Medical Coding Consultants - ICD-9, CPT And HCPCS.

Objectives below are hyperlinked in each section for easy, point-and-click access. Hundreds of examples are provided. Each chapter has a combination of exercises, multiple-choice test questions and actual surgical Op Reports.
ICD-9 Coding Objectives:
	Familiarize yourself with the layout of the ICD-9 manual
	Translate a written diagnosis into the correct ICD-9CM codes.
	Learn the correlation between the alphabetic index and the tabular list.
	Effectively use the Table of Drugs and Chemicals and the Index to External Causes of Injury and Poisoning.
	Know what "main terms" and "sub-terms" are.
	Know what Eponyms are.
	Understand the concept of sub-categories.
	Be familiar with ICD-9 Instructional Notes
	Know the nine steps for accurate coding.
	Know Acute versus Chronic coding
	Coding Suspected Conditions
	Combination Codes
	Multiple Coding
	Infectious and Parasitic Diseases
	Know the difference between HIV and AIDS
	Neoplasms
	Diabetes
	Arthritis and Arthropathies
	Respiratory Diseases
	Circulatory System (cardiology)
	Injuries
	Fractures
	Burns
	E Codes
	V Codes
	Coding for Late Effects
	Coding for Complications from Medical care
Basic CPT Coding Concepts
	What does CPT mean?
	Who developed and manages CPT?
	What is the organization of CPT?
	What are the coding conventions of the CPT manual?
	How are new codes or changed/revised codes identified?
	What are CPT modifiers?
	What are subsections of CPT?
	What are the classes of main terms?
	What are Eponyms?
	What is the difference between See This & See Also?
	What are the general rules for CPT Coding?
HCPCS
	What does HCPCS stand for?
	What are the three levels of HCPCS?
	What is the organization of the HCPCS manual?
	Which codes are temporary codes?
	How do you use the Table of Drugs?
	Which letters are reserved for local use?
CPT Modifiers
	Know why modifiers are used.
	Know the three (3) ways to report modifiers.
	Review all modifiers and examples.
	Know how and when to use HCPCS National modifiers
	Know what information carriers may need to justify payment of modified procedure and service codes.
E & M Services
	Introduction of E & M
	The levels of E & M Services
	New versus Established patient.
	Coding for E & M Services and surgical procedures.
	Coding for preventive medicine services.
	Coding for Emergency Room and Critical Care.
	Coding for Inpatient services.
	Coding for Special E & M Services.
	Key components.
	Contributory "ancillary" components.
	How Time, Coordination of care and Counseling impact the level of E & M Service.
	Know what systems are included in a Review of Systems.
	Know what PFSH is.
	Know the levels of Examination
	Understand the levels and components of Medical Decision Making.
	Understand the role of the three main components of MDM (possible diagnoses, amount of tests and information and risk of complications, morbidity and comorbidities.
	Understand how to document for an Encounter Dominated by Counseling or Coordination of Care.
	Understand the difference between a consult and a referral
Anesthesia
	Know the difference between general, region and local anesthesia.
	Know what services are/are not included in an anesthesia services.
	Know how anesthesia values are determined.
	Know what basic units, time units and modifying units are.
	Anesthesia modifiers (P1 - P6).
	Know the Four qualifying circumstances modifiers (99100; 99116; 99135 & 99140).
	Know what constitutes an emergency condition for anesthesia.
	Know when time is not a factor in coding Anesthesia services.
	Know the Anesthesia Billing Formula
Integumentary
	Know the difference between the epidermis, dermis and subcutaneous tissue.
	Know the components of the dermis.
	Know the Incision and Drainage Codes.
	Know the Debridement codes.
	Know biopsy codes.
	Code for removal of skin tags.
	Coding for excision of lesions.
	Coding for excisions and avulsions.
	Know the difference & how to code simple, intermediate and complex repairs.
	Know the 7 steps of coding for repairs.
	Understand tissue transfers, flaps and grafts.
	Know the 4 categories of tissue transplantation.
	Know what a decubitus ulcer is.
	Coding for burns.
	Understand what the "Rule of Nines" means.
	Coding for breast disorders.
	Know the different types of mastectomies (radical, partial, simple).
	Know the chest wall excision codes.
Musculoskeletal System
	Introduction
	Arthritis and Arthropathies (ICD-9 Review)
	Understand the wound exploration codes.
	Understand the three (3) types of fracture care categories.
	Understand the two (2) types of fixation.
	Understand the types of manipulation and stabilization.
	Understand how to code for casts and strapping.
	Coding for dislocations.
	Understand arthroscopies and the difference between diagnostic versus surgical.
	Know the different purposes for surgery.
	Shoulder Procedures
	Special procedures for knees.
	Understand Osteochondritis Dissecans.
	Cruciate Ligament repair, augmentation & reconstruction.
	Understand arthrodesis, the proper questions and approaches.
	Understand the correct steps to code Bone Grafting.
	Understand the correct steps to code Bone Grafting.
Respiratory System
	Understand polyps and excision of polyps.
	Understand the vocabulary for accessory sinuses.
	Understand nasal endoscopy.
	Larynx procedures.
	Coding for bronchoscopies.
	Terms associated with thoracotomy.
	Coding for Laryngoscopy.
	Coding for surgical thoracoscopy.
Cardiology
	Know the kinds of blood vessels.
	Understand the difference between the technical and professional component of a procedure.
	Understand the cardiac graphics (Medicine section).
	Coding for Rhythm Strips.
	Know what a Signal Averaged Electrocardiogram is.
	Coding for patient event recorders.
	Coding for exercise stress tests.
	Coding for electrocardiography.
	Coding for and understanding TEE.
	Coding for and understanding Doppler Echocardiography.
	Coding for stress echocardiography.
	Coding for PTCA.
	Coding for Stent Placement.
	Coding for cardiac catheterization.
	Know what CABG is and how to code for it.
	Coding for pacemakers, their insertion and removal.
	Know what an AICD is.
	Know what VAD's are and do.
	Know what a PICC line is.
	Coding for implantable infusion pumps.
Digestive System
	Review the format and organization of the digestive system section.
	Review the medical terminology of the structures of the mouth (above the esophagus).
	Coding and terminology for tonsillectomies.
	Understand the variations of code 43121.
	Understand the mechanics and coding for insertion of a stent.
	Know how to code for a PEG tube.
	Know how to code for EGD.
	Understand and know how to code for ERCP.
	Understand the difference between a gastronomy, gastrectomy and gastrostomy.
	Be familiar with the gastric bypass procedure.
	Understand the difference between a proctosigmoidoscopy, sigmoidoscopy and a colonoscopy.
	Coding for hemorrhoid surgery.
	Coding for laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
	Coding for hernias (important!).
Urinary
	Understand what the lithotomy approach is.
	Understand the difference between Endoscopy, Cystoscopy, Urethroscopy, and Cystourethroscopy.
	Know urological medical terms.
	Know the difference between the Ureter and urethra (important!).
Male / Female Urinary
	Coding for Vasectomy
	Coding for the biopsy of the prostate
	Coding for Laparoscopy and related procedures.
	Know coding for an inguinal hernia.
	Know how to code for the insertion and removal of contraceptive devices.
	Know how to code for surgical sterilization procedures.
	Know the difference between a surgical and a diagnostic hysteroscopy.
	Coding for a D & C.
	Know how to code for laparoscopy/hysteroscopy procedures.
O/B
	Know how to code for maternity care and delivery
	Know the difference between delivery, postpartum and antepartum care.
	Know the components of ante partum care.
	Know how to code for multiple births.
Endocrine
	Know what organs are part of the endocrine system.
	Be familiar with the options of the endocrine system procedures (i.e., partial, complete, limited, etc...).
	Know what organs are part of the endocrine system.
	Know where to find surgical operations on the pituitary and pineal gland.
	Be familiar with the options of the endocrine system procedures (i.e., partial, complete, limited, etc...).
	Understand the variations of a thyroidectomy
	Understand the variations of a Parathyroidectomy
	Know what a Carotid Body is.
Nervous
	Know the anatomy and terminology of the nervous system.
	Familiarize yourself with the twelve (12) cranial nerves.
	Know the difference between parasympathetic and sympathetic nerves.
	Understand and know how to code for pain management.
Pain Management
	Be able to define Pain Management
	Be familiar with pain management methods.
	Be sure to follow the coding guidelines for unilateral / bilateral procedures and radiological guidance.
Eye
	Know how to code for Adnexa
	Know what is included in the code for extraction of a lens.
	Coding for insertion and removal of ocular implants.
	Coding for strabismus surgery
Auditory
	Be familiar with the 69100 ear excision codes.
	Understand what a tympanostomy is and how to code for it.
	Know which procedure code to use when the physician inserts ventilating tubes in to the opening of the tympanum.
	Understand the difference between a stapedectomy and a stapedectomy.
	Auditory System 2
	Know what cochlear implant, aural rehabilitation, speech processor mean.
	Know what a Basic Audiologic Assessment includes.
	Know the components and factors involving coding for hearing screening
Radiological
	Know the difference between the professional and technical component.
	Understand the terms and coding for diagnostic radiology.
	Always pay careful attention to the number of views for X-rays.
	Be familiar with CAT technology.
	Understand the purpose and coding associated with contrast studies.
	Be familiar with Computed Tomographic Angiography (CTA).
	Understand MRI coding and techniques.
	Understand diagnostic ultrasound techniques and coding.
	Be familiar with the different types of ultrasound.
	Understand the role and coding for radiation oncology.
	Note the difference between simple, intermediate and complex planning for the treatment of radiation oncology.
	Be familiar with nuclear medicine.
Pathology/ Lab
	Review the sections of the Path/Lab section.
	Know that mod-51 is not used with Path/Lab codes.
	Know the different types of lab test methods used.
	Understand the guidelines for billing panels.
	Lab panels have changed over the last few years. If you have been coding for years, be sure to review this section as many codes have been deleted.
	Familiarize yourself with the 11 panels.
	Familiarize yourself with the drug screening tests.
	Note that coding for qualitative screening tests is based on procedure, not method or analyte.
	Be familiar with the types of tests included under Evocative/Suppression Testing.
	Know the guidelines for coding blood transfusions.
	Be familiar with anatomical and surgical pathology.
Medicine
	Be familiar with what type of information is found in the medicine section.
	Be familiar with the Immunization Injection Codes.
	Know how to use Prolonged Intravenous Infusion codes 90780 and 90781.
	Know the difference between codes 90782 and 90788.
	Be sure to read the Psychiatry Guidelines at the beginning of the Psychiatry section of CPT.
	Be familiar with coding for dialysis for ESRD.
	Understand the "separate procedure" rule as it pertains to codes 91000 and 91055.
	Be sure to read the notes under the different vestibular and audiologic function tests.
	Know how to code for hand-held doppler devices.
	Know how to code for ventilation assist and management.
	Know how to code for code 95004.
	Understand how to code for the Skin End Point Titration Test.
	Review the five levels of dermatological services.
	Know that time is a major factor in coding physical therapy and rehabilitation codes.
	Familiarize yourself with Osteopathic, Chiropractic and Special Services. Even though you may never code them, they still may (and probably will) be on the certification exam
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