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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

Improper Billing of P-Stim Devices Leads to More Fraud Settlements

Two chiropractic practices agree to pay over $ 800,000 to resolve liability for the alleged improper billing of P-Stim devices. In the latest case of improper billing of P-Stim electro-acupuncture devices, two integrated chiropractic practices and their owners have agreed to pay $ 805,978 to resolve liability under the False Claims Act. This case comes on the […]

The post Improper Billing of P-Stim Devices Leads to More Fraud Settlements appeared first on AAPC Knowledge Center.

AAPC Knowledge Center

SPINAL Cord Stimulation Leads: A Coding Perspective

Although coding in this area may seem complex, you can simplify it with a quick review of requirements and carrier policies. Coding for spinal cord stimulation lead implantation is thought to be too complex and difficult for some. There are several reasons for this perception: There are coding differences based on the site of service […]

The post SPINAL Cord Stimulation Leads: A Coding Perspective appeared first on AAPC Knowledge Center.

AAPC Knowledge Center

Breach Leads to Payer Suing Plaintiffs

Aetna, bruised by a PHI breach where letters detailing a lawsuit settlement were sent to HIV-positive members revealing their status, is now suing the plaintiffs in the original 2014 class action lawsuit  for $ 20 million, blaming a consumer advocacy group and law firm for their woes. Aetna demands $ 20 million and indemnification from any actions related to the breach. […]
AAPC Knowledge Center

Removal of Spinal Cord Stimulator paddle and Leads

Hello All,

I was asked a question from my staff and I was wondering what you thought. They Physician did the following two procedures and the office billed CPT 63661 with 2 units and 63662. Medicare processed 63662 but denied 63661 with 2 units. The office removed the 2 units and billed the 63661 with 1 unit. Medicare has denied "That single line item claim is now being denied because it requires a qualifying service to be done."

Please see the OP Note that I Received below

Postoperative Diagnoses:
1. Status Post Spinal Cord Stimulator implant with another provider
2. Failed back syndrome
3. Nonfunctioning spinal cord stimulator

Procedures Performed:
1. Removal of spinal cord stimulator paddle and leads
2. Via a separate incision removal of spinal cord stimulator battery pack

Description of Procedure: The patient was brought to the operating suite. She was placed under general anesthesia. Patient was flipped from supine to prone onto a chest, hip, thigh Jackson table, arms up in a superman position, all padded pressure points secured. X-ray fluoroscopy was brought in to draw out the midline paraspinal lumbar and the battery pack incisions that hopefully we would have to utilize, but we also drew out a thoracic incision in case we have to do a laminectomy if the leads were stuck. We infiltrated both incisions with Marcaine with Epinephrine. Preoperative antibiotics were given. Proper time-out was performed. Patient was prepped and draped in sterile fashion.
The lumbar incision para-midline was opened first and we used blunt dissection techniques to get the fascia, got down to the spinal cord leads. They were stapled in place, we removed that. We extracted leads from the thoracic epidural space and there was no rush of CSF and they came out easily. We cut those. We irrigated that wound with bacitracin infused saline. We closed the wound in anatomic layers with 0 Vicryl to the muscle, 0 Vicryl to the fascia, 2-0 Vicryl to the dermis, and Steri-Strips for the skin. Sterile dressing was applied.
Removal of spinal cord stimulator battery pack via separate incision: We made a separate incision in the left buttock area, dissected down to the capsule of the battery pack. We found the leads that we had cut earlier and pulled those through the tissues and the spinal cord stimulator was removed in its entirely, verified by x-ray. We extracted the battery out of the pack and copiously irrigated with bacitracin infused saline. We did essential tack up after assuring hemostasis to get the pocket to close down. We closed the wound in anatomic layers, 0 Vicryl for the fascia, 2-0 Vicryl for the dermis, and steri-strips for the skin. A sterile dressing was applied there. the patient was rolled from prone to supine and extubated without incident.

Was CPT 63661 and 63662 correct and should there be a modifier??

Thank You!!! It has been awhile since I have done Orthopedic.

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Azar Leads HHS as New Secretary

Alex Azar, Photo credit Wikimedia by Wwsgconnect – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0 Former drug industry executive, Alex Azar, was confirmed by congress by bipartisan vote to be the new secretary of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). The former president of the Big Pharma company Eli Lilly & Co., “will now […]
AAPC Knowledge Center

Abandoned ICD lead with Dual chamber pacemaker and leads removal

Can someone advise if we are able to code for the abandoned ICD lead removal separately or if would be included with the PM lead extraction code.(33235) I appreciate the assistance.

Dual chamber PM in situ with abandoned ICD lead codes requested.Thank you.

I don’t have my code book with me. I understand we would code for the PM generator removal & the 33235 for the leads but am not certain if we would use the ICD lead(s) removal code in this case.
Appreciate the assistance!

JB. CPC :confused:

Medical Billing and Coding | AAPC Forum