June 2007

Looking for the BMSC Board?
Coding Scenarios
Know About All of Your Test Prep Options?
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)

Looking For The BMSC Board?

Looking for the BMSC Board? They'll be at the Home Health Coding Summit in Chicago in August! Lisa Selman-Holman, Sparkle Sparks, Sharon Molinari and Stacey Benner will all be teaching or attending the Summit. The HCSD certification and recertification exams will also be offered at this August 14-16 event. Are you an AHCC member, as well? There is a pre-summit meeting being taught by Lisa and Sparkle, and an AHCC meeting focusing on tools on Aug. 13! For more information and to register today, visit: www.homehealthinteractive.com/conferences
/codingsummit/index.htm

(Return to Top)

Coding Scenarios

Exercise your expertise by coding the following scenarios. Answers appear at the bottom of the ezine.

1. The patient has anemia due to blood loss from chronic gastric ulcer. How would you code this scenario?
2. The patient has developed encephalomyelitis after mononucleosis. How would you code this scenario?
3. Patient is treated for aspergillosis pneumonia. How would you code this scenario?

(Return to Top)

Know About All Of Your Test Prep Options?

Hey, BMSC certified coders and potential test-takers!! Do you know about all of our test-prep options?

Go to www.medicalspecialtycoding.com to find out more about
studying on your own time with:

• Lisa Selman-Holman’s HCS-D Certification and HCS-D Recertification audioconference CDs!!! Lisa spent almost two hours on each subject going through main points and answering questions!! Order today!
  
• Want a broader, larger study view? We have a six-hour Beyond the Basics audio and presentation study prep, too! Order your copy of the audio CD and presentation today!
  
• Other BMSC Study Resources to Help You:
  Look for our skill assessment questions and the examination outlines to learn more!

More exciting news and resources coming soon on study options!!


(Return to Top)

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: QHR Presents the 2007 Home Health Coding
Workshop
Date: July 11-12, 2007 in Brentwood, TN
To register or learn more information:
www.medicalspecialtycoding.com/homecare/documents/
HomeHealthCodingWorkshop.pdf

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

(Return to Top)

Answers to the Coding Scenarios are...

1. M0230a: 280.0, iron deficiency anemia secondary to blood loss, chronic
   M0240b: 531.40 chronic gastric ulcer with hemorrhage without mention of obstruction
   
   Note the 5th digit requirement!
   
2. M0230a: 075 infectious mononucleosis
   M0240b: 323.01 encephalomyelitis in viral diseases classified elsewhere
   
   This particular encepholmyelitis code is a manifestation diagnosis, so it must be coded after its cause. When coded in M0240b, it will provide 20 points toward the case mix score.
   
3. Coding:
   M0230a: 117.3 aspergillosis
   M0240b: 484.6 pneumonia in aspergillosis
   
   Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is a form of aspergillosis occurring as an eosinophilic pneumonia caused by an allergic reaction to the aspergillus fungus. Aspergillosis pneumonia is a etiology/manifestation group that indicates that pneumonia is coded secondary to the aspergillosis.
   
   (Return to Top)

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!!