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

Travel Safely to HEALTHCON

Take measures to make HEALTHCON a healthy experience. AAPC’s HEALTHCON 2021 is coming up quickly! I am so excited to be able to attend the in-person venue this year in Dallas, Texas, March 28-31. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I have had to continue to travel for work and have been fortunate enough to stay safe […]

The post Travel Safely to HEALTHCON appeared first on AAPC Knowledge Center.

AAPC Knowledge Center

Discussion of vaccines for travel

Hi everyone…hoping you can help.

We saw a patient that is traveling out of the country and wanted to discuss recommended travel vaccines with our physician; we are her PCP. The patient has original Medicare so my concern is the Dx codes that my provider used; Z71.89 Other specified counseling and Z11.59 Encounter for screening for other viral diseases. I can’t find another code to use in place of these Z codes and I’m concerned this won’t get paid with Medicare. There was nothing else discussed.

Advice?? I appreciate any feedback…

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Travel Immunizations May Merit a Separate E/M

As seen in The Journal of Urgent Care Medicine, titled “Travel Immunizations:” Q. What is the best way to code for and bill patients who come in because they are planning to travel out of the country and need to know what immunizations they should have before traveling? We advise them on preventive measures to […]

The post Travel Immunizations May Merit a Separate E/M appeared first on AAPC Knowledge Center.

AAPC Knowledge Center

Travel reimbursement for phlebotomy house calls

Hi to all. I’ve been trtying to get the best possible answer to my question but it only shows on how Medicare Reimburse Travel expenses using the P9603 and P9604. This coding part is new to my ear, It’s my 1st time to code for laboratory and travel expenses. Is travel expense reimburseable for commercial insurances. If yes what’s the code to use . And where can i get detailed or more info about cpt codes to use for travel expenses Any help will be appreciated.. thank you

Medical Billing and Coding Forum

Per Mile Travel Allowance P9603


In addition to a specimen collection fee Medicare, under Part B, covers a  travel allowance for a laboratory technician to draw a specimen from either a nursing home patient or homebound patient. The travel allowance is intended to cover the estimated travel costs of collecting a specimen and to reflect the technician’s salary and travel costs.

The travel allowance is not distributed by CMS. Instead, the carrier must calculate the travel allowance for each claim using the following rules for the particular Code. The following HCPCS codes are used for travel allowances:

Per Mile Travel Allowance (P9603)

The minimum “per mile travel allowance” is $ 1.00. The per mile travel allowance is to be used in situations where the average trip to patients’ homes is longer than 20 miles round trip, and is to be pro-rated in situations where specimens are drawn or picked up from non Medicare patients in the same trip. – one way, in connection with medically necessary laboratory specimen collection drawn from home bound or nursing home bound patient; prorated miles actually traveled (carrier allowance on per mile basis);

OR

The per mile allowance was computed using the Federal mileage rate plus an additional 45 cents a mile to cover the technician’s time and travel costs. Contractors have the option of establishing a higher per mile rate in excess of the minimum ($ 1.00 a mile in CY 2018) if local conditions warrant it. The minimum mileage rate will be reviewed and updated in conjunction with the clinical lab fee schedule as needed. At no time will the laboratory be allowed to bill for more miles than are reasonable or for miles not actually traveled by the laboratory technician.

See Examples..


Coding Ahead

Travel allowance for collection of specimens


CMS revises the payment of travel allowances when billed on a per mileage basis using Health Care Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) code P9603 and when billed on a flat-rate basis using HCPCS code P9604 for 2018.

The travel codes allow for payment either on a per mileage basis for code P9603 or on a flat rate per trip basis for P9604. Payment of the travel allowance is made only if a specimen collection fee is also payable. The travel allowance is intended to cover the estimated travel costs of collecting a specimen including the laboratory technician’s salary and travel expenses.

Under either method, when one trip is made for multiple specimen collections (for example, at a nursing home), the travel payment component is prorated based on the number of specimens collected on that trip, for both Medicare and non-Medicare patients, either at the time the claim is submitted by the laboratory or when the flat rate is set by the MAC.

The per mile travel allowance (P9603) is to be used in situations where the average trip to the patients’ homes is longer than 20 miles round trip, and is to be prorated in situations where specimens are drawn from non-Medicare patients in the same trip.

Please note:  Your MAC has the discretion to choose either a mileage basis or a flat rate, and how to set each type of allowance. Many MACs established local policy to pay based on a flat rate basis only. 

See Fee rates for P9603 and P9604


Coding Ahead

Patriot Adventure Travel Medical Insurance

These plans Patriot Adventure International Travel Medical Insurance and Patriot Adventure America Travel Medical Insurance are for those of you who are Adventure Sports enthusiasts, it is available for adventure sports enthusiasts from the U.S. as well as non-U.S. citizens. Both of these Patriot Adventure Travel Medical Insurance plans are available from a minimum of 30 days up to a maximum of 6 months.

Patriot Adventure Travel Medical Insurance benefit highlights: Maximum limit of $ 50,000, Individual Deductible of $ 250, No Coinsurance for treatment received outside the U.S. and Canada For treatment received inside the U.S. and Canada the plan pays 90% of eligible expenses up to $ 5,000 then 100% up to the policy maximum if treatment is received within the PPO Network. If treatment is received outside of the PPO Network the plan pays 80% up to $ 5,000 then 100% up to the plan maximum. The Benefit period is 6 months. 24 hour access to MyImg. Both plans include world-class medical benefits for both in-patient and out-patient treatment. Both plans also include International Medical Care: emergency evacuation, emergency reunion, return of mortal remains, political evacuation and more.

 

Here are the Schedule of Benefits, Additional Benefits, International Emergency Care and Optional Riders. Schedule of Benefits:
All of the following are covered Up to the Maximum Limit: Hospital Room and Board, Intensive Care, Medical Expenses, Local Ambulance, Prescription Drugs, Emergency Room Accident, Dental – Due to Accident.
Emergency Room Illness without In-patient Admission – Up to Maximum Limit with additional $ 250 deductible, Dental – Sudden Pain – up to $ 100, Indemnity (for U.S. Citizens only) – up to $ 100 per night.

Additional Benefits:

Sports and Activities Coverage: up to maximum limit for basic sports, Sudden Recurrence of a Pre-existing Condition – Medical (for U.S. Citizens only) – up to $ 1,000 of eligible costs and expenses, Sudden Recurrence of a Pre-existing Condition – Emergency Medical Evacuation (for U.S.+ Citizens only) – up to $ 25,000 of eligible costs and expenses, Common Carrier Accidental Death – $ 50,000 to beneficiary; maximum of $ 250,000 per family, Lost Luggage – up to $ 50 per item of personal property; maximum of $ 250 per Period of Coverage.

Adventure Sports and Activities Covered:

 

Non-Contact Amateur Athletic Activities, BMX, Bungee Jumping, Canyoning, Spelunking, Caving, Cave Tubing, Flying, Hang Gliding, Windsurfing, Heli-Skiing, High Diving, Horseback Riding, Hot Air Ballooning, Jungle Zip Lining, Kayaking, Inline Skating, Motorcycle/Motorscooter Riding, Mountain Biking, Mountaineering (ropes and guides to 4,500 meters from ground level), Rappelling, Rock Climbing (ropes and guides to 4,500 meters from ground level), Skydiving, Paragliding, Parascending, Scuba Diving to 50 meters, Snorkling, Snow Skiing, Snowboarding, Snowmobiling, Surging, Trekking, Jet Skiing, Water Skiing, Wakeboarding, Whitewater Rafting to Class V, Wildlife Safaris
Not Covered: Contact sports, professional sports and any athletic activities that are organized and/or sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (or any other collegiate sanctioning body) or the International Olympic Committee.

 

International Emergency Care:

Emergency Medical Evacuation – up to the Maximum Limit, Emergency Reunion – up to $ 10,000, Return of Mortal Remains – up to $ 15,000, Political Evacuation – up to $ 10,000.

So if you’re planning a vacation which will include your favorite Extreme Sports go to the links below and check out Patriot Adventure International Travel Medical Insurance and Patriot Adventure America Travel Medical Insurance, you can’t go wrong. http://www.GlobalTravelCoverage.com.

Thank you for your time and I hope that you read more of my articles in the future.

Specializes in Travel Medical Insurance, Trip Insurance, Global Health Insurance and all of the derivations(Mission, Marine, Student, etc.). For your Travel Medical Insurance needs visit us at: Global Medical Coverage.

Patriot Executive Travel Medical Insurance

Patriot Executive International Travel Medical Insurance plan offers a complete package of International benefits 24 hours a day. There is a Patriot Executive plan for U.S. citizens and one for non-U.S. citizens. Each plan provides coverage for you, your spouse and your children for each trip outside your home country during a period of up to 1 year. Each plan offers excellent benefits including access to international multi-lingual customer service centers, claims administrators and 24 hour access to highly qualified coordinators of emergency medical services and international treatment.

Each Patriot Executive Travel Medical Insurance plan has the following:

Maximum limit of $ 1,000,000, maximum limit for travelers age 70-75 is $ 50,000
$ 250 deductible for each covered illness
No Coinsurance outside the U.S. and in PPO Network inside the U.S. and Canada is 90% up to $ 5,000 then 100% up to policy maximum and Out of PPO Network the plan pays 80% up to $ 5,000 then 100% up to the policy maximum
24 hour access to MyImg
World-class medical benefits for in-patient and out-patient medical expenses
Schedule of Benefits
The following are covered Up to the Maximum Limit: Hospital Room and Board, Intensive Care, Medical Expenses, Local Ambulance, Prescription Drugs, Emergency Room Accident, Dental – Due to Accident.
Emergency Room Illness without In-patient Admission – Up to Maximum Limit with additional $ 250 deductible, Dental – Sudden Pain – up to $ 100, Indemnity (for U.S. Citizens only) – up to $ 100 per night.

Additional Benefits
Terrorism: up to $ 50,000 lifetime maximum
Sports and Activities Coverage: up to maximum limit for basic sports
Trip Interruption – up to $ 5,000
Common Carrier Accidental Death – $ 50,000 to beneficiary; maximum of $ 250,000 per family
Accidental Death & Dismemberment – $ 25,000 principle sum
Lost Luggage – up to $ 50 per item of personal property; maximum of $ 250 per Period of Coverage.

International Emergency care
Emergency Medical Evacuation – up to the Maximum Limit
Emergency Reunion – up to $ 15,000
Return of Mortal Remains – up to $ 25,000
Return of Minor Children – $ 5,000
Political Evacuation – up to $ 10,000
Identify Theft Assistance – up to $ 500 per Period of Coverage.

Considering the low rates for purchasing either the a Patriot Executive International Travel Medical Insurance or the a Patriot Executive America International Travel Medical Insurance and the aforementioned benefits, both of the Patriot Executive Travel Medical Insurance plans could be very valuable to the traveling executive and their company or organization. For more information or to buy on-line visit the links below. http://www.GlobalTravelCoverage.com.

Thank you for your time and I hope that you read more of my articles in the future.

Specializes in Travel Medical Insurance, Trip Insurance, Global Health Insurance and all of the derivations(Mission, Marine, Student, etc.). For your Travel Medical Insurance needs visit us at: Global Medical Coverage.

Related Medical Coding Articles

Important things to Consider before Medical Travel or Medical Tourism

Now days, individuals or even corporate have taken radical steps to save with the high cost of medical care in some countries such as the United States by considering medical tourism, oversee surgeries and medical travel. Many have visited to other destinations or countries to get health care healing at a lower price. This is known as medical travel, health care tourism or medical tourism. In other type of cases individuals in developing or poorer countries travels to a richer country to get medical treatment that is not accessible in their own country. An another motive for medical travel is to go from a country with long waits for some treatments as happens sometimes with national medical care to one with less waiting. Following are few reasons one should consider before setting up medical travel and health tourism.

Firstly, people of expensive medical cost countries, like United States and United Kingdom in specific, can save a lot of medical bills with oversee treatment. Surgeries in India, Cost Rica and Mexico are many times cheaper than in the USA, and the same is valid of many other countries. The expensive can be quite noteworthy, especially for treatment that are not covered by medical insurance, or for individuals who are not insured.

Secondly it is becoming frequent for medical insurance companies, agents or employers who want to cut medical expensive to encourage their consumers or employees to practice medical tourism. In this way they can save a lot of funds this way. They may pay partial refunds, or at least cover transportation and housing.

Thirdly, if someone is worried about the standards of medical care oversees; there is good amount assistance and information available. Many international associations and agencies, including the medical tourism associations study medical care facilities, infrastructure and hospitals around the world. They have grant accreditation to many international centers. The standards of medical treatment are a very complicated issue and may differ a lot within a country or states. Accreditation given to international medical centers at least provides some comfort in knowing there is a lower bound on the worth of an accredited facility.

Fourthly, be cautions that it may be hard or not possible to get reparation for misconduct in some medical centers in different countries. Occasionally misconduct claims are not permissible or very incomplete. In some cases, a negligence suit may be likely, but it may be very tricky to collect if you even win. Negligence should be exceptional, but it is fine to understand that the covers one has at home might not exist abroad.

Lastly, medical tourism and medical travel has some risks of its own. You might come across some diseases that are seldom if ever present at home. Communicable disease during recovery from operation or other treatments is a risky fixation. But the good thing is that medical care staff in the area you are visiting are certainly familiar with the diseases you could catch while there.

There are even risks from the general traveling. The idiom economy class condition refers to the danger of developing blood clots in the lower body due to being seated and unmoving during a long plane flight. Traveling while recovering from surgery raises the risk of this. This is also the one of the factor to consider when thinking about health travel.

Medical tourism and health tourism may be best alternative for many people, for non-emergency treatments of course. It is regularly used for hip, joint and knee replacement or dental surgery. Cosmetic treatment is another possibility. There are medical tourism consultants and facilitators who could provide guidance at every level. They can guide you about the options available in popular medical tourism destinations. These medical tourism consultants act much like a travel agency and set almost the whole things up for you.

Medical Tourism and Health Tourism consultancy are offered by Global Benefit Options. GBO is a skilled medical tourism consultant with wide industry relationships with insurance companies, brokers and hospitals globally. For more information visit http://www.globalbenefitoptions.com

Related Medical Coding Articles

Medical Tourism, Medical Treatment and Travel in Thailand

Medical tourism continues to show strong growth around the world as costs of healthcare, and often waiting times, in developed countries also continue to rise. Potential health care recipients are turning outside their own countries, in ever increasing numbers, and Thailand is one of the main countries to benefit from this trend.  Thailand, considered by many to be the global leader in providing healthcare for medical tourists, has seen robust growth in this market over the last ten years.  Widely used estimates suggest that the number of medical tourists has risen from 500,000 in 2001 to over 1.4 million in 2009.  Most of this increase was achieved in the last five years and is currently generating an income to Thailand of around $ 2 billion.  The most important markets for the industry in Thailand are the Middle East and Europe.  With The Middle East accounting for over 50% of this total, the Tourism Authority of Thailand is currently involved in setting up several initiatives to further develop this market. 

The number of hospitals and clinics to choose from in Thailand, along with treatments provided, is extensive.  Further, patients can choose to undergo their surgeries from any one of the hospitals located in the world class destinations of; Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket and Chiang Mai.  Some of the most popular procedures include; cardiac surgery, orthopedic surgery, cosmetic surgery and dental care.  The actual cost savings on these procedures can be huge.  For example, the cost of a heart bypass or valve replacement, can typical cost between $ 130,000 to $ 160,000 in a developed country.  In contrast, the same surgery, performed to the same standard, would cost around $ 10,000 in Thailand.

Thailand has long been a favorite medical tourist destination for a number of reasons.  Firstly, the actual facilities and equipment available is world class.  Historically, Thailand was the first nation in the region to receive ISO 9001 accreditation for one of its hospitals, and with significant investments made by the medical industry; many other hospitals have now achieved similar status.  Equally as important, the training of the medical staff is commonly to the same standard as the West.  Thai doctors not only undergo a first class education within their won country, but additionally, often undertake specialist training, usually either in the United States or Europe.  Of course, along with state of the art facilities, well trained staff, and huge discounts available compared to their native countries, medical tourists are also attracted to Thailand for its many attractions as a world class tourist destination. 

Thailand has long remained one of the top holiday destinations worldwide and for a recuperating patient has potentially much to offer.  There are beautiful exotic beaches, large areas of National Park, splendid historical and cultural attractions, excellent cuisine and equally first rate shopping.  Another lure for potential visitors are the many wonderful spas available throughout the country, which provide the perfect way to relax and recover, before returning home. Additionally to this, if staying in Bangkok, a visitor can enjoy the excitement and international facilities of a city, again voted World’s Best City by Travel and Leisure magazine.  Regardless of the what medical treatment is required, it‘s easy to see why ever increasing numbers are attracted to Thailand, as a way of reducing medical costs, whilst receiving world class treatment, combined with being able to enjoy the many attractions Thailand has to offer. 

The Tourist Authority of Thailand has now proudly launched its new medical portal website www.ThailandMedTourism.com to provide useful, legitimate and up-to-date advice about medical tourism and medical providers in Thailand for international patients who are interested in getting world class healthcare in the kingdom from plastic surgery to treatments for more life threatening illnesses.

This press release was written and submitted by Mark Alexander internet marketing manager of www.itandwebdesign.com and www.markacesmith.com.

Related Medical Coding Articles