Author: Hill, Emily

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: November 2000

Few non-clinical issues have inspired as much discussion, revision, and anxiety as the evaluation and management (E/M) services and their accompanying documentation guidelines. E/M services have produced a cottage industry focused on ensuring that medical records contain necessary docu....

Author: Barta, Ann

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: June 2010

ICD-10-CM/PCS will capture a greater level of specificity for obstetric coding. This article highlights some of the new features in coding obstetric cases with ICD-10-CM/PCS.
OB Diagnoses Coding with ICD-10-CM

Obstetric cases require diagnosis codes from chapter 15 of ICD-10-CM,....

Author: Gold, Robert S.; Brown, Margi

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: November 2004

Part 1 of 2: The CPT Aspect

Concentrating on lesions in the integumentary system, this article provides some basic and user-friendly information for the coder to have at hand in the day-to-day world of coding.

Coding for lesions in the integumentary system requires a good under....

Author: Gold, Robert S.; Brown, Margi

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: January 2005

Part 2 of 2: The Diagnosis Aspect and More CPT Notes


As noted in part 1 (Nov./Dec. 2004), lesion coding can be confusing. Terms are often vague or used interchangeably. Thus good documentation is absolutely crucial for the correct coding of both diagnosis and procedure. It’s go....

Author: Miller, Jackie

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: October 2008

Coding biliary procedures requires in-depth knowledge of anatomy as well as coding guidelines. This article outlines the correct coding for biliary procedures in outpatient and physician settings.



The Biliary System




The biliary system consist....

Author: Scichilone, Rita A

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: June 2000

Do you know your APCs? July 1, 2000, is the start date for the Ambulatory Payment Classification (APC) prospective payment system for Medicare reimbursement. CPT coding skills will directly affect revenue as the current Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) methodology is abandoned and mor....

Author: Schnitzer, Gregory L.; Stanfill, Mary H

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: October 2001

Nearly two years ago, the AHIMA Coding Futures Task Force predicted that coders would eventually need to go beyond assignment of diagnostic and procedural codes.1 The task force was right-and that future is now for coders in certain specialties. Natural language processing (NLP), in which comp....

Author: Nelson, Tanai S

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes

Publication Date: November 2010

In August the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services established a new prospective payment system (PPS) for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) facilities. The ESRD PPS will provide a single payment to ESRD facilities for renal dialysis services and other items and services related to home dial....

Author: Kennedy, James S.

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes | Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: July 2006

This year ICD-9-CM expanded code 276.5, Volume depletion, and created the more specific codes 276.51, Dehydration, and 276.52, Hypovolemia, at the request of the American Academy of Pediatrics.1 As treatments for these conditions differ and accurate coding must reflect illness severity and mort....

Author: Ward, Maria

Source: Journal of AHIMA - Coding Notes | Journal of AHIMA

Publication Date: March 2015

On October 31, 2014, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2015 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Final Rule. Because of section 101 of the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA) of 2014, no changes to the fee schedule will occur until April 1, 2015. At t....