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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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The Scope of Federal Kickback Compliance Expands

Re-evaluate your kickback compliance to include EKRA and the Travel Act’s racketeering statute for bribery. If a relationship with physicians or other referral sources has been structured to carve out Medicare and Medicaid patients to avoid triggering Anti-kickback Statute and Stark Law requirements, it’s time to review its compliance. Define Kickback and Self-referral Laws Federal […]

The post The Scope of Federal Kickback Compliance Expands appeared first on AAPC Knowledge Center.

AAPC Knowledge Center

shoulder scope

Need opinions. Now working for new Ortho practice & their dictation is different than I am used to seeing. I would really appreciate if I get another opinion re: codes on this op report. I might just be reading it over to many times and doubting myself. But as I said, I am so used to the transcription from the previous practice I was at. Thanks for your help

After completion of the diagnostic arthroscopy attention was paid to the long head of the biceps. Utilizing an arthroscopic scissors as well as an ArthroCare wand, the biceps tendon was separated from the superior labrum. The biceps tendon immediately retracted into the bicipital groove. The circumferential labrum tear was debrided with a sucker shaver and the arthrocare wand. Capsulotomy was performed with sucker shaver and electrocautery device. Attention was paid to the rotator interval which is open from the superior glenohumeral ligament to the subscapularis tendon. Capsule overlying the subscapularis tendon was then debrided and removed. Attention was then paid to the posterior capsule, extending from the 11 o’clock position to the 7 o’clock position the capsule was debrided away. At the inferior aspect of the debridement, the axillary nerve was identified. 7:00 portal was placed into the shoulder and debridement of the osteophyte was performed with sucker shaver, 4 oh bone cutter, and bur. C-arm was used to confirm location on the inferior humeral head. Neural lysis was performed to free of the nerve. *
Instruments were removed from the shoulder and the trocar was redirected into the subacromial space. The subacromial space an 18-gauge needle was placed to localize the lateral portal site and was directly visualized. An 11 blade was then used established the portal site. This was followed by insertion of the 4.5mm cannula and ArthroCare wand. Both ArthroCare wand and sucker shaver were used to debride the subacromial bursa. The coracoacromial ligament was left intact. No bursal sided tears were identified in the subacromial space. After completion of the subacromial bursectomy instruments were removed from the shoulder.**
Open subpectoral biceps tenodesis was performed. The patient’s arm was placed in an externally rotated position on a padded mayo stand. The pectoralis major tendon was identified as well as the axillary fold. An incision 1 cm lateral to the axillary fold extending 2 cm distal of the pectoralis major tendon was made with an indelible marker. The skin incision was performed with a 15 blade followed by dissection with electrocautery down to the fascia overlying the long head of the biceps. An interval between the long head of the biceps and short head of the biceps was identified and digitally dissected down to the fascia directly overlying the long head biceps tendon. The sheath was opened with Metzenbaum scissors and the long head of the biceps tendon was delivered with a right angle clamp. Marking the musculotendinous junction, a FiberWire loop on Keith needle was used to whipstitch 1.5 cm distal to the musculotendinous junction. The remaining tendon was excised. Utilizing a Chandler retractor to protect the medial structures, and a Homan retractor to expose the humerus, and an Army-Navy to expose the bicipital groove and retract the pectoralis major tendon superior, the drill guidewire for the Arthrex bio tenodesis screw and button guide was drilled through the anterior and posterior cortex of the humerus. This was followed by an 8 mm acorn reamer through the anterior cortex. Drill guide and reamer were removed from the shoulder. The strands of the biceps tendon were tied through the biceps button using a "marionette" suture technique. The biceps button was placed through the posterior cortex and flipped. The biceps tendon was brought into the tunnel using the marionette suture techniquie. An arthroscopic knot pusher was used to tie off the strands intramedullary. A single strand was passed through the arthrex screw driver and a 7x10mm PEEK screw was inserted into the anterior cortex. The remaining two sutures were tied over the top of the screw and cut. The wound was thoroughly irrigated and the wound was closed with 2-0 Vicryl deep dermal and skin staples.*
All portals were closed with 3-0 monocryl, and dressed with skin glue and steristrips, folded 4 x 4, Tegaderm. Patient was placed in a shoulder sling without abduction pillow, patient was awoken from anesthesia without complication and transferred to the PACU where he recovered without incident and was discharged home.

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

ENT coding: nasopharyngeal mass excision via scope

A surgeon is disputing our procedural coding on the following operation. I’d like to check our work and if correct, find some official source that may help explain to him why we’ve chosen the code we did. We selected 30999 unlisted procedure, nose because there is no code describing a nasal mass excision via scope….the surgeon wants us to use 30117 Excision/destruction, intranasal lesion, internal approach, which I don’t think is accurate. I don’t code ENT much anymore, so I may be off base and would really appreciate feedback from more experienced ENT coders.

If it matters, pathology came back as:

DIAGNOSIS
Nasopharynx, biopsy:
Nasopharyngeal mucosa with reactive lymphoid hyperplasia.

PROCEDURE PERFORMED: Removal of nasopharyngeal mass.

PROCEDURE: The patient was identified, taken back to the operating suite, placed in a supine position and administered a general endotracheal anesthetic by the department of anesthesia. After being successfully induced, I directed my attention to the nasal cavity where a 0 degree scope was used to identify the right nasal cavity. The scope was taken into the nasopharynx where a nasopharyngeal mass was noted. Using Tru biting forceps and Takahashi biting forceps the mass was removed and sent to pathology. Cauterization was done intranasally and through orally until the bleeding was controlled. The patient tolerated the procedure well and was sent to the postanesthesia recovery unit in satisfactory and stable condition. Postop instructions were discussed with the family instructions to follow up in the office in six weeks or sooner pending pathology results.

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Colon w over the scope padlock placement for fistula closing

Hello- I have a physician who just performed a "colonoscopy with over the scope padlock placement (to close the fistula) with anesthesia per MD scope clip padlock". ICD 10 code is k63.2- fistula of intestine. Fistulous process identified at 30 cms in the sigmoid, india ink injected gently via the cutaneous opening. The padlock was placed over the scope and the scope was advanced to the site. The tissue was suctioned and device deployed.

I am wondering which CPT code to use? The manufacturer of the padlock (US Endoscopy) suggested colon with control of bleed, which I do not agree with as there is no mention of bleeding anywhere? I know I can bill with colon with injection, but I was looking for something additional for the padlock placement, as this is the first we have done of this type of procedure? I found 44650, closure of enteroenteric or enterocolic fistula, but Medicare and Excellus fee schedule is rather high, and I want to be sure this is appropriate? Any help is greatly appreciated!! Thanks!

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Medical assistant scope of practice

If a medical assistant sees the patient without a doctor in the room for services that are within her scope (injection, suture removal, bandage change, etc.), how much is she permitted to actually do? ie:

Can she perform and document a brief exam of the affected area?
Can she perform and document a pertinent HPI?
Can she consult with the doctor about the plan of care and then document his plan?

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Help with which code to bill for nasal scope

I have recently took over billing at the Dr. office I work for. We do nasal scopes with a flex scope. We mainly do the scopes to check the sinus area out but he will go and see the larynx as well. Do I code a 92511 for nasopharyngoscopy, or 31231 for nasal endoscope, or 31575 laryngoscopy? I am confused on this one. I know reimbursement is higher for nasal enoscopy. I also know the purpose of the procedure is to make sure sinus is draining properly and no issues in any of the sinus area.

Thank you

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Scope of Practice Denial for TC

A podiatrist office we work with bills for the tech component for 88305, 88313, and 88312 then global for 88311 for slides made at their lab which is in the same medical group. They are getting a PR-172 denial code. The lab is mainly utilized for GI specimens and we aren’t getting the same denials for their claims. I’m wondering if the podiatrist isn’t "qualified" to oversee the tech component for pathology. Has anyone had any experience with anything like this? Any advice is greatly appreciated!!

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Scope of Practice Denial for TC

A podiatrist office we work with bills for the tech component for 88305, 88313, and 88312 then global for 88311 for slides made at their lab which is in the same medical group. They are getting a PR-172 denial code. The lab is mainly utilized for GI specimens and we aren’t getting the same denials for their claims. I’m wondering if the podiatrist isn’t "qualified" to oversee the tech component for pathology. Has anyone had any experience with anything like this? Any advice is greatly appreciated!!

Medical Billing and Coding Forum