery were clamped. A profunda clamp was used for the profunda artery with smaller branches controlled with red vessel loops and the distal external iliac was controlled with a Derra clamp. I then used an 11 blade to cut through the middle of the preexisting Gore patch that was on the common femoral artery. There was fresh thrombus that we took of the entire lumen of the common femoral artery. I was able to remove all of this thrombus burden. Using a #4 embolectomy catheter, I passed it down the superficial femoral artery and after about 3 passes. Finally, we returned a large amount of thrombus. There was then good backbleeding from the superficial femoral artery. I then passed the Fogarty embolectomy down the profunda. There was no additional clot burden there and there was good backbleeding, so that was re-controlled with a profunda clamp. I then checked my inflow and I did not have good inflow. The embolectomy catheter was passed proximally up the iliac artery. I got small pieces of plaque, but no fresh thrombus; however, as I pulled a Fogarty balloon down the iliac, it did seem to get caught up as though there was a significant stenosis at the top edge of the preexisting patch. I extended my arteriotomy a bit more proximally and I did find significant intimal hyperplasia there and it did look like there was an inflow stenosis, it made me wonder if this was the cause of the artery thrombosing initially. I ended up sharply excise in most of that preexisting Gore patch. An extensive endarterectomy was performed from the distal external iliac artery down to the distal common femoral artery, I took great care to make sure that the origins of both the superficial femoral artery and the profunda were free and clear of any residual plaque. I then chose a 2 x 9 cm bovine pericardial patch essentially the entire length of that was required to patch the endarterectomized segment of the artery. This was done with a running 5-0 Prolene suture. Prior to the completion of the anastomosis, all branches were backbled. I did not have good bleeding from the superficial femoral artery until the #4 embolectomy catheter was passed down it again. At this time, I withdrew almost a cast from it and there was now robust backbleeding. Everything was flushed with heparinized saline. The anastomosis was complete.

To me it sounds like it was performed on all Iliac, Common Fem, Superficial Fem, Profunda. I don’t know if this OP falls under an iliofemoral (33533), or Common Femoral (35371)..
I also know about "contiguous VS non-contiguous" would all these arteries fall under contiguous therefore only one code should be report??:confused:
PLEASE HELP :confused:

Thank you!!
Katie

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Is excision of exostosis included with hardware removal?

Hi,

I would like your advice on how you all would bill the below scenario. My provider wants to bill both 20680 and 27635. There are no NCCI edits with these 2 codes. But my gut is telling me that these are bundled.

An incision made over the medial malleolus.  Dissection was carried on through the skin and soft tissue.  Large exostosis was identified on the medial malleolus.  This was covering the screws.  This was removed and contoured to a smooth contour.  This was removed with an osteotome mallet and a rongeur.  This completed the partial excision of the right tibia

I then used a broken screw removal set to remove the screws in the medial malleolus.  The screws were stripped.  This was a difficult removal.  I was able to remove both screws with the reverse cutting cone.  This completed the hardware removal right tibia.

Thank you!

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Scalp Laceration Included in Craniotomy Incision

My doc did a skull fracture elevation and dural repair, and included a laceration in her incision. Am I correct that only separate lacerations can be billed? If the laceration is included in the incision, the repair is included in the craniotomy code, right? Please help!

Thanks in advance!

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

MA Health Review included in a Behavioral Health Med Mgmt progress note

We have several progress notes for Behavioral Health Med Mgmt that mistakenly included an MA Health Review copied over from a previous medical visit. Our EHR is not allowing the provider to delete this. Would this documentation now not meet requirements since the MA HR is present?

Medical Billing and Coding Forum