Monday, August 2, 2010

CMS CCI edits 16.2: Avoid Extra Tissue Prep Charge for Micro and Flow

The latest Correct Coding Initiative (CCI) edits 16.2 became effective on July 1. If you are a pathology coder, this piece of information will certainly stand you in good stead.

CPT 2010 opened the door to charges for sterile macroscopic tissue dissection before molecular diagnostics tests, however, not prior to microbiology or flow cytometry. In order to ensure you got the message, the newest version of Medicare CCI edits adds 55 edit pairs minimizing how you should use these codes.

According to CPT 2010, you should not use 88387-88388"for tissue preparation for microbiologic cultures."This rules out reporting 88387 or +88388 in addition to microbiology cultures from tissue sources."

The latest CMS CCI edits substantiates that coding advice by bundling 88387 and +88388 as a component of a wide array bacterial culture codes.

The edits also add pairs to restrict using 88387 or +88388 with cultures for other organisms:

In addition to bacteria, mycobacteria and fungi, the latest CMS CCI edits also verify that you should not list a viral culture 87250-87255 in addition to 88387 and +88388.

For more on the latest CMS CCI edits 16.2, sign up for a one-stop medical coding website. Registering yourself for one will mean you have all the CCI code updates right at your finger tips, that too without shelling out much from your pocket. Inside such a one-stop guide, you will have get have access to reimbursement tools like CCI edit alerts that will certainly aid you in getting your CCI coding right every time.

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