Certified Coding
American Academy of Professional Coders has certified IBA coding for professional coding credentials. Maintaining the coding certification, requires yearly completion of continuing education credits, and ensures your procedures are accurately reflected by current CPT and ICD-9 codes.
Delineation of codes to the insurers requires accurate information for code assignment, timely filing according to state and federal guidelines and knowledge of format specifications. IBA employs experienced staff with in depth knowledge of each area.
Encounter Coding:
The relationship between coders and practitioners is essential and must be collaborative in order to provide the communication necessary for compliance and correct reimbursement. The submission of clearly documented encounters with complete diagnosis and accurate operative information allows the coder to choose codes which accurately represent the practice to the payer. Using AAPC certified coding personnel, Independent Billing Agency strives to maintain the knowledge base necessary to provide up to date information and submit clean claims for optimum revenue.
A Compliant Anesthesia Record
Properly documented anesthesia care allows correct coding, avoids confusion, reduces requests for additional records and provides audit criteria when needed.
Verify the anesthesia record used by your practice
- Includes a place to record interrupted time,
- Specifies exact times when one anesthesia provider takes over care from another
- Documents the placement of lines with times involved
- Confirms the procedure start and stop times correspond with hospital nursing staff records
- Allows space to record unusual events
- Are signed and dated correctly.
Industry News
August 22, 2008 the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published proposed changes to the HIPAA Transaction and Code Set Rules indicating the plan to eliminate the currently used ICD-9-CM as the codes for reporting diagnoses and implement the ICD-10-CM effective October 1, 2013. The ICD-10-CM code set is currently in use by many countries. At present there is no provision for a staggered implementation.
Reviews of 73 Fed Reg 49796 (Aug 22, 2008) have revealed the interpretation summary:
- ICD-10-CM increases the number of codes from approximately 13,000 ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes to 68,000 ICD-10-CM codes.
- An approximate 87,000 ICD-10-PCS codes will be required for inpatient procedure coding, up from the 4,000 currently used by ICD-9-CM.
- The ICD-10-CM codes are up to seven characters in an alpha-numeric system and provide significantly increased specificity.
HHS believes ICD-10-CM to be beneficial for future coding due to its ability to incorporate new procedures, the potential for fewer rejected claims, and improved disease reporting with worldwide coordination.