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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

Medicare Hospice Location Question

I work for an ambulance provider and lately, we’ve been seeing people who have elected hospice and are being transported to a relative’s home to receive hospice care. Would the destination (relative’s home) be considered an R (residence) modifier or an S (scene) modifier? I can’t find anything from Medicare (I am in JL – Novitas) that defines their "vision" of a hospice. If possible, please include sources of information.
Thanks for the help!

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Hospice Location Modifier

I work for an ambulance provider and lately, we’ve been seeing people who have elected hospice and are being transported to a relative’s home to receive hospice care. Would the destination (relative’s home) be considered an R (residence) modifier or an S (scene) modifier? I can’t find anything from Medicare (I am in JL – Novitas) that defines their "vision" of a hospice. If possible, please include sources of information.
Thanks for the help!

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Questions for a newbee! Location: Georiga

Hello Everyone!

I am switching careers from public safety to CRC. From what I am learning I am confident that my skills are very much transferable and will really help me in this new line of work it is just a matter of getting the experience. I am beginning a online course shortly and am planning on doing the Exam in the next couple of months. I reside in Georgia and constantly see postings for jobs. I hold a Bachelors in Business as well as a Masters (not sure if this will really help with no experience once I’m certified). In the long term I would like to work remotely, but I know getting from here to there may take some time.

The reason I am posting this thread is to see if I can get some advice on transitioning from a different career path and of course what to expect in terms of pay as entry level with no experience (I’ve done research but there’s nothing like actually hearing from someone real, if you don’t mind sharing). I don’t want to assume anything and would like to plan ahead. Ideally I would like to get into part time or internship while I am still in my current profession. Is this possible to do in Georgia or remotely? If I can get experience while still working in my current job that would be great of course or to get a non-paid or paid internship while I’m working in my current field.

The benefit for me is that since I work in public safety I have time and access to my computer (multiple monitors) all day as well as a secure vpn. As much as I would like to just work onsite immediately whether it is just getting my foot in the door, I know I may be taking a huge pay cut (not to mention insurance), so I would like to do both until I can smoothly transition. Again is this possible? Anyone with this experience or a local Georgian?

Thanks in advance!

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Colonstomy location revision, small bowel resection, bladder repair

Hello! Any suggestions on how to code this? I am looking at 44346, but then would I just bill the 44120 for the small bowel. I know the bladder repair, and adhesiolysis is included.

After general endotracheal anesthesia, patient was positioned in supine position. The colostomy was closed with a running 2-0 silk suture. The patient was prepped and draped in the usual sterile fashion. A 10 blade scalpel was used for skin incision extending subxiphoid down to the pubic symphysis. The subcutaneous tissue was dissected using cautery down to the linea alba. The linea alba was then opened under direct visualization was extended superiorly and inferiorly. Edges of the fascia was grasp with Kockers and lysis of adhesions were carried out using cautery. A Balfour retractor was then placed with good exposure. A loop of small bowel was tethered to the pelvis, bladder and rectal stump. This loop was mobilized out of the pelvis with sharp dissection and cautery. After freeing the entire small bowel, it was inspected for any injuries. The loop of small bowel in the pelvis appeared to be thickened from previous radiation with serosal tears. The serosal tears were attempted to be over sewn with 3.0 vicryl but would tear and not hold sutures. I suspect from previous radiation damage. I then decided to resect this loop of distal ilium measuring approximately 15 cm. Using a GIA stapler the proximal and distal ends of the loop were divided. The small bowel then was aligned in a side to side fashion with 3.0 silk sutures. End enterotomies were performed using cautery. A 75cm GIA was placed in the enterotomies creating a side to side anastomosis. The end enterotomies were aligned with Alice graspers and closed using a TX 60 stapler. Once the small bowel had been mobilized out of the pelvis and resected, the rectum was attempted to be identified however is very thickened peritoneum the as well as bladder. The first assist placed rectal dilators in the rectum for easier palpation and mobilization. However, the previous staple line was unable to be identified. The peritoneum was thicken but the rectum could be palpated. An elliptical skin incision was performed around the colostomy and the subcutaneous tissues dissected to the fascia. Patient was noted to have a parastomal hernia and the hernia sac was also dissected free and transected. The proximal colon then was able to be mobilized intra-abdominally from the ostomy site. The proximal colon was transected using the a 75 GIA stapler to healthy appearing colonic tissue. An EEA 29 mm anvil was secured in the proximal end with a #1 PDS using a pursestring. The EEA stapler was then placed transrectally. The spiked end was barely visible secondary to the thickened wall. The rectal stump was attempted to be skeletonalized by scoring the perirectal fat and peritoneum. There appeared blood in the foley catheter. The first assist back filled the catheter no leak. Continued dissection revealed the bladder was draped over the rectum. I was unable to separate the bladder from the rectum. The posterior bladder wall had been opened during this dissection. The bladder was closed in a 2 layered fashion. First layer was closed using 3-0 chromic and the second layer with 3-0 Vicryl. A #19 French Blake drain was then placed in the pelvis exiting the left lower quadrant and secured to the skin with a 2-0 silk suture. The colo-rectal anastomosis was then abandoned secondary to frozen pelvis and inability to mobilize the rectum to make the anastomosis. The previous ostomy site hernia was closed using 1.0 PDS for the posterior rectus sheath and a 1.0 Vicryl on the anterior rectus sheath. A new ostomy site was created in the right lower quadrant. Using an Alice grasper, the skin was incised in a circular manor. The subcutaneous tissue was dissected using cautery. The anterior rectus sheath was opened two finger breaths and dilated. The sigmoid colon was then delivered through this opening. Copious irrigations were applied and meticulous hemostasis was maintained throughout the procedure. All needles and sponge counts were correct ×2. The midline fascia was closed using a running #1 PDS superiorly and inferiorly. The subcutaneous tissue was irrigated. The skin was then closed using staples. The left ostomy site was also closed with staples. The newly relocated ostomy in the right lower quadrant was then matured using 3.0 vicryl sutures and a clostomy bag was placed. Sterile dressing was applied and the patient was transferred to recovery room in stable condition.

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

20610 (multiple units and location) and Depo medrol and labs (89051/89060)

Hi all,

I’ve asked the questions in a few different places on here and thought it would be better if all together to show the true picture. I’ve read all of the AAPC articles on the subject of 20610, so I’m familiar with when in diff joint etc, but there’s some confusion on joint and bursa in same general area. I’ve also read multiple threads on here and no absolute answer that I can locate.

Have a Dr billing insurance 20610 x 8 and J1040 x 8, as well as 89051 x4 and 89060 x4.

Here’s a breakdown of one of the scenarios:
Injection/Asp into RT shoulder w/ 45mg of NDC 00009028003
Injection/Asp into LT shoulder w/ 45mg of NDC 00009028003
Injection/Asp into RT subacromial bursa w/ 45mg of NDC 00009028003
Injection/Asp into LT subacromial bursa w/ 45mg of NDC 00009028003
Injection/Asp into RT hip w/ 45mg of NDC 00009028003
Injection/Asp into LT hip w/ 45mg of NDC 00009028003
Injection/Asp into RT trochanteric bursa w/ 45mg of NDC 00009028003
Injection/Asp into LT trochanteric bursa w/ 45mg of NDC 00009028003
Performs synovial fluid analysis for all areas mentioned with wbc provided and no crystals shown.

Questions:
1) Since bursae and shoulder/hip joints are technically different, does the above look correct? Or are they close enough to the joint that you only get the code (20610) once per joint space? CPT wording makes it look like you can get joint AND bursa, so I want to make sure that’s correct.
2) The NDC provided is for J1030, so should it actually be J1030 x9 instead of J1040 x 8?
3) Does 89051 x 4 and 89060 x 4 seem appropriate/accurate if notating wbc’s count and no crystals? (E.G. "LT hip: 5000 wbc and no crystals") Is this notation suffice?

Thank you all SO MUCH for any insight.

Medical Billing and Coding Forum