Get Your Cardiology Reimbursement With Optimized Resources

By Author: Julia Rose
Total Articles: 89
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Get your cardiology reimbursement on time with the latest cardiology updates. With updates, your coding changes for the better- but only if you're geared-up for the changes. Cardiology coding experts recommend some guidelines for you - make sure you incorporate them in your everyday work to get your well-deserved reimbursement.


Optimize your resources to get the cardiology reimbursement you deserve - every time.


Use coding books accurately: Remember, index entries often do not contain fifth digits. That's why you need to confirm the code you find in the index by looking it up in the tabular section. Don't depend on the index to select your code; you're inviting trouble. Do a complete and thorough search. Your coding book may have a symbol, but it can still be easy to miss the fact that you need to add a fourth or fifth digit. Depending on the length of the category, the sub-classification may be listed two or more pages after the start of the listing.


Watch for dump codes: ...
... In your quest to code to the highest level of specificity, be careful. You may go from bad to worse by assigning a dump code. These catchall codes are frowned upon by Medicare and other payers, because they are nonspecific or ill-defined and should only be used after you've checked all other options.


Update your encounter forms: If your encounter form or superbill only lists three-digit categories, rather than listing the fourth and fifth digit subcategories and sub-classifications - the cardiologist may truncate the code inadvertently. Check your cardiology practice's superbill or encounter form to make sure it clearly indicates which codes are dump codes.


All symptom codes need five digits: Coding to the highest degree of certainty means coding only what you know as fact. Yet, cardiologists often see patients for ill-defined symptoms that require further testing. Until the results are in, however, use only the symptom codes. These codes, which serve as a provisional diagnosis, always require a fifth digit.


Apart from getting up-to-date information and critical updates, you also need to attend cardiology conferences to interact with experienced coding professionals and industry experts - to know how to apply your new-found knowledge.