Have The Right Command On Your Coding!

By Author: Julia Rose
Total Articles: 89
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Pain management coding includes codes related to procedures for treatment of pain in patients. It is one of the most challenging aspects in medical healthcare. One of the major challenges in pain management coding is Modifier 59 as it is one of the most misunderstood modifiers. Modifier 59 is used to identify procedures/services that are not normally reported together, but are appropriate under the circumstances. So if your physician performs two medically necessary procedures during the same session, it would be of great help to you if you know the ins and outs of this modifier.


If you want to have command over this modifier and avoid problems in getting your claims paid, you should be aware regarding its appropriate use. The OIG and many payers continually review physicians' modifier 59 use. However, there are many circumstances when one should use modifier 59. Few such situations are:


For the identification of procedures that are distinctly separate from another procedure provided by the physician on the ...
... same day; and when your physician tends to a patient during a different session, treats a different site or organ system.


Sometimes, there is a confusion among coders understanding where exactly the physician did the procedure. If there is any such confusion at all, the best option for the coder is to go back to the physician who performed the treatment and get the clarification done.


For more on pain management coding and the right ways to use modifier 59, the easiest way to go about is getting yourself audio recordings in CDs and MP3s which will run you through pain management coding conferences if you happen to miss it.


Keep on updating your knowledge about pain management coding updates by attending pain management coding conference with premier coding experts, CDs, tapes and transcripts of coding training information by specialty.