Tag Archives: icd-9

What We’re Reading – Four things doctors actually like about ICD-10

As you may already know, the largest complaint about the ICD-10 is that it is “complex and highly specific” with almost three times the number of codes than ICD-9. Although the 10th edition was introduced in 1992 and most developed … Read Full Post

Tagged icd-10, icd-10 conversion, icd-10 implementation, icd-10-cm, icd-9, icd-9-cm, International Classification of Diseases 10th Edition Clinical Modification, International Classification of Diseases 9th Edition Clinical Modification, transition to ICD-10 |

What We’re Reading – Feeling Better About ICD-10

With all of the negative talk going around about the ICD-10 conversion, the author of this article puts forth reasons why ICD-10 will prove to be a good thing…eventually. Updates technology and specificity. ICD-9 was developed in 1979 and is now … Read Full Post

Tagged coversion to ICD-10, ehr, icd-10, icd-10 conversion, icd-9, incentive programs, meaningful use |

How should I prepare for ICD-10?

From time to time, we hear about consultants scaring the daylights out of providers with horror stories about the transition to ICD-10. We disagree with that approach, although it’s important to have a healthy respect for any system that – … Read Full Post

Tagged aapc, diagnosis codes, documentation, healthcare consultants, icd-10, icd-10 conversion, icd-10-cm, icd-9, icd-9-cm, physician, providers |

What exactly is ICD-10?

ICD-10-CM (based on the International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition, Clinical Modification) is a standard set of codes used for conveying a patient’s clinical profile, if you will. Defined codes are used primarily to facilitate the gathering of data, its … Read Full Post

Tagged capitated providers, codes, diagnosis codes, documentation, icd-10, icd-10-cm, icd-9, icd-9-cm, international classification of diseases, physician |

The Top Three MRA Mistakes: How much are these costing your practice?

When a medical group’s risk score is low despite a chronically ill patient population, the culprit is generally one of three very common practitioner habits. Let’s explore each one: Failure to connect diabetic manifestations: This is probably the low-hanging fruit … Read Full Post

Tagged cardiac disease, diabetic, icd-9, improper documentation, medical practice, medicare, practitioner, risk adjustment |

Common Medicare Home Health Billing Errors and How to Avoid Them

Today’s home health care billing is more critical than ever. Shrinking reimbursement and increased regulations are forcing agencies to optimize their billing process. With many layers of complexity in the billing process, agencies have found that even a small number … Read Full Post

Tagged billing errors, diagnosis codes, home health, home health billing, icd-9, Imark consulting, medicare, payment losses |

Why is my Risk Score so low when my patients are so sick?

A risk score is a numeric representation of the health status of your patients based on factors developed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Each patient has a risk score and your practice has one too. The … Read Full Post

Tagged cms, diagnoses, icd-9, medicaid, medicare, patients, risk adjustment, risk score |

How does provider reimbursement work?

There are two common methods of reimbursing physicians: Fee-for- service (FFS) and capitation. There are also two major code categories in use by most primary care physicians: ICD-9-CM codes and CPT-4 & HCPCS codes. ICD-9-CM codes (soon to be replaced … Read Full Post

Tagged capitation, cpt codes, diagnosis, fee-for-service, icd-10, icd-9, procedure, provider, reimbursement |

What is MRA?

MRA – Medicare Risk Adjustment – was established in 2003 and phased in over a five year period. Through this payment methodology, the MedicareAdvantage Plan’s (and the provider’s) capitation is adjusted based on the risk assumed for the patient’s care, … Read Full Post

Tagged chronic care, diagnosis, icd-9, medicare, mra, patient, payment, provider, risk adjustment |