Ask An Expert: AAA
| Q: | My patient has PVD, atherosclerosis of the lower extremities, and an AAA, which are all in HCC 108. I was told we need to document all three conditions even though there is only one payment for each HCC. Do I really need to waste my time reporting all three conditions? |
| A: |
Yes, you do. The medical record is a legal document that must reflect all the conditions the patient has and their management. If the patient has all three conditions, and they are properly assessed and documented, they must all be … Read Full Post |
| Q: | We attended an MRA training workshop and we were told that once a patient with an AAA has had surgery, we cannot code the aneurysm. We’re very confused! Is this correct? |
| A: |
It depends. (Don’t you just hate those answers?!) When an AAA is resected, the bulging section of the vessel is removed. After surgery, if the patient were to undergo an abdominal ultrasound, there will be no evidence of the aneurysm. … Read Full Post |
| Q: | My patient has PVD, atherosclerosis of the lower extremities, and an AAA, which are all in HCC 105. I was told we need to document all three conditions even though there is only one payment for each HCC. Do I really need to waste of my time reporting all three conditions? |
| A: |
Yes, you do. The medical record is a legal document that must reflect all the conditions the patient has and their management. If the patient has all three conditions, they must all be documented and reported. From a purely payment … Read Full Post |
| Q: | We attended an MRA training workshop and we were told that once a patient with an AAA has had surgery, we cannot code the aneurysm. We’re very confused! Is this correct? |
| A: |
It depends. (Don’t you just hate those answers?!) When an AAA is resected, the bulging section of the vessel is removed. After surgery, if the patient were to undergo an abdominal ultrasound, there will be no evidence of the aneurysm. … Read Full Post |