July 2007

Take your passion for caring, coding and your career to the next level and get certified!
Your Coding Questions Answered
Order Your Home Care Certification Study Guide
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)

Take Your Passion for Caring, Coding and Your Career to the Next Level and Get Certified!

There is still time to register for the Home Care Coding Specialist - Diagnosis exam, which will be given at the conclusion of the Home Health Coding Summit. Join thousands of your colleagues in the exclusive group of professionals who have taken their passion for coding to the next level.

Why Get Certified?

• Improve your technical competency
• Get ahead of the coding learning curve – and your competitors
• Prove to your supervisor, peers and yourself that you have the coding expertise it takes to get your HCS-D designation
• Stand out among other candidates in a competitive job market

Get started on your HCS-D today. Check out www.medicalspecialtycoding.com for more info or to register, or call toll-free (800) 897-4509.

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Your Coding Questions Answered

The Home Care Advisor is taking on your common coding questions. How would you answer these questions? Answers are at the bottom of the ezine

1. Where can I use E codes on the OASIS form?
   
2. Does abnormality of gait always have muscle weakness associated with it?
   
3. Can 436 be used to code CVA?
   
4. Are open wounds just open wounds?
   
5. What can you look for in the documentation to help you know whether it is a poisoning or an adverse effect?

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Order Your Home Care Certification Study Guide

The Study Guide for Home Care Coding Certification can help you prepare for your Home Care Coding Specialist - Diagnosis certification or recertification exam. This invaluable resource will include:

• Terminology and concepts respective to the home care coding.
• Coding rules for M0230, M0240 and M0245.
• Billing approaches and Case-Mix Codes.
• Critical Issues within home care coding, such as coding for complex conditions including diabetes, abnormality of gait, fractures, etc.
• Questions for the Expert - Coders just like you have asked our experts questions about common coding problems. Our experts provide answers and feedback that you can put into practice immediately.
• Practice Questions - Get ready for your exam by testing your coding skills with practice questions. The questions provided in the study guide are just like the ones on the exam, so you'll be able to see right away if you are ready for your exam or if you need more preparation.
• Exam Outlines - See the concepts that will be tested on your home care coding exam, and make sure you'll familiar with all of the topics outlined.
• Coding Tips are peppered throughout the guide. Pay special attention to these tips, as they may be a hint as to an exam question.

The Study Guide for Home Care Coding Certification [H1624] will be available late August 2007. Order today by visiting the www.medicalspecialtycoding.com.

Price: $67.00


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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: The Art of ICD-9 for Home Health
Date: July 31-August 1, 2007 in Ontario, CA
To register or learn more information:
www.cahsah.org/education/2007/ICD9CodingSummer2007.pdf

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/

Event: National Quality Outcomes Conference
Date: September 5-7, 2007 in Chicago
To register or learn more information:
www.homehealthinteractive.com/conferences/
outcomes/home.htm

Event: Deciphering the Code: Competency in Home Care Coding
Date: September 6-7, 2007 in Denver, CO, sponsored by the Home Care Association of Colorado
To register or learn more information:
http://www.hcaconline.org/conted/2007/coding/brochure.htm

Event: Demystifying Home Care Coding
Date: September 12-13, 2007 in Denton, TX, sponsored by FMS
To register or learn more information:
http://www.medicalspecialtycoding.com/pdf/
codingcertification9.12.pdf

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Answers to Your Coding Questions Answered

1. M0240. Nowhere else.

2. Not necessarily. Many do, and that may be caused by a neuro event, a trauma or orthopedic issues.

3. No. I f patient has not reached the plateau for rehabilitation and rehab is ordered, then and only then, can 434.91 be used. If it’s a current patient with no rehabilitation, then code 438.xx. Do not use 436 at all.

4. Traditionally the medical community has not looked at etiology or specific characteristics or classifications of the wound. The ICD-9 coding books catorgarize wounds under their specific classifications. Coders should look up the classifications.

5. Terms that indicate adverse effect are allergic, idiosyncratic or paradoxical reactions, cumulative effect or toxicity. Terms that indicate a poisoning are wrong substance or dose taken, wrong person taking the substance, overdose or intoxication (other than cumulative effect).

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!!