Medical Billing Forum
Coding => Coding => : prhodes December 24, 2014, 04:57:09 AM
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Hi,
I was given the task of finding out if we can charge for surgical trays for office surgical procedures ? This is pain management practice - we do lots of Auto claims. I believe the answer is no but I am not sure. I know Medicare will not pay for Surgical trays with POS office -11 - but will pay for out patient facility - Sx Center or hospital. Sorry this is brand new specialty for me. I was informed by my practice manager that we can charge for surgical tray for the Auto carriers and that they should pay. If this is correct then what code do we need to use. Also what would you recommend for coding books or electronic coding software- I have 4 providers - Chiropractic - DO = Physical Medicine - Pain Management- Neurology - 3 offices- I still need to get everyone trained for ICD 10 so we can be ready in Oct- for the transition . Any suggestion on how to train providers on what they need to know - example documentation - codes. All the providers think that ICD 10 will be delayed again and the just laugh. They keep telling me that they are to busy-- I guess I will have to start talking money - It seems like when we tell them this will affect your bottom line - then they will stop and pay attention.
Just inherited a brand new position -and took over someone mess - Just give me my cape ....and call me the clean up man.. Sorry for the vent
Happy holidays to everyone ..and lots of success and happiness in the New Year
Pat
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Hi Pat-
The surgical tray code I use is A4550. Take a look at it, and see if it works for your needs. While you can't bill it to Medicare in an office setting as you say, there are a few commercial insurances that will allow and pay for the code. BCBS is one in my area, for example.
As for ICD-10 training, etc...what I have done to prepare was to make sure my office's software was upgraded to include the ICD-10 codes, purchased the Optum ICD-10 Mappings book, then figured out what the top 50 dx codes our office billed to put on a cheat-sheet if needed, and converted all the dx codes on our superbills over to ICD-10, for future use. As we get closer to the time of the conversion(if it happens, which I am still doubtful about at times), I will educate my doctor on the most used codes for our office. The provider I work for is very thorough with her documentation already, but I have explained to her the concept of initial, subsequent, sequelae. Here is a little info about what doctors need to be aware of:
http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Coding/ICD10/Downloads/ICD-10-News-Documentaton-and-ICD-10%5B1%5D.pdf