ASC coding is a unique subset of the coding world. Sometimes you report procedures with CPT codes and AMA modifiers; sometimes you follow physician coding guidelines; sometimes you stick with hospital outpatient rules instead. The challenge for ASC coders is to know when and which guidelines to apply to ensure the integrity of the claims you submit and the resulting revenue. During this session, Joanne Schade-Boyce, RDH, MS, CPC, ACS, PCS and Cristina Bentin, CCS-P, CPC-H, CMA will review the basic concepts needed to accurately assign and code procedures performed in an ASC, including a comprehensive review of ASC modifier usage; CPT changes for 2010; the latest on RACs; ancillary coding opportunities; payment indicator use; when to apply CCI edits; and potential “hot spots” of over- or under-coding. Whenever possible, Joanne and Cristina will illustrate these coding guidelines with real-life examples, operative notes, or authoritative references you can use back at the office.

Our expert will give you tools to properly report for Arthroscopic Shoulder and Knee procedures. Coding directives from the AMA, AAOS, and Medicare will be provided as well as tips for coding compartments of the knee and common procedures of the shoulder. This program will assist your facility with accurately capturing its orthopaedic procedures within a framework of compliance with individual carrier guidelines and policies.

Presenter: Joanne Mehmert, CPC

With Ambulatory Surgery Centers seeing a reimbursement reduction for pain management services, now more than ever it is imperative your ASC facility is maximizing its reimbursement! This session will review the essentials of properly reporting pain management injections from an ASC perspective, including guidelines for the injections your providers perform most often. The session will also include documentation that helps support medical necessity, bilateral procedure reporting, add-on code challenges/denials, and fluoroscopy utilization/reporting practices.

With the decrease in reimbursement for common GI procedures, ASCs can no longer afford to improperly code or overlook "codeable" procedures. If you're ready for answers to some of your toughest GI coding challenges, then join us for a rundown of ASC coding nuances for common GI procedures. Find out how to handle multiple polyp removal; learn if you're improperly coding screening colonoscopies; and review ancillary opportunities to optimize Medicare's fee schedule.

Sometimes you just don't know which way is up. Is it one ureter and two urethras or is that one urethra and two ureters? Is it a cystoscopy or a cystourethroscopy? And what the heck is a sling doing in a urology procedure?? Is that cervix uteri or corpus uteri? Is it a colposcopy, hysteroscopy or laparoscopy? Are you reading those op notes and feel like you're playing music chairs with those CPT codes and you might do just a well grabbing the first code when the music stops? Come work with Joanne Schade-Boyce as she walks you through common ASC GYN & Urology procedures. Find out how to breakdown those operative notes using Joanne's systematic, color-coded approach and finally take the "madness" out of those complicated procedures.

Does reading FESS op notes bring on a sinus headache for you? If so you are not alone – coding ENT procedures can overwhelm even the most experienced coders because the op notes are usually long and complicated. Learn the questions to ask yourself to ensure you code correctly and capture rightful reimbursement. For example: Was the procedure performed bilaterally? Is the code inherently unilateral? How many sinuses were entered? Which procedure do you report first? Are any procedures bundled via CCI edits or AMA guidelines? Will multiple procedure discounting apply? The questions can threaten to overwhelm, but don’t despair! Let our surgical coding expert walk you through the anatomical landmarks that assist with CPT code selection to ensure accurate claims and secure justified reimbursement.

Open your eyes to new opportunities for ophthalmic ASC reimbursement. In this one-hour course you’ll learn valuable coding information to ensure your ASC receives every reimbursement dollar it deserves to include but not limited to: Cataract Surgery, HCPCS coding of IOL’s, Glaucoma & Retina procedures, injectable drugs, and strabismus surgery.

If you aren’t effectively collecting from patients and payers, your physician is working basically for free. Practice income directly relates to how successful your collections efforts are. Learn everything you need to know to keep the money flowing in this comprehensive workshop. We’ll cover both patient collections and payer collections. Bonus: Our expert will give you sample collections scenarios you can use to train everyone in your office and increase your collections rates.

Sure, working appeals is a good idea. But with few staff, heavy workloads, and little spare time, can you really find time for this work? Our appeals expert will tell you why you can’t afford not to follow up on claims denials, while teaching you to work smarter, not harder on getting payment faster with fewer snags.