HCC Blog by Caridad

The AFP Community Blog: Depression treatment: the evidence base from a pri... : - Jennifer Middleton, MD, MPH Most patients with depression  receive treatment solely from a primary care physician . Family physicians ha...

Diabetes “Buddy” codes The ICD-9-CM code for diabetes is assigned to category 250 Diabetes Mellitus.   The fourth digit is used to indicate the presence of a manifestations or complications identified due to diabetes. Consider the following in the documentation before assigning a code: 1. Type of diabetes the patient has. 2. Is the diabetes is controlled or uncontrolled? 3. Are there manifestations or complications? If so, what are they? Coding guidelines require two ICD-9 codes be used when coding diabetes and its manifestation.   If the physician just lists 250.40, then it is an incomplete diagnosis. They would need the second “buddy” code to completely document the patient’s condition.   The linking words of “due to” in the medical record are important as well. The following codes are used to indicate diabetes with manifestations.   The fifth digit determines the type of diabetes and whether it is uncontrolled or not stated as uncontrolled. 25...

From the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) YouTube channel, CMSHHSgov, the following videos on ICD-10-CM are available from their  CMS main page on YouTube : Introduction to ICD-10 Coding  2 minutes ICD-10 Coding and Diabetes  2 minutes Coding for ICD-10-CM: More of the Basics 12/02/14   36 minutes A free on line version of  ICD-10-CM  is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , CDC. #HCC #ICD-10   Disclaimer: This guidance is to be used for an easy reference; the ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM code books and the Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting are the authoritative references for accurate and complete coding. This blog may contain references or links to statutes, regulations, or other policy materials. It is not intended to take the place of either the written law or regulations.   The information presented herein is for general informational purposes only. And is ...

CMS ICD-10 Resources The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) offers resources to help the health care community prepare for the October 1, 2015, ICD-10 transition. No matter where you are in the process, CMS has resources to help you prepare. ICD-10 Basics Basic resources are a great place to start if you are looking for the background and benefits of the ICD-10 transition. These resources include overviews tailored by audience, including small and rural practices, payers, and non-covered entities. The ICD-10 Transition: An Introduction ICD-10 Basics for Medical Practices ICD-10 Basics for Small and Rural Practices ICD-10 Basics for Payers The ICD-10 Transition: Focus on Non-Covered Entities Communicating About ICD-10 Communication between health care providers, software vendors, clearinghouses, and billing services is vital to a successful transition. Learn how to get the conversation started with these resources: T...