Gear Up For 2010 Oncology And Hematology Coding Changes

By Author: Julia Rose
Total Articles: 89
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The Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) edits, released in April 2009, spelled good news as they did not hit your pocketbook and helped you keep your reimbursements intact.


Trace oncology codes:


Although CCI created a huge list of new edits in April, there were only 524 unique codes listed in column 2 of the new column 1/ column 2 edit list.


A major share of the edits bundle the typical injections and other procedures performed during surgery in the main surgical procedure or service. As such, they should not affect your day-to-day oncology coding if you have been coding correctly all along.


Tackle transfusion medicine edits:


Keep a watch on your coding if you have a lab and code for the indirect Coombs test used to find antibodies in blood before a transfusion. CCI creates a mutually exclusive edit with 86885 in the column 1 position and 86850 in the column 2 position. Mutually exclusive procedures cannot reasonably be performed at the same anatomic site or same patient encounter.


A note under the ...
... 86880-86886 series in the CPT manual states that you should report 86850 for indirect antihuman globulin (Coombs) test for RBC antibody screening.


We have entered the last quarter of this year. And as we gear up for the coming year, you'll do well to prepare for 2010 oncology and hematology coding changes. For more oncology and hematology coding updates, attend medical coding conferences and see how your coding practice looks upward.


In fact there's an oncology and hematology coding conference taking place in Orlando, FL this December where you can head to and rake in the moolah for your practice.


We also provide medical billing and medical coding audio conferences with premier coding experts, CDs, tapes and transcripts of coding training information by specialty.