No matter how you look at it, accurately coding and getting paid for outpatient laceration repairs is challenging and often confusing (especially for multiple repairs). And it isn’t going to get any easier. Laceration repair codes are not currently slated to have any updates next year.
Coding incorrectly for these common procedures can have dire consequences. And just because your laceration repair claims are being paid, doesn’t mean you’re coding correctly.
CMS states in their “2017 Medicare Fee-for-Services Supplemental Improper Payment Data” report that they overpaid minor outpatient skin procedure claims by $1,326,981 billion due to inaccurate coding and “upcoding.” If you think federal auditors and regulators are not coming after that money, THINK AGAIN. And if you overcompensate in the other direction and downcode your claims, you are losing money and not being adequately paid for the laceration repair services you’re providing.
The good news is that there are tactics you can utilize to ensure you are coding accurately (not up- or downcoding) for your laceration repairs, and coding expert, Gloryanne Bryant, RHIA, CDIP, CCS, CCDS, AHIMA Approved ICD-10-CM/PCS Trainer, can tell you how. During her 60-minute online training session, Gloryanne will walk you through how to improve the accuracy of your laceration repair CPT coding (especially multiple repairs) to ensure you are paid more precisely for the services you provide.
Here are just a few of the practical, plain-English laceration repair coding strategies and tactics you’ll receive by taking advantage of this 60-minute, expert-led online training:
- More accurately code for multiple lacerations at the same anatomic site (addition is key)
- Key laceration closure technique documentation terms to help you choose the best code
- Easily identify simple, intermediate and complex laceration repair (12001- 13160)
- Avoid lost revenue when repairing differing levels of lacerations during the same visit
- Proven strategies to avoid both up- and downcoding for multi-layered closures
- Master modifiers 51 and 59 (incl. X modifiers) to improve accurate multi-repair reimbursement
- Determine when and how to ethically code separately for debridement
- Head off a Medicare/Medicaid audit by utilizing a laceration checklist
- And so much more…
Who should attend? All healthcare professionals interested in coding and being accurately reimbursed for CPT Integumentary System “Repair” codes for simple, intermediate and complex closure.
One of the biggest challenges to correctly coding laceration repairs, is that you must accurately decipher provider documentation. And considering the codes are varied based on the laceration size, anatomic site, and the complexity of the repair, this is no easy task. However, by completing this online training, you’ll receive real-world case examples with step-by-step guidance to better identify key terminology to more easily choose the most accurate laceration repair code.
This online training session is designed to get you answers to your most difficult laceration repair coding challenges. You will have the opportunity to pose your specific questions during the training and have them answered by the expert presenter.
Gloryanne has been an HIM professional and Leader for over 35 years. In her past roles she’s been National Director of Coding Quality, Education, Systems and Support for a national healthcare system, was responsible for the coding quality, accuracy and integrity, monitoring programs, education, coding related systems and advisory for Clinical Documentation Improvement (CDI). She was also the key national leader for ICD-10 Coding Education and Training across 8 regions. She was also Corporate Senior Director of Coding HIM Compliance for Catholic Healthcare West (CHW) Dignity Healthcare for more than eight years.
Gloryanne was appointed to the HHS CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) APC Advisory Panel to work on OPPS policy, coding, and reimbursement issues where she served for 4 years. She was also appointed to the RAND Expert Panel on Severity DRGs. She co-authored the publication, “HIM Director’s Guide to ICD-10” and wrote the “ICD-10 Coding & Physician Language” handbook, the third revision.
Gloryanne has conducted numerous ICD-9-CM, ICD-10 and CPT coding, DRGs, MS-DRG, APR-DRGs, APC (OPPS), leadership and compliance workshops for hospital and physician-based coding staff, Coding and HIM Leaders, and others. In addition, she has conducted an array of presentations on data quality, medical necessity, compliance and clinical documentation improvement to health care management executives and administrators.
