HEALTH CARE BILLING NEWS

Benefits of implementing ICD-10

The ICD-10 is not a mere update in the coding system. ICD-10 is a streamlined set of codes that enables greater ‘specificity’ in indicating the exact medical condition of a patient and procedure done. This specificity will provide multiple benefits to the Medical Insurance Billing and coding as well as healthcare industry.

Improved quality in clinical documentation: The ICD-10 coding system is much dependant on clinical documentation. Since thousands of diagnosis & procedure codes have been added to ICD 10, the precision of the codes depend on the clinical documents. So, with the implementation of ICD-10, quality of clinical documentation will improve.

Improved quality in healthcare: With ICD-9, the major focus was to improve reimbursements. But, ICD-10 coding setup supports ‘performance based payment’ system rather than aiming at returns. This will change the way healthcare is and will improve the quality of care.

Preventing healthcare fraudulent activities: National Healthcare Anti-Fraud Association (NHCAA) cites that anywhere between $70 billion and $234 billion is lost annually through healthcare frauds. Healthcare frauds are becoming common in the Medical Billing industry also, focusing majorly on Medical Insurance Billing And Coding manipulations involving medical Billing Services providing companies, hospitals and other healthcare entities. ICD-9 is more generic and allows tweaks to be made in coding to get better reimbursements. But, in ICD-10, the codes are specific and prevent manipulations to a great extent. This will over a period of time, have control over medical billing fraudulent activities as well.

Reporting features: Since the ICD codes are used for health surveillance and researches also, specificity in ICD-10 will reveal the exact health condition of people in the US. For instance, for ‘Brain tumor’, the ICD-9 CM assigned was generic. In ICD-10 CM, there are specific codes to mention if the ‘right’ or ‘left hemisphere’ is affected and whether it is ‘occurrence or recurrence’. All this will provide better insight to the healthcare department & help in efficient ‘disease management’.

Interoperability:

Sharing of health information with other countries is difficult to US with ICD-9, since all other countries except a very few, follows ICD-10 coding system. Now, with the implementation of ICD-10, US will be able to bridge the gap by sharing information across borders more efficiently and thereby empowering quality of care.

Great accuracy with fewer codes: ICD-10 will contain nearly 150,000 codes including CM & PCS. Though there are thousands of codes newly included, you can accurately describe a medical condition or encounter with fewer codes when compared to ICD-9 that needs more number of codes to indicate the same.

About the Author:

Tanya Gill is the Public Relations Manager for ecare India based in Chennai, India. She has wide knowledge and experience in the medical industry. ecare India is a leading
medical billing
company offering end-end
medical billing services
and is backed by extensive domain expertise, latest technology and dynamic compliance norms. ecare is HIPAA compliant and is the first Indian Medical Billing Company to get ISO 27001: 2005 certified for information security management. ecare is also ISO 9001:2008 certified for quality management. By providing outsourced medical billing services, ecare makes it feasible.

Ferri’s Clinical Advisor 2012

Steel Medical Id Bracelet $34 Steel Medical Id Bracelet

Medical Identification Jewelry Bracelet 1 Ea $3.94 Medical Identification Jewelry Bracelet gives you the best medical attention possible.

Medical ID allergy necklace medical alert jewelry bracelets – 1 ea $3.94 It is designed so that medical personnel can give you the best medical attention possible.

Adventure Medical Kits Pro Paddler Medical Kit $107.95 Adventure Medical Kits Pro Paddler Medical Kit – The Pro Paddler Kit is ideal for outdoor guides or as a group kit for overnight adventures. All of the components are organized inside of clear, resealable modules. Header cards are included in each module to easily identify the contents. The modules are stored in the rugged, roll-down closure dry bag to keep everything waterproof. The dry bag features a waist belt for securing while boating, or for attaching to your waist when responding to accidents. Remember, the river, lake or ocean can be a long way from medical attention. Keep everyone in your group safe, and don’t go boating without one of these medical kits!

Adams’ Coding and Reimbursement: A Simplified Approach $65.95 Combining the basics of coding, insurance, and reimbursement in one concise text, Adams’ Coding and Reimbursement: A Simplified Approach, 4th Edition looks at the big picture of medical billing and coding and shows how it fits into the physician reimbursement system. Clearly organized, full-color chapters guide you through the entire coding and claims process, detailing coding rules and applications, insurance guidelines, and the reimbursement system. Realistic, hands-on practice helps you apply what you’ve learned. Written by medical insurance, billing, and coding expert Wanda Adams, this edition includes the latest ICD-9-CM and CPT codes, a new chapter on HCPCS coding, and a new chapter preparing you for the 2013 transition to ICD-10-CM. Hybrid approach to coding and insurance shows how coding, claims submission, and reimbursement go hand in hand. Coding exercises teach you how to correctly code using the ICD-9-CM and CPT manuals. Coding Tips boxes highlight important information. Test Your Knowledge questions within each chapter help you assess your strengths and weaknesses and prepare for exams. Code It and Claim It! program on the companion Evolve website familiarizes you with a professional coding claim interface and provides practice with actual patient cases. NEW ICD-10-CM Diagnostic Coding chapter prepares you for the 2013 transition to ICD-10. NEW HCPCS Coding System chapter provides an overview of the HCPCS system and its applications. Coding exercises and examples include both ICD-9-CM and ICD-10-CM codes, in preparation for the 2013 transition to ICD-10.

Coder’s Resource Handbook $38.95 This portable, spiral-bound reference may be used with any coding textbook in a medical insurance, billing, and coding program. It’s also a handy reference for practicing coders who need quick access to common information or a quick brush-up on common coding rules, terminology, abbreviations, and acronyms. Easy to carry and refer to, this book eliminates the need to rely on bulky reference books for the commonly used codes.• Provides quick reference tools to commonly needed information in one succinct guide for ease and efficiency. • Includes lists of common abbreviations and acronyms used most often in coding for review —for medical records, physician notes, etc. • Contains A&P review with anatomical charts to assist in understanding the diagnoses given and the procedures performed. • Lists common ICD-9-CM and CPT codes by specialty and type to assist in accurate coding. • Includes illustrations of common source documents such as encounter forms, operative reports and ancillary reports, with quick tips on abstracting key elements needed for accurate coding. • Provides auditing tools in the form of check-off sheets for data entry review, claims review and patient chart review.

Ferri’s Clinical Advisor 2011: 5 Books in 1, Expert Consult – Online and Print $110 With the 2011 edition of Ferri’s Clinical Advisor, you can access current diagnostic and therapeutic information on more than 700 common medical conditions faster and more effectively than ever before. Dr. Ferri’s popular “5 books in 1″ format provides quick guidance on fetal alcohol syndrome, gestational diabetes, anemia of chronic disease, chronic pain management, and much more. With Expert Consult online access, you can search the complete contents and download patient education guides in both English and Spanish.• Rapidly find the answers you need with separate sections on diseases and disorders, differential diagnosis, clinical algorithms, laboratory results, and clinical preventive services, plus an at-a-glance format that uses cross-references, outlines, bullets, tables, boxes, and algorithms to expedite reference.• Review normal values and interpret results for more than 200 lab tests.• Get the billing codes you need, including ICD-9-CM codes, to expedite insurance reimbursements.• Improve your practice’s efficiency with cost-effective referral and consultation guidelines.• Make informed clinical decisions with updated evidence-based medicine references.• Identify and treat a broader range of disorders with coverage of 13 new topics, 47 new tables, and 23 new algorithms.• Confidently perform more than 60 procedures, using step-by-step, how-to instructions covering ICD-9 and CPT codes, indications, contraindications, and complications.Download additional patient teachings guides in both English and Spanish on expertconsult.com, as well as additional algorithms, links to PubMed, and more.From Dr. Ferri – the fastest, most effective way to access current diagnostic and therapeutic info on 700+ conditions

Ferri’s Clinical Advisor 2012: 5 Books in 1, Expert Consult – Online and Print $99.95 With the 2012 edition of Ferri’s Clinical Advisor, you can access current diagnostic and therapeutic information on more than 700 common medical conditions faster and more effectively than ever before. Dr. Fred F. Ferri’s popular “5 books in 1″ format provides quick guidance on Acute Coronary Syndromes, Biceps Tendonitis, H1N1 Influenza, Infertility, Metastic Brain Tumors, Postpartum Follow-up, Small Bowel Obstruction, Social Anxiety Disorder, Stuttering and much more. At www.expertconsult.com, you can search the complete contents and download patient education guides in both English and Spanish.• Rapidly find the answers you need with separate sections on diseases and disorders, differential diagnosis, clinical algorithms, laboratory results, and clinical preventive services, plus an at-a-glance format that uses cross-references, outlines, bullets, tables, boxes, and algorithms to expedite reference.• Review normal values and interpret results for more than 200 lab tests.• Confidently perform more than 60 procedures using step-by-step, how-to instructions covering ICD-9 and CPT codes, indications, contraindications, and complications.• Get the billing codes you need, including ICD-9-CM codes, to expedite insurance reimbursements.• Improve your practice’s efficiency with cost-effective referral and consultation guidelines.•• Make informed clinical decisions with updated evidence-based medicine references.• Identify and treat a broader range of disorders with coverage of 24 new topics, 75 new tables, and 60 new algorithms as well as 7 new Laboratory Tests and 2 new Clinical Practice Guidelines tables.• Ensure the best patient encounters and outcomes with 86 new downloadable Patient Teaching Guides online covering Acute Coronary Syndrome, Diabetes Insipidus, Electrical Injury, Pulmonary Hypertension and more!• Improve your interpretation of presenting symptoms with 97