Misguided payer policy and advice from national coding authorities create coding controversy and dilemmas for pathology coders. After attending this workshop, you'll be able to enumerate the controversies currently facing your practice and describe the proposed solutions. The controversies to be discussed during this workshop include, but aren't limited to: Medicare peripheral blood smears for non-inpatients, fluorescent antibody screening & titer test interpretations, cytotechnologist fine needle immediate adequacy evaluations, negative quantitative IHC results reporting, bundling of colon 'donuts', separately charging direct smears and cytospin preparations, and proper coding for FISH tests. Participants are encouraged to submit a list of controversies they've encountered for open discussion during the workshop.

Presenter: Dennis Padget, MBA, CPA, FHFMA

Make sure you're ready on Jan. 1 to start using new CPT and HCPCS Level II codes. Don't miss new listings for ovarian cancer marker and HLA testing to enhance your coding accuracy. Beware Medicare's new "G" code for drug screen test kits, and much, much more. You'll also learn about NCD updates and other regulatory changes that will affect your bottom line.

Presenter: Ellen Garver, CPC

This session will focus on Medicare's Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI) changes affecting pathologists in 2010 and the status of its Medically Unlikely Edit (MUE) program. By attending this session, you'll be able to decide whether to participate in the PQRI in 2010 and to describe the rules you'll have to follow if you do. Furthermore, you'll be able to recite the MUE limits that affect your practice and describe the methods by which you can legitimately bypass the edits when warranted by the circumstances.

Presenter: Dennis Padget, MBA, CPA, FHFMA

Don't miss out on dollars you've earned for cancer case adjunct services. Capture every step of flow-cytometry immunophenotyping to make sure you don't leave money on the table. Learn top immunohistochemistry (IHC) coding tips including how to maneuver compound stains. Ensure correct documentation for IHC results and the subsequent coding, including use of 59 modifier.

Presenter: Joan Gilhooly, CPC, CHCC

Learn the difference between CPT and HCPCS Level II codes for Screening and Diagnostic Pap tests. Make sure you know which diagnosis codes will get you paid -- and which one's won't. Don't leave money on the table for HPV testing -- learn this medical necessity secrets.

Presenter: Diana W. Voorhees, M.A., CLS, MT, SH, CLCP

During these tough economic times, it's often hard for pathologists and hospitals to decide how much lab medical directorship compensation is appropriate and affordable. In addition, both parties need to understand and consider their options for funding that compensation. By attending this session, you'll be able to describe a recommended way to determine the value of pathologist lab medical director duties and to enumerate the various ways you can go about generating sufficient funds to cover that compensation.

Presenter: Dennis Padget, MBA, CPA, FHFMA

Make sure you're on track with ICD-9 2010 lab-specific diagnosis codes that show medical necessity for your tests. Learn about important changes for coding neuroendocrine cancers, EIN, poisoning, transfusion reactions, lab exams, and much, much more. Learn basic diagnosis coding principles with lots of pathology/lab specific examples. Don't face claims denials and decreased payments - make sure you understand how NCDs instruct you and the ordering provider on medical necessity requirements - and gain tips for working with the ordering provider to apply that knowledge to obtain ABNs when indicated.

Presenter: Joan Gilhooly, CPC, CHCC

Outreach billing, whether for clinical lab testing, anatomic pathology procedures, or both, often confound hospitals and pathologists. What billing form do I use? Do I have to charge the same rates as I do for inpatients? Can I buy the technical component and mark up the charge when billing Medicare? These are but a few of the questions that must be answered before launching an outreach lab program. Furthermore, changes in Medicare guidance the past year create opportunities for income enhancement, and you'll miss out on the added revenue if you don't keep up to date.

Presenter: Dennis Padget, MBA, CPA, FHFMA

Ever been stumped by unlisted specimens, undocumented procedures, unfamiliar terminology, or other pathology-report snafus? Try your hand and coding some acutal pathology reports and learn tricks of the trade to make sure you earn all the pay you deserve.

Presenter: Diana W. Voorhees, M.A., CLS, MT, SH, CLCP

Join the molecular diagnostics revolution in diagnostic testing on the forefont of personalized medicine. Make sure you understand the lab techniques involved and how the specific codes define them, how to capture interpretation pay, when to use array codes, and much much more.

Presenter: Diana W. Voorhees, M.A., CLS, MT, SH, CLCP