Coders Still Using V58.6x as Primary Diagnosis
Go BEYOND THE BASICS in your coding education!
Preparatory Tools for the HCS-D Exam
Take Your HCS-D Exam Online
Upcoming Events

Hello from the Board of Medical Specialty Coding! We hope you enjoy your monthly ezine and find the information useful. If you have any comments or recommendations for future issues, please contact me through the following channels:

Victoria Forlini, Executive Director
vforlini@medicalspecialtycoding.com
301/287-2250 (phone)
301/287-2941 (fax)

Coders still using V58.6x as primary diagnosis
Don’t make the mistake of listing codes from the
V58.6x, long-term (current) drug use) category as
primary.

Cahaba GBA is denying up to 80% of claims
involving V58.61 and V58.69, the RHHI announced.

These codes can only be used as secondary diagnoses,
as they “raise questions of medical necessity,”
Cahaba states.

Be especially cautious with V58.69, long-term
(current) use of other medications, with recertifications.
Cahaba denied 50% of claims listing the code
as primary in recertifications.

“(The) largest reasons for denials were related to
the lack of documentation to show that an injectable
medication was an effective treatment for the benefi-
ciary’s condition, or because there was an oral alternative
and no documentation why the oral medication was not used,” it states. So be sure to have a “stated reason” for administering the medications “by injection rather than by
the oral route,” the RHHI states.

“There should be an appropriate diagnosis in the
medical record for the patient’s medications,” it continues.
“If the medication comes in an oral or other form, but is being given by injection by the skilled nurse, the documentation must show the reason the oral or other form is ineffective.

For more on the edits, please visit: www.cahabagba.com/part_a/whats_new/
20061221_longterm.htm.

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Go BEYOND THE BASICS in your coding education!
Six cities will host BMSC's Beyond the Basics: Critical Issues in Home Care Coding live conference event in April and May. This one-day educational opportunity will focus on OASIS, coding and PPS; coding concepts like choosing primary and secondary diagnoses, manifestations, and underlying conditions. Critical thinking, and how that leads to accurate coding, will be discussed throughout. Of course, there will be scenarios and examples and an opportunity to take your HCS-D Certification or Recertification Exam on the next day!!! Visit the conference website to learn more information.

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Prepartory Tools for your HCS-D Exam

We've heard you. You want more tools to help you prepare for your HCS-D exams. The BMSC website has the tools you need to help you prepare:

Updates to the 2007 ICD-9-CM Coding Guidelines: We know that updates to the guidelines were published right after you received your new books. Visit our website to download all the pages of these guidelines, and familiarize yourself with the new rules and regulations.

Home Health Prospective Payment System: You'll also need to be familiar with information that Medicare provides about processing payments to home health agencies.

Skill Assessment Questions: These questions will help you determine if you are ready for our exam.

Study Outlines: Want to know what to look for on the exam? Our study outlines have concepts listed to help you prepare.

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Take your HCS-D Exam Online!
To make test-taking easier for you, you can now take the
HCS-D certification and recertifications online. It's simple! Register as you normally would -- via our website or on paper, and select the Online option. We will send you an email confirming your registration and giving you further instructions. Don't worry! You still can take the exam at a conference, but we're listening to you as you search for easier ways to become certified. To learn more, about how to register and more about our certification, visit our website at www.medicalspecialtycoding.com.

Upcoming Events

Here's the 411 on some upcoming events where you'll get top-notch educational opportunities to earn CEUs and even a place to sit for your HCS-D certification or recertification exam!

Event: Deciphering ICD-9-CM: Coding Competency for Home Care Professionals
Location: San Antonio, TX
Date: February 20-22, 2007
To register or learn more information: http://www.tahc.org/cde.cfm?event=149376
This conference has been pre-approved by BMSC for 6 CEUs.

Event: Diabetes Manifestations: Overcome Common Errors for Improved Accuracy and Revenue
Location: in your office
Date: February 22, 2007
To register or learn more information: http://www.homehealthinteractive.com/
conferences/A1163/home.htm
This conference has been pre-approved by BMSC for 2 CEUs.

Event: 2007 Power Home Health Referrals
Date: February 22-23, 2007 in Las Vegas
To register or learn more information: http://www.homehealthinteractive.com/conferences
/powerreferrals/index.htm

Event: Beyond the Basics:Critical Issues in Home Care Coding
Date and Locations: Six dates and locations in April and May 2007
To register or learn more information: http://www.beyondthebasicscoding.com/home.html
This conference has been pre-approved by BMSC for 10 CEUs.

Event: 2007 Home Health Coding Summit
Date: August 13-16, 2007 in Chicago
To register or learn more information: http://www.homehealthinteractive.com/conferences
/homehealthcodingsummit2007/
This conference has been pre-approved by BMSC for 10 CEUs.

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What do you want to see in your next issue of the Home Care Advisor? More news? More events to earn CEUs? Some practice scenarios? Email BMSC's Executive Director, Victoria Forlini, and let her know. We want to hear from you!!