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 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 Click here for more sample CPC practice exam questions and answers with full rationaleTag Archives: Understanding
Help understanding clarifications/queries
I am not an expert on clarifications or queries, but I smell fraud here. I need help to better understand what is happening. I code for a hospital, so my outpatient experience is limited. I am not aware of the process for a coder to scour a patient’s chart prior to a visit and then requesting/directing the physician to "pay attention to this problem." Is this practice commonplace? If so, does it have a different name other than a query or clarification?
To me, this is a blatantly fraudulent activity that is intended to direct the physician to boost the severity of the patient’s condition. Although I support capturing the patient’s complete health picture, if it is not clinically relevant and validated for the current encounter than it is not applicable. The appearance is that they are trying to introduce diagnoses without evidence, and want to hide that process.
I would appreciate any assistance in trying to better understand what is happening. Is this practice normal and compliant? I suspect the answer is a resounding "No!" Are there other resources that you can point me to in order to investigate further?
Thank you all for your help!
Understanding phase 2 requirements for survey readiness
Understanding The Home Medical Device Market Today
One of the greatest benefits that individuals enjoy is the fact that they can have vital medical device technology right at their fingertips in the comfort of their own home. Through years of innovation and technology medical devices have gone through some serious transformations that has allowed them to not only become more user-friendly but in addition to that they have become much more affordable. Many years ago the thought that so many difference devices would be able to be used in the home setting was unthinkable. One such great example is a pulse oximeter and blood pressure monitor. Both products were the type that you would typically just find in the hospital setting. One is made specifically for measuring the pulse rate and blood oxygen saturation while the other is made to strictly measure the blood pressure of individuals. If one was to use these two things at home to monitor their health they really did not have any access to them.
Then what occurred is that there was some major technological advancements in chip technology and semiconductors. Through such pulse oximeter innovation the products were able to be manufactured to be firstly smaller and more portable and secondly much less expensive. So essentially if you have a health condition like lung cancer where you need to closely monitor your oxygen levels or whether you have high blood pressure then what you can do is to easily follow your health levels. The other great benefit of the advancement is actually the fact that the pulse oximeter products became significantly cheaper and more affordable for regular home consumers. The hospitals have budgets that are able to withstand expensive health items, but regular individuals need to have the ability to have access to their monitoring systems while still being conscious of their budgets and financial capabilities.
The highest quality pulse oximeter products can be found at http://www.pulseoximetersupply.com
Related Medical Coding Articles
Understanding Medical Malpractice Cases
Physicians and surgeons are vital to the functioning of a country’s people and health care system. They are the link that holds public health together.
However, due to the increase of surgeries and illnesses, there are a greater number of patients who claim that they have been treated with negligence. Anyone that is a practicing physician is required to have some form of professional liability insurance to guard against these claims.
These offset most of the risks and costs of lawsuits that are filed against professionals. Medical malpractice is a very interesting type of case.
It is always the mission of an honorable medical professional to take care of their patients and help them to become healthy once again. However, there are often accidents or situations that elicit a case.
Wrongfully diagnosing a patient can lead to medical malpractice lawsuits. For instance, if a doctor diagnoses a patient as having an illness that is less serious than one that they really have and they do not receive adequate treatment for a cure, it could mean trouble for the physician.
The opposite is also true; if a patient is treated for a disease that they do not have, and they receive damaging surgeries and medication, the doctor is liable. These cases are unfortunate and happen more often than they should.
They are especially traumatic if the individual experiences damage, disability, financial loss, unemployment, or death. Many common complaints have a likelihood of turning into malpractice cases.
Some of these include chest pain, abdominal pain, breast lumps, coughing, and bleeding. All of the symptoms are basic ones that lead to more serious illnesses, like breast cancer, appendicitis, or a heart attack.
When a doctor is involved in this type of situation, it is necessary that they find help from an attorney immediately. They will be able to direct them in the process and help them to make use of their liability insurance.
It is best to find a lawyer that specializes in medical malpractice, because they will be most adequate in deciding what must be done to win the case and clear the individual’s name. Those that find themselves in need of a personal injury lawyer should research online or ask friends and family for recommendations.
Individuals that have received new symptoms after a treatment are usually not able to file a lawsuit such as this, because it could be related to a number of different things. Usually, the underlying medical condition must be the cause of the specific symptom that has been noticed and recorded.
Chronic symptoms of a sickness can also be grounds for a case, especially if they are damaging or disabling. The negligence of a professional could have caused them.
Post-surgical pain would be considered a chronic pain. If it was newly developed after receiving surgery and the patient had never experienced it before, they may be able to receive compensation.
This is especially true if there is proof that the procedure caused the pain and if the problems that they are currently experiencing are worse than what they were being treated for before. If the symptom prevents you from being able to hold an occupation and earn an income, there is a possible that you will be able to receive a monetary allowance or retribution.
Chronic pain, back pain, and overpowering fatigue are all issues that can be brought on after a surgery; if these issues do not heal or stop within a certain amount of time, then you may find it difficult to go on with your regular routine. This may warrant a malpractice case, so get in touch with a lawyer and ask about the type of compensation you could possible receive.
Situations like these are never easy or come without consequences. Even if you file a lawsuit and receive payments back, you will still have to pay the professional that assisted you and take care of fees that you may have incurred.
Medical malpractice is one type of suit that should not be taken lightly; if you are not experiencing any damaging issues or pain, but simply feel that the doctor that treated you could have made a mistake, see that person individually or get a second opinion from another professional. You can learn more about these types of situations by researching online or consulting with an attorney that specializes in them.
Tom Selwick has been working with personal injury law in Arizona for the past 10 years. He has written hundreds of articles dealing with the subject. He recommends this Arizona Medical Malpractice Attorney.
Contact Info:
Tom Selwick
[email protected]
http://www.toblerlaw.com
HELP with understanding levels and in/out pt. coding
Understanding Bariatric Surgery: CPT and Surgical Interventions
- Sleeve gastrectomy
- In a sleeve gastrectomy, part of the stomach is separated and removed from the body. The remaining section of the stomach is formed into a tube like structure. This smaller stomach cannot hold as much food. It also produces less of the appetite-regulating hormone ghrelin, which may lessen your desire to eat. However, sleeve gastrectomy does not affect the absorption of calories and nutrients in the intestines.
- Gastric restriction with mild nutritional malabsorption (eg Roux-en-Y gastric bypass)
- The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass,
- A small stomach pouch is created with a stapler device and connected to the distal small intestine. The upper part of the small intestine is then reattached in a Y-shaped configuration.
- “Combination” surgery, that includes both mild gastric restriction and malabsorption (duodenal switch)
- Sleeve gastrectomy with duodenal switch
- In this procedure, the physician performs a “sleeve gastrectomy” which includes a duodenal switch.
- The stomach is resected and “tubulized” with a residual volume of about 150 ml. This gastric reduction is the food intake restriction component. The stomach itself, is then resected from the duodenum and connected to the distal part of the small intestine. Once that is completed, the duodenum and the upper part of the small intestine are reattached to the rest at about 75–100 cm from the colon.
Open Procedures
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|||
VBG
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Gastric restrictive procedure, without gastric bypass, for morbid obesity; vertical-banded gastroplasty
|
43842
|
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AGB
|
Gastric restrictive procedure, without gastric bypass, for morbid obesity; other than vertical-banded gastroplasty
|
43843
|
|
BPD/DS
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Gastric restrictive procedure, with partial gastrectomy, pylorus-preserving duodenoileostomy (50 to 100 cm common channel) to limit absorption (BPD/DS)
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43845
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RYGB (proximal)
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Gastric restrictive procedure, with gastric bypass for morbid obesity; with short limb (less than 150 cm) Roux-en-Y gastroenterostomy
|
43846
|
|
RYGB (distal)
|
Gastric restrictive procedure, with gastric bypass for morbid obesity; with small intestine reconstruction to limit absorption
|
43847
|
|
Revision RYGB
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Revision, open, of gastric restrictive procedure for morbid obesity, other than adjustable gastric restrictive device (separate procedure)
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43848
|
|
BPD
|
Gastrectomy, partial, distal; with Roux-en-Y reconstruction
|
43633
|
|
Laparoscopic Bypass Procedures
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RYGB (proximal)
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Laparoscopy, surgical, gastric restrictive procedure; with gastric bypass and Roux-en Y gastroenterostomy (Roux limb 150 cm or less)
|
43644
|
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RYGB (distal)
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Laparoscopy, surgical, gastric restrictive procedure; with gastric bypass and small intestine reconstruction to limit absorption
|
43645
|
|
Lap DS, Lap revisions
Lap sleeve gastrectomy
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Unlisted laparoscopy, stomach
|
43659
|
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Laparoscopic Gastric Restrictive Procedures
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Lap adjustable gastric band and port implantation
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Implantation of adjustable gastric band and port, [Laparoscopic]
|
43770
|
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Lap Sleeve Gastrectomy
|
Laparoscopy, surgical, gastric restrictive procedure; longitudinal gastrectomy (i.e., sleeve gastrectomy)
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43775
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- History of bariatric (weight loss) surgery
- History of bariatric surgery
- History of diabetes mellitus resolved post bariatric surgery
- History of diabetes mellitus resolved post bariatric surgery (situation)
- History of diabetes mellitus resolved post gastric bypass
- History of diabetes mellitus resolved post gastric bypass (situation)
- History of gastric bypass
- Presence of laparoscopic band/ or presence of laparoscopic gastric banding device